Finance MRes Dissertation
| Module title | Finance MRes Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEFM029 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 60 |
| Module staff | Professor Grzegorz Trojanowski (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 4 |
|---|
Module description
In this module, you will write an academic dissertation. The academic dissertation allows you to demonstrate your ability at identifying and analysing a finance problem using economic models and/or econometric/statistical methods. You will come up with a topic of your own choice, which can be theoretical or empirical in nature, manage self-driven enquiry and write up a piece of research.
The supervision arrangement for the academic dissertation will consist of one member of faculty. You are encouraged to seek your own supervisor.
The necessary prior knowledge and skills are covered in the taught modules of the MRes in Finance programme.
Additional Information:
Internationalisation
The analytical skills developed and employed in this module will be applicable across institutions and countries and are multinational in nature.
Employability
By solving statistical/mathematical problems and exercises, students are equipped with practical problem-solving skills, theorising skills, and an understanding of mathematical relationships. All of these are highly valuable in both academic and non-academic jobs.
Sustainability
The resources for this module are available on the ELE (Exeter Learning Environment).
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aims of the dissertation are:
- To allow the student to pursue a programme of independent research on a finance topic of his/her choosing.
- To nurture further his/her skills in identifying and formulating appropriate research questions, developing a research agenda, planning and conducting a research programme, analysing and evaluating materials and data generated, and communicating the findings by a fixed deadline.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Provide literature and awareness of the state of knowledge in a specific area.
- 2. Identify finance problems, show ability to provide their mathematical representation and/or ability to collect and analyse data
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Relate real-life problems to subject specific knowledge examined through previous and current modules.
- 4. Assemble and synthesise a complex body of existing relevant research.
- 5. Utilise appropriate analytical or statistical techniques to reach an answer to a previously defined research question.
- 6. For empirical dissertations, utilise existing data sets or generate new ones through experiments/questionnaires.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Pursue, under supervision, a sustained program of individual work outside of a classroom setting.
- 8. Evaluate critically existing ideas and perceive areas of weakness or areas which may be usefully analysed.
- 9. Complete, as an individual, a multistage task within a defined period, as assisted by the supervision process.
Syllabus plan
- Dissertation seminar
- Meetings with supervisor
- Presentation of research findings at departmental forum
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 590 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Contact hours | 2 | Dissertation seminar initial preparatory session |
| Contact hours | 6 | Supervision meetings |
| Contact hours | 2 | Departmental forum for presenting dissertation research findings |
| Guided independent study | 590 | Deciding on topic and initial research, preparing the dissertation proposal, reading, researching, data analysis, writing up, and preparation for final presentation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discussion of research projects, identifying research question, explaining research papers | Varies | 1-3, 6 | Written/oral individual feedback |
| Dissertation outline/proposal | 1,500 words | 1-4, 7-9 | Written/oral individual feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 100 | 20,000 words | 1-9 | Individual written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | Resubmission of dissertation | 1-9 | Within 3 months of the release of the marks on the original submission |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- Students will develop a bibliography/reference list relevant to their chosen topic, under the guidance of their supervisor. The specific literature varies from topic to topic and will include textbooks and recent research articles.
| Credit value | 60 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 30 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 24/01/2022 |
| Last revision date | 09/09/2022 |
