Dissertation for MSc Finance and Development

Students are required to complete a 10,000-word dissertation in applied economics on an approved topic focusing on finance and development (100% of module mark). Students are encouraged to select topics appropriate to their specific programme and expertise within the Department more generally. Students are required to submit a proposed dissertation title, approved by a member of staff, during the second term.

The dissertation is completed during the summer under the supervision of a member of the Department. Supervisors are allocated by the Department based on approved topics and staff availability. Supervisors provide guidance on source material, hypothesis formulation, research methods and structure but will not read complete drafts.

Dissertations must be submitted in September. They are marked by two internal examiners (the supervisor and another member of the Department) and in some cases by an external examiner. Dissertations are assessed on the basis of presentation, structure, analytical depth and originality.

Recent titles have included:

• Asset-Backed Securitization: A Route to Financial Maturity in Emerging Markets?
• Financial Sector Fragility and Macroeconomic Crisis
• Bond Issuance for Development Finance: The Cases of International Finance Facility and Asian Bond Market Initiatives
• Banking Crisis: A Case Study of the Dabhol Power Company
• Does South Africa suffer from the ‘Fear of Float’ Syndrome? An Analysis of the Efficacy and Challenges of a Managed Floating Exchange Rate Regime with Financial Integration.
• Global Financial Flows and Development Investments
  
  
  

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate their substantial understanding of a key issue, topic or theme relating to economics applied to finance and development.
• Organize their ideas in response to theoretical and empirical material and plan, develop and present a written argument in relation to this.
• Show their ability to effectively gather, manage, synthesize and employ relevant data in support of their written argument.
• Demonstrate their capacity to work independently under the guidance of an academic supervisor.
• Show that they have followed good academic research practice and have achieved a good level of competence in academic writing.

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules