The dissertation holds significant importance for you as it serves multiple purposes and offers valuable benefits:
Research Skills Development: Through the dissertation, you will engage in independent research, allowing you to develop crucial skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving. It provides an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and methodologies learned throughout their studies.
In-Depth Understanding of a Topic: The dissertation allows you to delve deeply into a specific subject of their choice. This focused exploration enables you to gain comprehensive knowledge and expertise in your area of interest, fostering intellectual growth and specialisation.
Showcasing Academic Abilities: A well-written dissertation demonstrates a your ability to articulate ideas clearly, present logical arguments, and provide evidence-based conclusions. It showcases your academic abilities and potential to future employers or academic institutions for further studies.
Building Confidence: Successfully completing a dissertation is a significant achievement that should boost your confidence in their research and academic abilities. It instills a sense of accomplishment and empowers you to tackle complex tasks in your future careers.
The dissertation requires a well-structured and professionally written report on a specific topic. It should be approximately 4,000 words, with 1.5 line spacing and 11 or 12 point font. The report should include a cover page with essential details, including the word count. Proper referencing using the Harvard Citation system is crucial, and references should be predominantly from peer-reviewed literature. The report must address the introduction, critically evaluate published literature, include tables and figures with legends, and provide a concise conclusion.
Clear Understanding: Explain technical principles concisely, demonstrating a strong understanding of the topic and the ability to synthesise information effectively.
Proper Referencing: Use the Harvard Citation system, including names and dates of references in the text, and an alphabetical list with full publication details at the end. All references in the text must be cited in the list, and vice versa. Figures and tables should be referenced to their sources unless they are your original work.
Figures and Tables: Number figures and tables accordingly, providing each with a legend. Ensure they are intelligible to someone in the field even when seen in isolation.
References: Most successful dissertations cite between approximately 15 and 40 references, with a preference for formally published sources such as refereed journal articles.
Competency in Addressing Key Points: The written report should effectively address the introduction, critically evaluate the published literature, include tables and figures with accompanying legends, and provide a concise conclusion.
