Postgraduate Course: Placement Based Dissertation (Conflict, Security, and Development) (AFRI11012)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 60 |
ECTS Credits | 30 |
| Summary | Students will undertake a 15,000 word dissertation linked to a placement on a topic related to conflict, security and development, to be submitted by a date specified in the University Regulations, usually mid-August. The dissertation will comprise a 12,000 word research paper and a 3,000 word project diary. The placements generally consist of eight weeks of research with a host organisation in the UK or overseas, from our network of contacts which includes NGOs, charities, social enterprises, think-tanks and government bodies. Some of these options may be available remotely.
The dissertation is an extended piece of scholarship in which a student is expected to formulate and sustain a substantive piece of independent research. The work is expected to engage critically and analytically with the literature in the field, building upon relevant concepts and theories introduced in the taught elements of the degree and deploying a range of primary and secondary sources as well as appropriate data-analytic and bibliographic skills. Each student will be allocated a research supervisor by the end of the second semester to advise on and oversee their research progress. |
| Course description |
Students on the MSc Conflict, Security, and Development have the opportunity to embark on a work-based placement which they then write a report on in place of a standard academic dissertation. The normal expectation is that the student, in liaison with the host organisation and their supervisor, will propose a specific research topic or question for a substantive piece of research of 12,000 words which relates to the work of the host organisation. This then constitutes the work-based placement Analytical Report. The form of the student's output to the host organisation will vary depending on the nature of the placement and the host organisation's needs. Whatever the format in which the student presents their results to the host organisation, the Analytical section submitted to the University as part of the work-based dissertation must be framed critically, referring to and situating itself within relevant scholarly literature and debates.
Students will also be asked to submit fortnightly progress updates to their academic supervisor. These progress updates will later be compiled into a single document of up to 3,000 words for inclusion in the placement-based dissertation (note, these progress updates can be edited upon completion of the placement and prior to the final submission of the placement-based dissertation). This is the Project Diary, which will be subject of formal assessment in conjunction with the Analytic Report. The diary should include a description of the work undertaken, an analysis of how this fits into the overall aims and objectives of the placement, a description and analysis of any obstacles encountered in fulfilling these aims and objectives, and a description and analysis of the attempts made to overcome these obstacles.
This is a dissertation course. Therefore, the primary form of student experience consists of students conducting their own research and working on an in-depth project. All students will be supported by an assigned academic supervisor and expectations of that support is specificed in the dissertation handbook. Generally, students can expect
- 3-4 consultations (on campus or remotely)
- detailed feedback on one chapter of the report as well brief feedback as on the diary submissions;
- help with and feedback on the general structure and organisation of the project;
- responses to specific queries.
The placement based dissertation option requires students to meet the eligibility criteria set by the School for placement based dissertations. This requires an average mark of at least 60% in the first semester, attendance at the research ethics and pre-placement information sessions and, evidence of suitability to work with vulnerable groups (if required depending on nature of work in the host organisation). Students apply for placements and spaces are limited. It is not guaranteed that students will be placed or placed with the organisation the apply for.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Block 5 (sem 2) |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
600
(
Lecture Hours 5,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 12,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
583 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100%: Dissertation , 15,000 words
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| Feedback |
All students will be supported by an assigned academic supervisor and expectations of that support is specificed in the dissertation handbook. In addition to the feedback provided to students through the supervisory process, students will receive feedback on their proposals through the required course International development: research design and practice. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Plan and execute a significant piece of independent research that demonstrates knowledge of academic and policy debates relevant to the field
- Critically engage relevant concepts and theories in presenting a sustained argument which uses the significant relevant literature in the field
- Exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in time and task management in the dissertation writing and agreed placement, taking primary responsibility for all aspects of their work
- Deal self-reflexively with complex ethical and academic issues
- Employ professional standards in referencing and presentation
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Display the ability to critically employ theories and concepts from social research for the analysis of a range of empirical examples
Develop a critical awareness of current issues in social research along with an understanding of how social research intersects with other disciplinary domains
Be able to communicate your acquired methodological and analytical insights to academic and non-academic audiences alike |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Maggie Dwyer
Tel: (0131 6)51 5076
Email: M.Dwyer@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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