Final Year Project in Politics and International Relations

Key information

Start date
End date
Year of study
Final Year
Duration
Full
Module code
153400169
FHEQ Level
6
Credits
30
Department
Department of Politics and International Studies

Module overview

The Final Year Project allows students to develop an independent research and writing project on an approved topic and supervised by a member of academic staff in the Department.

The project usually takes the format of a 10.000 word dissertation, but other formats are possible. It is accompanied by a compulsory seminar that provides training and guidance on how to design, research and write/present the project. The seminar runs throughout terms one and two and is intended as a forum in which students present their ideas and get feedback from peers as well as a forum for support and guidance on their project.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

  • Understand and engage with a key issue or problem in the area of international relations and politics.
  • Show their ability to undertake a literature review and position themselves within it
  • Organise their ideas through theoretical and empirical material and plan, develop and present an argument in relation to this.
  • Show their ability to effectively gather, manage and organise relevant data in support of their argument.
  • Demonstrate their ability to work independently or in a team under the guidance of an academic supervisor.
  • Demonstrate good academic research practice, analytical skills, and competence in academic writing or another format of presenting their project

Workload

  • 1 hour lecture per week 
  • T2: Additional 1 hour tutorial per week 

Method of assessment

Dissertation: 100%

Suggested reading

  • Turabian, Kate L. 2013. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Eighth Edition: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Smith, Karen, Malcolm Todd, and Julia Waldman. 2009. Doing your undergraduate social science dissertation. Abingdon: Routledge.
  • Judith Burnett. 2009. Doing your Social Science Dissertation. London: Sage
  • Roselle, Laura and Sharon Spray. 2008. Research and Writing in International Relations. London: Pearson Education.
  • Jegede et al., 2020. Writing Successful Undergraduate Dissertations in Social Sciences: A Student's Handbook (2nd Edn.), Abingdon: Routledge

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules

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