This unit of study allows students to explore in depth a public health subject which is of particular interest to them.  It facilitates students in the process of developing a focused research or review question and aims, using a systematic and rigorous process to gather and analyse data, presenting their findings, drawing conclusions from their study and making recommendations based on these. This process aims to enable students to develop skills in conducting and evaluating different types of research, and to understand the process of publishing their work.

The dissertation unit aims to enable the student to bring together key strands from their learning from the other level 7 units they have completed, enabling they them to showcase both the skills and knowledge in a self-managed but supervised study

Indicative Content 

Students will have access to a series of taught sessions and various learning resources related to: common research approaches and study designs, developing a study proposal, ethical issues in research. Specific unit content will be dependent on the methodology and subject of each student’s dissertation and will be facilitated by their supervisor

Venue and teaching methods

The unit uses a mix of learning strategies including taught online sessions and up to 12 hours of individual or group supervision time related to the student’s specific study

The unit will be delivered throughout the academic year. 

Learning outcomes

Intended learning outcomes (ILOs) Having successfully completed this unit the student is expected to demonstrate: 

1. The ability to design and conduct a clearly focused study. 
2. Knowledge and appropriate application of a particular methodological approach 
3. Understanding of appropriate methods of data collection and analysis to address a specific study question
4. Interpretation and evaluation of information related to specific study aims 
5. An understanding of key ethical issues 
6. An in-depth, critical, understanding of a topic of relevance to the award. 
7. All dissertations should address SDG 3, many submissions will address other SDGs tool.

Assessment

100% Coursework. The dissertation comprises a paper presenting the study which has been undertaken. 6000 words (10,000 words equivalent).