Undergraduate Course: Dissertation in Politics and International Relations (PLIT10182)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 40 |
ECTS Credits | 20 |
| Summary | This course prepares students to complete their MA dissertation in Politics and/or International Relations. It covers issues such as: formulating a research question, research design, literature review, time management, dissertation structure, abstract writing, referencing, and all other tasks involved in writing a dissertation. |
| Course description |
In writing your dissertation, you will draw upon all the skills you have been developing since you started studying Politics and International Relations - reading critically, analysing arguments, collecting data, project and time management, and writing effectively. The dissertation requires you to develop your own research question, focusing on a topic of interest to you. You will be supported by a series of dissertation lectures/workshops and your supervisor during monthly supervision meetings. These will provide you with the guidance and encouragement to compete a project of this scale.
Fundamentally, this is an independent project where you will manage your own time and work with a supervisor towards completion.
Writing a dissertation can be a challenge but it is also rewarding, particularly if you put in the time and effort.
There are a number of formative assessment components that students will receive feedback on including:
Dissertation Proposal: a brief outline of your topic, research question, approach, and expected findings
Poster Fair: an opportunity to obtain feedback from your peers and staff beyond your supervisor.
Draft Text: a focused bit of writing your supervisor can comment on.
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Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
400
(
Lecture Hours 8,
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 6,
Other Study Hours 3,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
375 )
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| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
Other study hours: 3-hour poster presentation
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
90% Dissertation (10,000 words)
10% Dissertation Reflection (1,000 words) |
| Feedback |
Students will be offered advice, feedback, and support on all components of the assessment for this course. This will come through full class meetings and workshops preceding deadlines, via LEARN, and by appointment with supervisors and/or the Dissertation Organiser.
Feedback will be provided for components of the formative assessment and students are expected to incorporate it into their text. Dissertation markers will also offer comments on the final text. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- develop and apply the research skills acquired from their degree to complete a project of this scope in politics and/or international relations.
- organise and produce a substantial piece of independent research that reflects a high level of independent and critical thinking
- enhance their ability to identify, evaluate, and synthesise academic literature and source material in a chosen topic at an advanced undergraduate level
- formulate a coherent set of research questions that are situated within the broader academic literature and field of their topic
- acquire a deeper understanding and knowledge of a specific topic in politics and/or international relations
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Reading List
Karen Smith et al, Doing your Undergraduate Social Sciences Dissertation
Harrison, L (2001) Political research: an introduction (London: Routledge)
Murray R (2011) How to write a thesis (Buckingham: Open University Press)
Oliver P (2004) Writing your thesis (London: Sage)
Silbergh, D (2001) Doing Dissertations in Politics: a student guide (London: Routledge) |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
construct reasoned argument, synthesising relevant information and exercising critical judgement
critically reflect on their own learning
identify, investigate and solve problems through lateral thinking to develop solutions, thinking creatively in both practical and theoretical contexts
demonstrate appropriate behaviour and academic practice
evaluate and apply approaches to collecting, analysing and presenting political data
manage their own learning and projects effectively in a timely and critical fashion while working individually and collectively
organise and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of secondary and primary sources
understand and apply the principles of ethical research
understand and use constructive feedback |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Benjamin Coulson
Tel:
Email: Ben.Coulson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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