MA History of Science, Technology and Medicine

The dissertation allows students to use skills developed across the taught component of the programme in working more independently, under supervision, on an original piece of research.

The focus may (subject to supervisor availability) be on any topic covered by the student’s degree programme pathway. Depending on pathway choices, this may include the following areas:

• history of science, technology and/or medicine (STM) in any period, including the contemporary;
• science and technology studies, including sociological and anthropological perspectives;
• science policy studies;
• innovation studies;
• science communication studies, including the history and theory of engagement, networking and media as applied to STM;
• bioethics or medical ethics;
• approaches to medicine and healthcare from a variety of disciplinary perspectives in the arts and humanities, including those of art history, classics, religious studies or theology, gender studies, philosophy, and law.

The dissertation may be based on the same subject matter as one of the student’s assessed essays from the taught component, though it may not substantially duplicate the essay.

The unit aims to:

• produce a substantial piece of original research, firmly grounded in the appropriate primary and secondary literature, appropriate to the student’s chosen degree programme and pathway
• present this research clearly and effectively in the form of a dissertation (thesis) following disciplinary conventions on format and structure.

Dissertation proposal (up to 3000 words) pass or fail

Oral Presentation (5 minutes) pass or fail

Dissertation (up to 17,500 words) 100%

Dissertation proposal: Report from programme director or supervisor; standard turnaround time applies.

Oral presentation of dissertation proposal: Verbal comments during or after the presentation session, followed by a short written report as appropriate Dissertation: Detailed written reports from two assessors marking independently. Turnaround may be 4 or 5 working weeks.