DISSERTATION - 2024/5

Module Overview

This module is designed to enable students to consolidate and further advance the knowledge and skills acquired during the taught components of the programme, and gain experience working independently on an extended project through a work placement of at least 160 hours accompanied by a critical report. It is the responsibility of students to find a professional placement approved by the programme director. The programme director will support students in finding a placement by fostering engagement opportunities with Careers Services, supporting students with identifying and marketing their strengths and establishing contacts to businesses, if possible.

Module provider

School of Literature and Languages

Module Leader

DIPPOLD Doris (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 60

ECTS Credits: 30

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

• Workshops to guide students on placement opportunities and the project structure and content


• Individual feedback on the suitability of placements and projects


• One to one supervisory meetings

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

n/a

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to produce an original piece of work commensurate with masters level, work independently and comply with academic standards.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• an MA dissertation of 8000-1000 words (100% weighting). The dissertation will either consist of a reflection on the work placement or feature independent empirical research centered on the placement providers interests.

Formative assessment: Tutors will give formative feedback on each section of your dissertation, given that it is submitted before an agreed deadline. Tutors will also give formative (though less detailed) feedback on the completed dissertation, if submitted at least ten days before the final deadline. You will have the opportunity to discuss the feedback in meetings with your tutor (up to 4).

Module aims

• This module aims to:
  guide students along the identification of an appropriate work placement
• advise students on the structure and feasibility of their project to ensure it is manageable and achievable within the scope of an MA project
• provide an opportunity for students to gain experience working in a professional environment relevant to their course of study
• offer an opportunity for students to discuss issues related to their project with a supervisor
• guide students along the production of an extended piece of written academic work
• enable students to synthesize and further develop the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the academic year

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• consolidate and further develop skills and knowledge acquired throughout the academic year


• stimulate critical thinking and independent work


• develop time-management and interpersonal skills

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Professional placement (150 hours)


• Workshops (6 hours) as orientation for finding a placement and for dissertation orientation


• Independent work (444 hours)

Advice from personal tutors on placement opportunities throughout the academic year and individual consultation and discussion during agreed supervision meetings.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: CMCM067

Other information

Employability: As a result of your work placement, this module will provide you with the skills to reflect on working practices in your own professional context. You will learn to assess your own skills and interests with respect to future employment and be able to network with potential future employers. Through planning and executing your dissertation project, you will develop project management skills that are applicable to future employment.

Resourcefulness and Resilience: Working in a new environment can be imbued with obstacles, relating to working with others and dealing with unfamiliar working processes. This module will equip you the opportunity to overcome these obstacles and develop resilience for the future through support and feedback by your academic and placement supervisors. In addition, your resilience and resourcefulness will also develop as a result of the agile decision-making process which you will need to engage in to write up your dissertation.

Digital Capabilities: Writing a dissertation requires the use of a range of digital tools for collecting, storing and organizing any evidence you are using as well as preparing the main written document. The dissertation project will equip you with the skills to use relevant software tools for these tasks (e.g. bibliographic databases, business databased). Many of these tools are also used in other professional contexts. Moreover, your specific placement contexts may also expose you to additional digital tools, skills in which are transferable to other work contexts.

Additional Costs: Additional costs may be incurred within the Dissertation module if the work placement is opted for.

Additional costs may include, inter alia, travel to and from the workplace, any required accommodation and related subsidiary costs.

The amount may be variable and it is not included in the fees.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2024/5 academic year.