Dissertation (MA HE)
About the Dissertation
The Dissertation is taken as the last unit of the MA HE. There are three enrolments per year, in September, January and April. Please contact the Programme Leader, Dr Eileen Pollard (E.Pollard@mmu.ac.uk) to discuss eligibility and enrolment.
NB: to register for the Dissertation unit (60 M level credits), you must have completed the PG Diploma (120 M level credits) stage of the MA in HE programme.
The Dissertation should focus on an area of Higher Education academic or professional services policy and or practice. It can be composed of one of three formats:
- A traditional research-based Dissertation using primary research or a combination of primary and secondary research.
- A structured and critical examination of a topic/material/issue.
- A product plus accompanying narration.
Where participants elect to produce a research-based Dissertation the work will normally follow the traditional pattern of rationale, conception, literature review, methodological design, data collection, analysis, and synthesis of outcomes.
Where participants are conducting a structured examination of existing data this may take the form of a systematic review of literature, a case study of intervention, an organisational study or a study of an aspect of curriculum or professional service delivery.
Where participants elect to produce a product this will be narrated via a written introduction, methodology and bibliography with a brief executive summary.
These are only examples and participants are encouraged explore any aspect of their Higher Education practice in a variety of ways. During the Researching Higher Education unit which precedes the Dissertation unit, there will be discussions on possible topics and formats. An individual supervisor will be allocated at the start of the 12 month period of registration for the Dissertation.
Non-desk literature based Dissertations are strictly subject to MMU’s Ethics Procedures.
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Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, participants should be able to:
- Critically evaluate relevant Higher Education literature in the context of your individual research.
- Apply relevant research paradigms, theoretical frameworks and methodologies in the context of your Higher Education research.
- Plan, organise and execute an ethical enquiry in a Higher Educational context illustrating critical analysis and evaluation.
- Synthesise assumptions, arguments and evidence in developing an organised and coherent research project.
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Content
Participants are encouraged and facilitated to form and sustain an informal community of practice with their peers and supervisors during their Dissertation year. We aim to foster and provide peer and tutor support, critical questioning and feedback. Meetings to discuss and present and critically feedback on ‘work in progress’ will be arranged to facilitate such interactions.
Meetings with supervisors occur at intervals as agreed between the participant and supervisor and up to 5 hours of tutor time are allocated.
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Unit Assessment
Formative assessment
- Submission of formal ethical EthOS application and approval if required.
- Participants to present their ‘work in progress’ to a group including peers and supervisors, at a defined point during the period of registration.
Summative assessment
- Participants will produce an extended piece of work. There is flexibility in the formats as previously described.
How to apply
Please contact the Dissertation Unit Leader (and Programme Leader), Dr Eileen Pollard (E.Pollard@mmu.ac.uk) for further information about eligibility and enrolment.
Please note
- Do not register for this unit until you have acquired 120 M level PG Diploma credits or their equivalent.
- Contact utacpd@mmu.ac.uk if you have any queries.
- Units are delivered online.
- Processing time required for applications and preparation time for participants means that the last registration date cannot be extended.
Delivery Dates and Registration
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Spring 2024 - CLOSED
Dissertation - CLOSED
Key details
Registration deadline: 18 December 2023.
Date Activity Location 30 Jan 24, 1-2pm Dissertation starters’ get-together online 13 Jan 2025 Final Submission Deadline Moodle -
Summer 2024 - CLOSED
Dissertation - CLOSED
Registration deadline: 15th April 2024
Date Activity Location 14 May 2024, 1-2pm Dissertation starters’ get-together online 6 May 2025 Final Submission Deadline Moodle
Information for 2024/2025
Listed below are the sessions scheduled to run in 2024/2025.
Registrations will open in June 2024
All dates are provisional, and are subject to change.
Delivery Dates and registration for 2024/2025
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Autumn - 2024
Dissertation - Autumn 2024
Registrations will open in June 2024
Taught sessions: Tuesday 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Date Activity Location 8 October 2024 Dissertation starters’ get-together online 22 October 2024 Ethics online 6 October 2025 Final Submission Deadline Moodle -
Spring - 2025
Dissertation - Spring 2025
Registrations will open in June 2024
Taught sessions: Tuesday 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Date Activity Location 28 January 2025 Dissertation starters’ get-together online 11 February 2025 Ethics online 12 January 2026 Final Submission Deadline Moodle -
Summer - 2025
Dissertation - Summer 2025
Registrations will open in June 2024
Taught sessions: Tuesday 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Date Activity Location 13 May 2025 Dissertation starters’ get-together online 27 May 2025 Ethics online 5 May 2026 Final Submission Deadline Moodle
Contact Us
Contact us
If you have any further questions, please contact Unit Leader Eileen Pollard or Programme Administration using the contact details below.