This course will instruct and guide students in the appropriate preparation and presentation of their proposed thesis and will assist them in identifying their research questions and the methodologies to be used.

The course will be delivered by means of a series of meetings between an academic supervisor and the student. Where possible, one or more workshops will be run for group of students at an appropriate venue or by means of electronic conferencing media. Examples and guides will be provided as appropriate for various aspects fo the course.

At the end of the course students will have developed:

- a statement for their dissertation topic;
- a statement of the contribution their topic will make to the subject area;
- a concise statement of the research objectives;
- a throrough literature review;
- a short explanation of the methodology to be used;
- a research plan setting out the timetable for research and writing; and
- a draft outline of chapters to be written and of structure of the thesis.