Dissertation in Buddhist Studies

The purpose of the dissertation is to enable students to demonstrate their capacity to carry out a substantial piece of independent academic work on a selected topic in Buddhist Studies. Students will be assessed on their capacity to define a topic for examination, to articulate a coherent scheme for examining this topic, to gather the necessary information, and to analyse and present this information in a way which satisfactorily assesses the topic which they have set themselves.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

On successful completion of the Dissertation in Buddhist Studies the student will have:

• Demonstrated their capacity to carry out a substantial piece of academic work on a selected topic in the field of Buddhist Studies.
• Defined a topic for examination and articulated a coherent scheme for examining the topic.
• Gathered the relevant information and analysed and presented this information in a way which satisfactorily assesses the topic.

Method of assessment

• One dissertation proposal of 700 words and annotated bibliography (10%)
• One 10,000 word dissertation (90%)

Word count is defined as the number of words contained in the submitted work including quotations, footnotes, titles, abstracts, summaries and tables of contents. Appendices and bibliographies are not included in the word count. Appendices will not normally be marked and they must not include material essential to the argument developed in the main body of the work.

Suggested reading

Readings will vary according to the particular topic selected, but integral to the process of selecting a suitable topic is the choice of a topic for which adequate resources (whether books, journals, on-line resources etc.) are already available to a SOAS Masters student.

Convenor

• Stefania Travagnin

Guidelines for preparation of Masters dissertations

Postgraduate Taught Degree Dissertation Guidelines

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.