Students must read the Dissertation Handbook (which can be found online on Moodle or Moodle for the module) for full details on the dissertation requirements, format, submission dates, Turn-it-in and other regulations.

Before progressing to the dissertation, students registered on the MSc are expected to have passed the majority of the taught modules particularly in the subject area of the proposed dissertation. Students must also attend the mandatory Research Method classes (failure to do so will result in submission not been accepted).

To qualify for the award of the MSc, students must complete a satisfactory dissertation of approximately 12,500 words. The objective of the dissertation is to develop the students’ ability to study independently, making their own critical appraisal of the chosen subject and drawing from this the appropriate conclusions.

Deadlines for choosing a topic and an appropriate supervisor are published in advance to give the students sufficient time to contact their potential supervisor and agree a topic. Please refer to the Important Dates List provided at the beginning of this handbook. Students must register by the specified deadline quoting the name of their supervisor on the registration form. Any registration form without a supervisor name will not be processed. For the latest list of supervisors, their research interests and contact details, the staff section on the School website should be consulted. A list of topics and research areas and groups is also provided below.

Students who wish to complete their dissertations over semester C (summer period) are advised to contact their supervisors and agree their supervision well before the deadline. Semester C is available for research only in the case that it has been agreed by the research supervisor.

If you are having difficulties in finding a supervisor, please let the module leader know as early as possible.

Students are expected to spend at least 600 hours (60 C) on the dissertation. Further information on the requirements of the dissertation module are provided in the module handbook and specifications and the students are strongly advised to consult these two documents as early as possible.

One or more members of the civil engineering and surveying field will supervise the dissertation work of each student. Students must undertake their research investigations in the Docklands Campus, unless work with an outside employer or authority is involved. The involvement of an outside employer or authority will require the agreement of the students’ departmental supervisor and the Module Leader, and will require an external supervisor who will liaise with the departmental supervisor to confirm the authenticity of the student’s dissertation work.

Prior to commencement of the dissertation, each student must submit a project proposal with a time management plan. This will be developed in conjunction with the project supervisor, who will judge the dissertation’s worthiness as MSc standard. This proposal sets out the work that will be carried out for the dissertation. The research proposal must also set out the problem and the methodology to be adopted and be a feasible project to carry out in the time available.