ECM110NU-Dissertation

Module Provider: School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
Number of credits: 60 [30 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Semesters in which taught: Semester 1 / 2 module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites: ECM103 Research Methodology or ECM103NU Research Methodology
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Giovanni Razzu
Email: g.razzu@reading.ac.uk

NUIST Module Lead: Pan Xue
Email: x.pan@nuist.edu.cn

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module provides students the opportunity to produce a significant, in-depth analysis of a relevant topic in modern economics and data science. Students will be required to demonstrate that they have mastered the various abilities needed to do original research and to communicate their ideas in a standard format required of the economics community.

Aims:

The primary focus of this module is to learn how to apply the concepts taught in the other master’s modules in this programme in a coherent and informative fashion as it relates to investigating an economic problem. Students must demonstrate the ability to clearly define a research issue, develop an appropriate research design, properly structure a coherent research proposal, provide thorough and succinct analysis of the relevant theoretical and empirical literature, collect appropriate data if needed, provide a systematic, objective and carefully structured analysis of the information collected, draw relevant conclusions from the analysis and relating these to the existing literature, and demonstrate the originality of their research. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Students should become familiar with, and master the skills required to conduct modern original research in an appropriate area of economics.


• Students are required to produce coherent proposals, in-depth literature reviews, and concise descriptions of the methodologies needed to complete the economic investigation into their chosen topic.


• Students will have to demonstrate an ability to acquire relevant data, undertake modern economic analysis of any data or mathematical models, draw conclusions from their analysis and convey this information in a coherent written form which conforms to current economic standards.

Additional outcomes:

• Students will be required to complete a coherent piece of original research which explores a relevant economic issue.


• Students are expected to learn skills required to do relevant research, write reports, understand technical articles, and apply theoretical knowledge to real world situations.

Outline content:

Students will be required, in consultation with and the approval of their supervisor, to produce an original dissertation that conforms to current economic standards. This will require students to produce an acceptable proposal of their ideas and subsequently to produce written work of sufficient quality to demonstrate their ability to apply their economic knowledge and data skills in a new and original manner to an appropriate economic topic or question. 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Students will be required to consult with their dissertation supervisors over the course of the academic year. While research methods are taught in separate modules, supervisors are an important source of further guidance. Students will be required to read a significant amount of journal articles, and to undertake research using the library, internet, etc., to produce high quality written drafts and final documents.

Contact hours:

	Semester 1	Semester 2
Project Supervision	10	10
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	150	150
Advance preparation for classes	20	20
Completion of formative assessment tasks	20	20
Carry-out research project	25	25
Dissertation writing	75	75
Total hours by term	300	300
Total hours for module	600

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	30
Dissertation	70

Summative assessment- Examinations:

There is no examination.

In exceptional cases students might be asked to attend an oral examination following the submission of their dissertation. 

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Assessment is comprised of a dissertation proposal (30%) and the final dissertation (70%). The completed dissertation is expected to be approximately 10,000 – 12,000 words in length, excluding references and appendices.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 'Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes', which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A minimum mark of 50%. 

Reassessment arrangements:

Candidates whose results from the taught component of the programme (including second attempts where they have been permitted) are such that they are unable to fulfil the criteria for the award of the degree of Master will not be permitted reassessment in the dissertation.

Candidates who fail the dissertation at the first attempt and whose other results are such that a second attempt at the dissertation might lead to the award of the degree of Master will be permitted to resubmit the dissertation within twelve months from the original submission date, as determined by the Faculty Examiners’ Meeting.

Reassessment is by submission of a revised version of the written dissertation only.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text-books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 2 November 2023