• University of Exeter Business School
• Module

Dissertation

Module description

In this module, you will write an academic dissertation. The academic dissertation allows you to demonstrate your ability at identifying and analysing an economic problem using economic models and/or econometric methods. You will come up with a topic of your own choice, which can be theoretical or empirical in nature, manage self-driven enquiry and write up a piece of research.

The supervision arrangement for the academic dissertation will consist of one member of faculty. You are encouraged to seek your own supervisor.

Additional Information:

Internationalisation

The analytical skills developed and employed in this module will be applicable across institutions and countries and are multinational in nature.

Employability

By solving statistical mathematical problems and exercises, students are equipped with practical problem-solving skills, theoretical skills, and an understanding of mathematical relationships. All of these are highly valuable in both academic and non-academic jobs.

Sustainability

The resources for this module are available on the ELE (Exeter Learning Environment).

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of the dissertation is to allow you to develop skills to identify and analyse an economic problem. You will acquire knowledge of the existing literature, identify the key economic trade-offs, acquire necessary tools to analyse these trade-offs, and analyse the economic problem using economic and/or econometric techniques.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Provide literature and awareness of state of knowledge in a specific area.
• 2. Identify economic problems, show ability to provide mathematical representation and and or ability to collect and analyse data.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Relate real-life problems to subject specific knowledge examined through previous and current modules.
• 4. Assemble and synthesise a complex body of existing relevant research.
• 5. Utilise appropriate analytical or statistical techniques to reach an answer to a previously defined research question.
• 6. For empirical dissertations, utilise existing data sets or generate new ones through experiments/questionnaires.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Pursue, under supervision, a sustained program of individual work outside of a classroom setting.
• 8. Evaluate critically existing ideas and perceive areas of weakness or areas which may be usefully analysed.
• 9. Complete, as an individual, a multistage task within a defined period, as assisted by the supervision process.

Syllabus plan

Step 1: Dissertation proposals as agreed with module convenor.

Step 2: Proposal submission and assessment.

Step 3: Writing, presentation and submission of dissertation in September (exact date TBA).

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Students will develop a bibliography/reference list relevant to their chosen topic, under the guidance of their supervisor. The specific literature varies from topic to topic and will include textbooks and recent research articles.

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Dissertation