MSc Financial Economics / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Dissertation

Course unit fact file
Unit code ECON63000
Credit rating 60
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Dissertations form a key part of our PGT Economics programmes and as a result they carry one-third of the final grade in these programmes. The aims of the dissertation is to give students the opportunity to research a topic in an area of their choice, from a wide list of specialised topics, with the guidance of an assigned supervisor.

Aims

Dissertations form a key part of our PGT Economics programmes and as a result they carry one-third of the final grade in these programmes. The aims of the dissertation is to give students the opportunity to research a topic in an area of their choice, from a wide list of specialised topics, with the guidance of an assigned supervisor.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the dissertation, students should have demonstrated:

  • The ability to undertake independent economic research;
  • That they can identify and analyse an economic research problem, using logical thought, coherent argument and appropriate empirical methods ;
  • Judgement in what methods and techniques, learned in their programme, requires applying to their problem
  • The ability to identify and apply methods and techniques, beyond the material taught, as they are required to answer their specific research question.

The ability to interpret new results and place their contribution within the existing related literature

Teaching and learning methods

Guided self study. Guidance is given through personal meetings between supervisor and students.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

An economics dissertation, at the PGT level, enables students to develop the skills to,

  • design and execute original research projects;
  • identify and evaluate relevant literature
  • apply modeling techniques in economic theory, econometrics and data analysis;
  • manage information, write reports, and interpret and present results;
  • further enhance their understanding of software which is used for statistical, econometric and data analysis.  

Assessment methods

100% Dissertation

The dissertation is presented as a written report, typically between 10,000 and 12,000 words (strict maximum 12,000) words, including graphs, tables and references. The department may request a viva voce, according to University regulations.

Additional notes

Plagiarism is presenting the ideas, work or words of other people without proper, clear and unambiguous acknowledgement. It also includes ‘self-plagiarism’ (which occurs where, for example, you submit work that you have presented for assessment on a previous occasion), and the submission of material from ‘essay banks’ (even if the authors of such material appear to be giving you permission to use it in this way). Obviously, the most blatant example of plagiarism would be to copy another student’s work. Hence it is essential to make clear in your assignments the distinction between:

  • the ideas and work of other people that you may have quite legitimately exploited and developed, and
  • the ideas or material that you have personally contributed.

 

Plagiarism is a serious academic offence and the consequences are severe.  Guidelines on plagiarism are included in the documents listed above or can be found, together with general guidelines on the university’s examinations process, on the Awards and Examinations Office website

http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/crucial-guide/academic-life/exams//

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