IR4099 Honours Dissertation in International Relations

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Full Year

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

60

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

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

Semester 1: 1.00pm - 3.00pm Fri Semester 2: 1.00pm - 3.00pm Fri

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

Module coordinator

Dr F P Lehr

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

Module description

The dissertation will be not more than 12,000 words. Topics must be capable of being supervised by established staff and each student will (a) submit a dissertation outline to the School, (b) be assigned a supervisor, who will be available to discuss issues related to the dissertation, (c) be required to attend nine two-hour research seminars and five supervisory meetings of up to one hour. Eight one-hour tutorials (Guidelines for printing and binding dissertations can be found at: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/printanddesign/dissertation/)

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Anti-requisites

IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST NOT TAKE OR HAVE TAKEN ANY OTHER DISSERTATION MODULE

Assessment pattern

Question Statement = 5%, Literature Review (semester 1) = 15%, Dissertation (semester 2) = 80%

Re-assessment

No Re-assessment available

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

10 x 1-hour tutorial sessions, 10 x 2-hour research skills seminars, 5 x 1-hour individual consultation sessions with assigned supervisors. 1 x 1-hour information session in Semester 2 of the Junior Honours Year. Additional consultation hours with supervisor, tutor and the Dissertation Coordinator are also available.

Scheduled learning hours

36

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

Guided independent study hours

564

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • undertake independent research utilising appropriate scholarly resources and additional data sources;
  • apply concepts, theories, and methods used in the study of International Relations to a subject matter of their choice;
  • further develop their capacity to think critically and evaluate different interpretations of global political events and issues;
  • further refine their experience with producing detailed, engaging, and compelling academic writing, in a longer format that undertaken previously;
  • develop and utilise time-management techniques, demonstrating self-direction and motivation over an extended period;
  • reflect on and take responsibility for their own learning.