MSc candidates write a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation on a topic of their own choice.

Dissertation supervision from May to August.

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A 12,000-15,000 word dissertation.

1. To allow students to explore a topic of interest in some depth.

2. To enable students to share ideas and experience in developing research proposals and methods.

3. To develop students' oral presentational skills by facilitating group presentations and discussions.

4. To enable students to develop and deploy library and internet skills in literature search and data source identification.

5. To develop students' IT skills including manipulation and presentation of statistical data.

6. To help students develop a clear understanding of various econometric techniques that should be used to analyse different economic, financial, political and social datasets.

7. To analyse actual economic data so as to produce a statistically adequate model;

8. To check the validity of the statistical assumptions underlying the model, using the sample data and revising the model specification as needed;

9. To use the model to obtain reasonably valid statistical test of economic theory and to address a research question.

In completing their dissertation, students should be able to demonstrate an ability to:

1. Manage and facilitate a substantial, focused piece of research using research methods and analytical techniques that are appropriate to their programme of study.

2. Identify and formulate hypotheses to be tested or problems to be addressed deriving from their analysis of the literature, and confront these hypotheses by mobilising relevant evidence and analysing it using statistical methods.

3. Evaluate findings and draw out their implications.

4. Present a substantial piece of written work that is clearly motivated and structured, and conforms to the requirements specified in the course documentation with regard to the quality of written work and to presentational features such as length, layout, citations and bibliography.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.