Researching Education: The Dissertation (121X3A)

60 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Spring and summer teaching

You'll design, conduct, evaluate and report on an empirical study, typically conducted in your own professional context. You’ll synthesise and apply all the learning achieved over the course, meeting all the key learning outcomes. The module requires a highly specialist focus on an individual area of education, showing deep subject-specific and research knowledge, understanding and skills, in addition to professional learning.

You’ll develop a systematic and rigorous approach to the research process, working independently, as well as supported by small-groups and individual supervision.

The module will enable you to:

• design an empirical study with appropriate research questions
• conduct an ethical review
• conduct the data-collection, data-analysis and evaluation
• produce findings and recommendations for practice that could inform other professionals' understanding in this area.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 600 hours of work. This breaks down into about 24 hours of contact time and about 576 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.