RE3DIS: Dissertation

Module code: RE3DIS

Module provider: Real Estate and Planning; Henley Business School

Credits: 40

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Emma Street, email: e.j.street@henley.reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE RE2PREP (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 9 July 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim of this module is to permit a student to conduct a substantial, and in parts original, research study on a topic of relevance to property, as selected by the student in consultation with the module convenor and supported by a specific supervisor.  

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Select, and conduct research on, a topic of relevance to Real Estate and Planning practice; 
2. Produce a literature review; 
3. Design and execute an in-part original research project comprising of research methodology, methods, and data analysis tools and techniques as appropriate to the topic; 
4. Present results in order to support defensible conclusions, along with the support of an argument using citations. 

Module content

This module provides students with the opportunity to design and author a dissertation relating to a topic of relevance to Real Estate and Planning practice. Students are provided with support to begin developing a suitable topic from Semester 2 of Part 2. Students are introduced to the basics of social sciences research including how to design a research project through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. Much of this module teaching takes place in the first semester of Part 3. Students are supported to produce an assessed research proposal summarising their chosen topic, progress to date and setting out their plans to execute the dissertation. Supervisors are matched with students to help support the production of the final dissertation. Wherever possible these are subject experts in the students’ chosen topic area.   

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Guided independent study is the main teaching and learning method for the dissertation. Students opting for the module will be supported to begin developing a suitable topic from Semester 2 of Part 2 when a briefing session will be held. Topic ideas will then be developed during the first semester of Part 3 with support for topic selection given involving research methods training delivered via a range of formats, including lectures, seminars and workshops. Students will be supported to produce an assessed Research Proposal. A supervisor will then mentor the student to completion of the study. Wherever possible this will be a staff member with expertise in the topic area selected.  

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Student presentations of topic ideas will take place around the week 6 (Semester 1 Part 3)) break in module teaching, providing an opportunity for feedback prior to the submission of research proposals. 

Reassessment

Additional costs