An original research dissertation of between 12,000 and 15,000 words. This word count includes abstract, references and footnotes, but not the bibliography or any appendices. The work will be on a specific field, subject or issue linked to religion and global challenges and will demonstrate a thorough understanding of the appropriate scholarly literature in the field.

5 x 1-hour supervisory meetings

None

Students must have successfully completed the 120-credit taught component of the MSc programme in Religion and Global Challenges in order to progress to dissertation. This includes successful completion of the two core courses:

■ Research Training and Approaches to Studying Religions

■ Case Studies in Religion and Global Challenges

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Dissertation of between 12,000 and 15,000 words. This word count includes abstract, references and footnotes, but not the bibliography or any appendices.

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 an extension to the deadline 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:

■ Enable students to develop and sustain at a high level an argument in an area of personal research interest in the field of religion and its role in global challenges such as: conflict, peace initiatives, development, health, environment, nationhood, identity, migration

■ Promote engagement with and sustained analysis of scholarly, critical, or theoretical arguments relevant to the chosen research area

■ Advance the application of acquired research skills to a supervised project

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

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

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

■ Design and construct a convincing interpretation of research material by evaluating primary and secondary material and analysing it appropriately.

■ Communicate their work in a coherent, sustained argument of between 12,000 and 15,000 words using academically rigorous conventions appropriate to Masters level