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. The student 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 in a bound form and one copy uploaded electronically to MMS before 5pm on Friday 30 August 2013.
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.
Regulations on presentation, definition of word count and declarations to be included in M Litt dissertations can be found in the Policy for Students and Supervisors on taught postgraduate programmes.
The School has produced a set of practical Guidelines for dissertations. These are for guidance only.
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. Marks above 7 will be eligible for the Postgraduate Diploma.