Module Information

Module Identifier
BDM9960
Module Title
Dissertation - Sustainable and Efficient Food Production
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Dr Peter Wootton-Beard
Semester
Distance Learning
Pre-Requisite
BDM0120 The above module needs to be completed before the student can complete the dissertation, and therefore the full MSc award
Reading List
View example reading list on Aspire
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Dissertation  to be assessed in accordance with University guidelines. (Max. 20,000 words)  100%
Supplementary Assessment Dissertation  Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to the failure of the module. (Max. 20,000 words)  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Carry out their research proposal competently and efficiently undertake an in-depth literature review.

2. Present results obtained and evaluate them using an appropriate statistical analysis, discuss in depth their chosen subject area.

3. Work to a planned timetable.

4. Produce a learned report of the investigation in the form of a dissertation.

Brief description

The work based research module offers the opportunity for student to focus in depth on a topic of personal interest to them within a professional, work based context. The module will allow them scope to address a research question of applied relevance, employing appropriate research methodology to do so. The project may be discipline specific or multidisciplinary - in a work based, applied context this is quite likely. The professional context itself must have a clear connection with the agri-food industry.

Content

This module requires an extended period of autonomous work, with staff supervisory support, leading to the production of a dissertation. Specific activities will include:

  • Introductory lecture detailing the requirements of a dissertation.
  • Compose a critical review and synthesis of published literature.
  • Appraisal of the contextual needs of the applied setting.
  • Planning and securing ethical approval for the research.
  • Generate experimental data and analysis using appropriate statistical tests.
  • Writing up and submission of a dissertation in accordance with University guidelines and under the guidance of a dissertation supervisors.
    • Students will be required to maintain regular contact with their supervisors, where students will have the opportunity to discuss their ongoing progress and offered advice to rectify any difficulties they have regarding the production of the dissertation with their supervisor. In addition students will be expected to submit timely drafts of the various sections of their dissertation, which their supervisor(s) will provide feedback on. In addition students will be expected to produce a summary presentation giving an overview of their chosen topic, experimental design, their major results findings and a brief discussion of their data in context to published work.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Collation, manipulation and analysis of data may be an integral part of the research conducted and the thesis presented.
Communication Students will be expected to develop advanced communication skills, in particular written communication, through the presentation of a research thesis in an appropriate academic style and in accordance with University guidelines.
Improving own Learning and Performance Students need to demonstrate good organizational skills in order to carry out their research work and ultimately produce a thesis in a timely and effective manner.
Information Technology Students will be required to source information from a variety of scientific publication data bases and where appropriate use software statistical packages to analysis their results.
Personal Development and Career planning It is intended that the techniques and skills developed during this module will have a direct application to student's future careers. Vocational skills, both within their subject specialism and more general transferable skill, will be developed to a high level.
Problem solving Students are required to design and implement an investigational protocol in order to address a specific research question.
Research skills Students are required to critically evaluate previous research work during the production of a Literature review and then generate, analyse and interpret their own research data.
Subject Specific Skills In depth technical knowledge of the dissertation subject area.
Team work Students may have the opportunity for developing their team skills if their dissertation work requires them to work within a research team. However the emphasis in this module is on independent research.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7