How Do I Write a Masters Level Dissertation?

What is Masters Level?

A master's degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded after the completion of an academic program usually 2-3 years in duration. Masters Level work is usually more in-depth. It will usually look at a very specific area of the topic that the student is studying.

What is a Dissertation?

A dissertation (sometimes called a 'thesis') is a document that presents the author's research and findings and is submitted in support of candidature for a degree or professional qualification. It is usually lengthy (5,000 - 15,000 words). At Masters' standard, the dissertation will usually be very focused and specific on a narrow area of the subject the student is studying. A Masters dissertation will be far narrower than an undergraduate level dissertation. It will show a greater depth of research, more sources and a more sophisticated standard of writing and organisation than an undergraduate piece.

What are the standard parts of a Dissertation?

The standard parts are as follows (customers may ask for a different structure and a different number of words for each section - for example, some customers have a long introduction rather than a separate introduction and background).

• Title Page - Shows the title of the dissertation and the author




• Abstract - 150-300 word summary of what the reader can expect to find in the dissertation




• Table of contents - An index of everything in the dissertation - it should not include the title and contents page!




• Introduction - A summary of 100 – 200 words, stating what the objectives are/what you are going to write about




• Background - A section written with the assumption that the reader knows nothing, and it should therefore give them a full account of what they need to know to appreciate the issues at stake




• Methodology - States what you are going to do and how you plan on doing it. The methodology should be approximately 200 – 300 words (+read more)




• Literature Review - A review of relevant theory and the most recent published information on the issue




• Evidence - What you have discovered and what you have concluded from it




• Conclusion - States what you have discovered and what you have concluded from it. You should not be presenting new ideas or new sources in the conclusion




• Recommendations - Should emerge from the conclusion, suggest what is to be done, who is to do it and how/when it is to be done, and be justified based on findings, not just the opinion of the writer




• Referencing - You need to reference all of your sources properly




• Appendix - Any graphs or diagrams you have used when writing your dissertation

If the tutor has not given you any guidance, or has suggested a 'standard structure' or the like, it is acceptable to use the structure set out here.

Quality Standard - Masters Level Dissertation

For Masters Level dissertations, the quality should meet the following criteria:

• Has the student, after initial guidance, shown independence and initiative in the formulation of coherent topic for investigation?




• Has the student acquired a suitable level of knowledge regarding the subject area under investigation?




• Have they demonstrated both in-depth knowledge of the specific subject as well as breadth of knowledge relating its wider context?




• Is the student suitably aware of current debates within their field of study?




• Have they sustained a suitable level of criticality in their analyses of both primary and secondary sources of data?




• Does the student demonstrate significant levels of independent thought?




• Do they know and use the correct methodologies, terms and conventions for their subject area?




• Is the content appropriate to the title and the research questions outlined in the introduction?




• Is the work well structured and does it lead to a suitable conclusion?




• Has the researcher demonstrated appropriate bibliographic and referencing skills?




• Are there appropriate accompanying illustrations? (where applicable)




• To what extent is the work approaching publishable and professional standard?

Presentation:

• Is the work neatly presented according to the customer's instructions or standard practice? Including title page, contents, lists of tables and figures, acknowledgements, appendices, spacings etc




• Are the references and bibliography laid out in the correct style, following the format laid down by the customer or using footnotes if the customer has not specified one?




• Are the illustrations (if applicable) well and suitably presented according to standard practice?




• Has the researcher demonstrated suitable writing skills (i.e. is the work in a suitable academic style; are the grammar, spelling and punctuation correct; is the writing suitably concise and precise)?




• Has the work been well proof read (i.e. how many typographic errors etc. remain)?

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