The MLitt Dissertation – Procedures and Regulations

The dissertation, which accounts for one third of the overall course mark, will mainly be researched and written during the summer following the second semester of the taught component of the degree programme.  In order to embark on a dissertation, a student must have obtained permission to proceed to the dissertation stage of the programme. S/He must also have agreed a topic with a member of staff willing to supervise the dissertation.

The following timetable should be observed:

  • Students should seek preliminary meetings with potential supervisors early in second semester (by the end of March)
  • Provisional title and supervisor should be identified by week 8. 
  • Students can expect 3 further meetings:
    • to confirm the topic (at the end of teaching, early May)
    • to discuss an initial outline and bibliography (before the middle of June)
    • to discuss a portion of written work, no more than 5,000 words (to be submitted no later than the end of July) – supervisors will normally read this within one week
  • Alternative arrangements can be made by mutual agreement

Two copies of the dissertation must be submitted to the School Office or the supervisor in a bound form by the University deadline (31 August). The length of the dissertation must not exceed 15,000 words. Markers will penalise excessive length. The dissertation will be double-marked internally and moderated by an external examiner.

The marking criteria applicable to MLitt dissertations comprise the desiderata listed above in 3.8 - a-f.
The School has produced a set of practical Guidelines for dissertations. These are available electronically as part of the Postgraduate “Handbook” on the School website. A hard copy may also be obtained from Mrs Elsie Johnstone in the School of History Office. 

Candidates who fail to attain an appropriate standard (of at least 13.5 on the marking scale) in the dissertation cannot be awarded the degree of MLitt and will be awarded the Graduate Diploma. In exceptional cases, and at the discretion of the Board of MLitt Examiners, a candidate may be allowed to re-submit a revised dissertation by 1 December.