MRes Public Health (Web-based Learning) / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Dissertation for Masters of Research (Public Health and Primary Care)

Course unit fact file
Unit code POPH63160
Credit rating 90
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Full year
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The MRes dissertation is an opportunity for students to focus on a public health problem in which they have a particular interest. Students can then deepen their understanding and enhance their skills in interpreting existing evidence, alongside that which they generate themselves, as part of a research process. Students are guided in this work through to the submission process. Supervision provides opportunities for students to benefit from more experienced academics, many of whom are working and researching public health questions themselves, at a local and international level. The MRes differs to the MPH dissertation in that students take 6 taught units rather than 8, and the dissertation has a larger word count(15000-17000). Consequently, the MRes is particularly attractive to students with a core role or seeking a more research orientated career. 

The MRes dissertation offers a number of frameworks within which students develop their research question and subsequent methodology. These reflect the public health competencies and more importantly, the work that many public health professionals are required to do. The dissertation frameworks include options to carry out primary research (collecting new data) from a new or established research project, or with more desk-based research, ranging from an adapted systematic review, analysing existing data sets, or developing an academic public health report or grant proposal. All of these options are equally relevant to students wanting to apply quantitative, qualitative or ‘mixed methods’ methodologies, to construct their dissertation. As part of the MRes dissertation, there is the possibility for students to join an external partnership (such as a local authority, or health care provider) to use their dissertation to help address a particular need for that organisation. These partnerships are subject to availability, but an increasing number now exist.

 

Pre/co-requisites

Students are able to use their own public health interests and questions, as a focus for their dissertation. These ideas often arise as students work through their taught units, and taking any combination of units will further support students with their dissertation. Students have up to a full academic year to develop and submit their completed dissertation. Full-time students will start working on their dissertation alongside their taught units, and part-time students normally complete the required number of taught units before starting this. There are five dates across the academic year for students to register their proposed dissertation title, following which they will be linked with an academic supervisor. 

Aims

To develop knowledge, critical appraisal and applied skills to use a research framework to fully understand and answer a defined public health question.

Learning outcomes

Category of outcome Students should be able to:
A. Knowledge and understanding A1 Describe in detail a specific context, setting and/or problem and establish a coherent research-related question that forms the foundation of the written dissertation report/manuscript.
B. Intellectual skills B1 Construct a meaningful synthesis and critical interpretation of existing and new information, obtained as part of the dissertation process.
C. Practical skills

C1 Apply appropriate methodology to obtain the data or information necessary to address the research question.

C2 Use a justified methodology to analyse the data and/or information collected.

D. Transferable skills and personal qualities D1 Demonstrate the ability to be a reflective and self-directed learner, to accomplish a substantial piece of academic work.

 

Syllabus

Students have up to a full academic year to develop and submit their completed dissertation. Students have the opportunity to design their overall dissertation based on a number of different research frameworks that match the public health competencies and more importantly, the work that many public health professionals will be required to do as part of their career. The dissertation frameworks include primary research (collecting new data) from a new or established research project, compared with more desk-based research, ranging from an adapted systematic review, analysing existing data sets, or developing an academic public health report or grant proposal. All of these options are equally relevant to students wanting to apply quantitative, qualitative or ‘mixed methods’ methodologies, to construct their dissertation. There is also the possibility for students to join an external partnership (subject to availability), which can provide alternative applied research opportunities. Students selecting to do a primary research project are strongly encouraged to start the process early so that they have time to complete any required research ethics and permissions, before the research can be carried out. The student’s supervisor along with resources provided by the MPH team and the University will support this work. 

Teaching and learning methods

Students are supported throughout the dissertation unit by a dedicated supervisor along with a range of learning resources from the programme and University. This includes taking part in a number of webinars and tutorials, focused on aspects of the dissertation unit.  Furthermore, students will have access to examples of dissertations completed by previous students, which were awarded a Distinction. These are especially helpful for students who have not seen this type of academic work. Another key feature of the dissertation is that it provides an environment within which students can develop their self-directed academic skills and application, knowing that a supervisor is on hand to guide them in the right direction. 

Employability skills

Analytical skills
Group/team working
Innovation/creativity
Leadership
Project management
Oral communication
Problem solving
Research
Written communication

Assessment methods

Assessment task Length Weighting within unit
Dissertation 15000-17000 words 100%

 

Feedback methods

Over the period of study, students will receive feedback and suggestions as part of their supervision. Formal feedback will be given once the final mark has been approved through the University processes. The feedback will be from the first marker (the supervisor) and an assigned second marker. It will include marks allocated to different learning objectives, as on the marking template in the dissertation handbook/resources, and general feedback about the style and presentation. 

Recommended reading

Students are guided to the My Learning Essentials offered through the University Library. These online resources include topics such as literature searching, writing skills, and others of relevance to the generic skills across a dissertation. 

Study hours

Independent study hours
Independent study 900

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Andrew Jones Unit coordinator
Roger Harrison Unit coordinator

Additional notes

If you have any questions about the content of this unit, please contact one of the course unit leaders, Roger Harrison (roger.harrison@manchester.ac.uk) or Andrew Jones (andrew.jones@manchester.ac.uk). If you have any other queries, please contact the PGT programme administrators via email on shs.programmes@manchester.ac.uk.

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