THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Divinity : Divinity

Postgraduate Course: Smaller Dissertation (Research Masters) (DIVI11005)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Divinity CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeDissertation AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits100 ECTS Credits50
SummarySupervised dissertation (up to 15,000 words), in the MTh by Research and the MSc by Research in Religious Studies (as part of the Supervised Essays + Dissertation track).
Course description Academic Description:
This dissertation is a significant component of assessment for the Masters by Research, on the 'essays + dissertation' track. Students have the opportunity to develop a sustained piece of research in their own area, under the guidance of an allocated research supervisor. The aim is to foster research and writing skills at Masters level.

Syllabus/Outline Content:
Students will work with their research supervisor to define and execute the project. The research questions, content and method will be refined not only in conversation with the supervisor, but also in the two 10-credit 'Approaches' courses which Masters by Research students must complete. In preparing their dissertation, students will develop skills in framing research questions and shaping appropriate research strategies; researching evidence and critically assessing it; developing sustained arguments; writing clear and engaging prose; providing academic referencing and bibliography.

Student Learning Experience Information:
Students work with their allocated research supervisor, one-to-one, with regular supervisory meetings for guidance on the research and writing of the dissertation. Students will demonstrate their achievement of the intended learning outcomes through the preparation of the dissertation (up to 15,000 words).

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Prepare an effective dissertation, with an appropriate breadth and depth of focus (for a 15,000 word project), well-defined research questions, suitable research methodologies, awareness of scholarly context, and proper use of referencing and sources.
  2. Identify relevant research resources within the field of the dissertation, reading widely in the scholarly literature.
  3. Employ critical skills in weighing and considering evidence.
  4. Develop sustained arguments and support those arguments with evidence.
  5. Write in a clear and engaging style, and proofread their written work.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserProf Brian Stanley
Tel: (0131 6)50 8934
Email: brian.stanley@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Katrina Munro
Tel: (0131 6)50 8900
Email: Kate.Munro@ed.ac.uk
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