MPH8099 : Dissertation
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Professor Mark Pearce
- Lecturer: Dr Emma Slack, Dr Steph Scott
- Deputy Module Leader: Dr Shelina Visram
- Owning School: Population Health Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 5 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 5 |
| Semester 3 Credit Value: | 50 |
| ECTS Credits: | 30.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To give students the opportunity to apply the understanding and methods from the taught course to the investigation of a relevant problem, in the form of a substantial piece of research written up into a dissertation. In doing this, students will further develop skills in problem analysis, literature review, data handling, data analysis, interpretation, presentation and in project management.
Outline Of Syllabus
The purpose of this module is for students to see a research project in public health, healthcare and social care settings through from conception to completion in the form of writing the project up into a dissertation, with related oral presentation, in accordance with academic conventions and standards. In the end, students will have gained first-hand knowledge of how research projects are designed, implemented, adjusted and managed including negotiating ethics and research governance. The content of the module will depend on the specifics of the project that the individual student chooses.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 3 | 3:00 | 9:00 | Present in person. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 6:00 | 6:00 | Protocol and presentation preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 100 | 1:00 | 100:00 | |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 6:00 | 6:00 | Present in person: Presentations 20 mins per student |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Present in person: as agreed with supervisors |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 471:00 | 471:00 | |
| Total | 600:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
This project will provide individual students with hands on experience of at least one research method using one or more techniques thus deepening students’ experience of research. Together with the development of a range of professional and key skills, the students will be trained and empowered to engage in teaching and/or research in higher education or in a professional capacity in the health service or other fields of employment.
Students require at least two supervisors, one of whom must be employed by Newcastle University. Students will discuss their projects with their supervisors and will gain additional insights about current research, research methods, problems and their solutions by temporary membership of their supervisor’s research group. The summation of learning will be expressed in the form of a dissertation reflecting the practicalities of conducting the project as well as the conclusions that may be drawn from it. They will also present the findings of their research in an assessed oral presentation at the end of the academic year.
Project lists are sent out at the start of the academic year, but students can bring their own project ideas, and the module team will try to assist them in finding supervisors.
Formative presentations will be very early in semester 2, with the formative protocol submission 2 weeks later.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 3 | M | 80 | 8,000 words |
| Oral Presentation | 3 | M | 20 | 15 minute presentation followed by 5 minute discussion, based on the contents of the dissertation |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 2 | M | Project protocol (6 pages including references) based on the presentation & subsequent feedback. All are reviewed by the module team to ensure the projects are of Masters level, have the right supervision team and that ethics & risks have been assessed. |
| Oral Presentation | 2 | M | 15 minute presentation on project protocol, followed by 5 minute discussion |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The methods of assessment have been chosen purposefully to extend the students important transferable (written and oral communication) skills which they will require if pursuing research to advanced level in higher education (e.g. PhD) or in a professional capacity in other fields of employment (e.g. Public Health, Research Management).
Planning and organising skills are assessed by the project management appendix.
The project protocol will not count towards the dissertation mark but students are expected to complete both assessments. The module team will provide feedback on a maximum of 2 submissions for each student. Students will be expected to present their protocol and submit a written version of it.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MPH8099's Timetable