Independent study resulting in dissertation of up to 15,000 words in length, on a research topic of the student's own devising, in consultation with a supervisor.

3-4 supervisorial meetings of 30 minutes to an hour each as arranged between student and supervisor.

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ 1 dissertation of up to 15000 words

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the Dissertation, but extensions to the deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course aims to:

develop and sustain an argument in an area of the student's personal research interest in the period 1880s-present day.

promote an engagement with other scholarly, critical, or theoretical arguments relevant to that area.

encourage the application of acquired research skills to a supervised project.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

■ Identify an appropriate research topic, in consultation with their supervisor

■ Formulate an appropriate research question for their topic

■ Evaluate primary and secondary material for inclusion in an extended piece of writing at this level

■ Show their ability to summarise, comment on and analyse this material appropriately

■ Organise their work into a coherent, sustained argument of up to 15,000 words, with the potential for further development to MLitt or PhD standard.

■ Apply the research methods and skills learnt during the rest of the taught course to a programme of supervised independent study