module specification

The dissertation is a major part of the Masters course and for this reason it carries triple the weight of a normal module. It allows you to conduct an extended investigation into a topic of your choice within the field of mental health.  It may be the biggest test of the academic skills that you have developed during your career to date and on the Masters course in particular. This guide introduces you to the major aspects of the dissertation.  We recommend that you read this guide thoroughly at the outset so that you are aware of the demands of this part of the course.  In our experience, one of the principal reasons that students don’t get the marks they are capable of is that they do not appreciate the demands that the dissertation places upon them.

None

• To integrate the skills and knowledge-base underpinning the core modules that make up the MA in mental health and wellbeing and focus these on a specific question
• To apply appropriate skills of analysis and critique existing research in the exploration of issues related to mental health and Wellbeing.
• To test the student’s ability to plan, organise and write a lengthy prose work.
• To promote critical reflection on the process of developing and executing a sustained piece of work  within an identified area of mental health and wellbeing

The syllabus will provide students the opportunity to bring together all prior learning across the wider Masters and Mental Health & Wellbeing and through the identification of a suitable topic of focus that reflects areas of learning, undertake to construct an extensive piece of work that demonstrates an understanding of how mental health and wellbeing relate to those who are experts by experience or the way in which service provision is and can be organised to improve the mental health of either individuals or communities.

Students should be able to reflect on a range of issues across mental health and wellbeing and be able to reflect upon wider policy and how it informs service provision.

During the early stages of the dissertation, seminars and workshops will be held to familiarise students with the aims and methodology of the dissertation.  In addition, specialist sessions will be held with library staff and previous dissertations will be made available.  Following the allocation of the dissertation supervisor, there will be formal personal dissertation supervision sessions.

On completion of this 60-credit dissertation module, students should be able to:
1. Formulate a project proposal justifying the methodologies selected. This includes submission of a dissertation proposal form.
2. Demonstrate an ability to plan, organise and write a dissertation using normal conventions.
3. Investigate a particular topic or question, which has a relevancy and base grounded in the knowledge and skills of the core modules in mental health and wellbeing.
4. Demonstrate synthesis between the literature and materials used and the findings of the dissertation.

Full time students should begin to apply due consideration to their dissertation in Autumn at the commencement of their course and complete in August/September of the following calendar year, i.e. 2013 start submitting Sept 2014.
Most part time students will commence their dissertation in Autumn at the start of their second year and complete it in Spring the following year.  However, some students, particularly those who start their programmes in Spring will start the dissertation in the following Spring and complete it in the following Autumn. 

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