EC4499 Dissertation in Economics

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Full Year

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

40

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available only to students in the second year of any Honours Economics Programmes.

Planned timetable

When confirmed, check online https://timetables.st-andrews.ac.uk/.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr V Prasad

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Vivek Prasad

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module is designed to develop students' independent research, writing and presentation skills. The dissertation should present original research applying economic and/or econometric methods to a selected topic in economics. The topic should be chosen by students in consultation with their supervisor. Students require approval for their preliminary dissertation outline from both the supervisor and the Principal Module Teacher by the end of the first week of Semester 1. The maximum number of words allowed is 15,000 but students will be advised to cover the topic in around 12,000. The lecture part of the module will train students' research skills in framing a research hypothesis, conducting bibliographic research, writing a literature survey, structuring a research paper, and presenting research results.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS EC3301

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE EC4498

Assessment pattern

Dissertation = 80%, Coursework = 20%

Re-assessment

Dissertation revise and resubmit = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

5 lectures and 6 meetings with supervisor over the year.

Scheduled learning hours

11

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

389

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Master a body of literature dealing with a particular area of economics
  • Learn how to frame a research hypothesis, conduct bibliographic research, write a literature review, and structure a research paper
  • Develop your presentation skills and learn how to structure a presentation
  • Gain experience in conducting applied economic research and/or applied econometric research
  • Gain experience in writing an economics research paper