Dissertation

MSc students complete an independent dissertation project during the summer on a topic which is themed with their programme of study. For part time students, this will usually be in the final year of their registration. The dissertation is worth 60 credits, or one third of the total credits required for the MSc qualification. The research undertaken for the dissertation draws upon the extensive research experience of the academic staff and is supported by state-of-the art experimental and analytical facilities in the department. It may include laboratory work, field studies and modelling, or any combination of these activities, as appropriate. The content can range from experimental studies and field investigations through to numerical evaluation, and encompass both theoretical analysis and applied aspects of the material taught on the MSc programme.

Students select dissertation topics at the end of the Autumn semester. In many cases, dissertations are offered in collaboration with industry partners and external organisations, providing the opportunity for students to work on topical problems and gain valuable industrial experience in a commercial environment. In these cases, you will be supervised jointly by an academic member of staff and an industry supervisor, and have access to data, software and other assistance from the industry partner to complete your dissertation. Where possible, you will be able to spend time working at the location of the industry partner during your dissertation. Some MSc projects are linked with, and supported by, research programmes undertaken within the department. This provides the opportunity to work within a larger team of researchers and contribute to these longer-term studies. We also offer part time students the opportunity of developing a joint project in collaboration with their employer, subject to certain conditions. This enables students to tailor their dissertation topic to suit their personal interests and the technical or commercial needs of their employer.

After completing their dissertation, MSc students produce a short technical paper on their work and present this to their colleagues at a departmental MSc conference in September. Each student is provided with a copy of the conference proceedings containing all the conference papers, in recognition of the event and their achievement.