MSc Urban Studies / Course details

All students in the MSc Urban Studies will complete a dissertation as a central part of their programme. Students must prepare, on a subject approved by their dissertation advisor, a piece of individual work containing an original element, submitted according to the specification of the Programme and the advice of the individual supervisor.

Students can consider a wide range of topics for the dissertation, but their dissertation topic must fall under the umbrella of Urban Studies, be feasible within the timescale of the Programme and the dissertation requirements and limits, and draw on and extend knowledge gained in the MSc Urban Studies Programme.

The aims of this course unit are to:

Enable students to demonstrate their understanding of research methods and ethical issues on an Urban Studies topic

Support students to seek new urban studies research findings

Allow students to synthesize theoretical and/or empirical materials in a sustained argument

Develop students' practical and transferable skills including writing, presentation, and bibliographic skills, and time and project management

Students should be able to:

The dissertation is a piece of self-guided work, supported by a dissertation supervisor. During semester 2, students will complete an online survey in weeks 5-6 to help them decide a dissertation topic. From this survey, students will be assigned a supervisor. Students will meet once with their supervisor in week 8, before week 12 to discuss their poster and proposal for URBAN 2: Researching the City. Students will meet with their supervisors up to three times between the end of semester 2 (mid-May) and submission (end of September). Students are expected to have one meeting each before the end of June, July, and August. Students are also expected to submit one draft chapter to their supervisors for feedback; this submission is expected before the end of July.

• Carry out an independent research project – either desk-based or empirical.

• Critically engage with existing literature in the dissertation area.
• Critique a range of methodological approaches suitable for a research project.

• Collect and analyse new or existing data for a research project.
• Produce a sustained, reasoned, and supported argument.

• Use project management skills that are appropriate for an independent research project.

Students will meet once with their supervisor in week 8, before week 12 to discuss their poster and proposal for URBAN 2: Researching the City. Students will meet with their supervisors up to three times between the end of semester 2 (mid-May) and submission (end of September). Students are expected to have one meeting each before the end of June, July, and August. Students are also expected to submit one draft chapter to their supervisors for feedback; this submission is expected before the end of July.

Abrahamson M (2016) Studying Cities And City Life: An Introduction To Methods Of Research. Abingdon: Routledge.

Creswell, J.W., and Creswell, J.D. (2018) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods. 5th edn. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Denscombe, M. (2017) The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social Research Projects. London: Open University Press.

Harrison J and Hoyler M (Editors) (2018) Doing Global Urban Research. London: Sage.

Kara, H. (2015) Creative Research Methods in the Social Sciences: A Practical Guide. Bristol: Policy Press.

O’Leary, Z. (2021) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. 4th edn. London: SAGE.

Skott, B.P., and Ward, M. (eds.) (2013) Active Learning Exercises for Research Methods in Social Sciences. Los Angeles: SAGE.

Ward K (editor) (2020) Researching The City: A Guide For Students (Second Edition).  Sage: London