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Module

NBS8199 : Dissertation (Dual Award)

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Dean Pierides
  • Owning School: Newcastle University Business School
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 50
ECTS Credits: 25.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

This compulsory module provides the opportunity for students to undertake independent academic research into a problem relating to an area of international business management. Drawing on their knowledge, skills and analytical tools across the AIBM/M programmes, students are required to:

• undertake independent research to examine a relevant research topic;
• review the academic literature to identify, analyse, and synthesise relevant information;
• critically evaluate and apply an appropriate methodology;
• apply established techniques of research and enquiry to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline;
• deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly;
• produce an individual written dissertation providing information on the use of literature, research methods, findings and conclusions;
• defend their research in an oral viva voce examination.

Outline Of Syllabus

The content of this capstone module includes contemporary research relating to international business management issues covered as part of the AIBM/M programmes that students will examine in independent study.The module allows students to demonstrate their understanding of a wide range of materials covered on the programme, building on research methods tuition and guided by a supervisor from each institution. There is no set syllabus.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1494:00494:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDissertation/project related supervision61:006:00N/A
Total500:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Research methods modules and workshops delivered at the respective institution will underpin the dissertation. The dissertation is an independent piece of work that will be supported by a joint supervision team. Students are entitled to up to six hours of supervision. This includes, but is not restricted to, individual meetings, group meetings, telephone calls, and email support. It is for the supervision team to agree on the most appropriate methods for supervision at the different stages of the dissertation. It is expected that students will coordinate their supervision team and include both supervisors in all communications.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Oral Examination301A10An oral defence will take place after the supervisors have independently marked the dissertation and have deemed it to have passed.
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Dissertation1M90Dissertation of 15,000 words
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Research proposal3MFull research proposal submitted in September.
Research paper3MDraft dissertation for supervisor comments prior to submission.
Written exercise2MPreliminary research proposal submitted in May/June
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The 15,000-word dissertation is the main assessment of this module, complemented by an oral defence (viva voce examination). An in-depth written report allows students to demonstrate their ability to undertake independent research at Master's level. The oral defence tests students' ability to defend their work and establish whether they have a satisfactory knowledge of the wider field surrounding the research topic.

Formative assessment will take place through a preliminary research proposal submitted at the start of the dissertation journey (May/June), a full research proposal submitted at the start of the supervision period (September) and a draft dissertation submitted prior to the final submission deadline. Formative feedback will also be provided as part of the supervision process. There is no dedicated word count for the three formative assessment tasks.

Reading Lists

Timetable