CEM600: Dissertation

Module code: CEM600

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 60

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Dr Maria Vahdati , email: m.m.vahdati@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 11 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim is equip students with the necessary understanding, knowledge and skills to produce a dissertation including all parts of a research project.Ìý

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:Ìý

1. Develop research problems and research questions, based on the relevant literatureÌý
2. Select and use appropriate research methods and methodologiesÌý
3. Develop basic skills in critical analysis, logical reasoning and academic writingÌý

Module content

Dissertation work is student-led and the student’s individual study is central to the learning and teaching on this module. Students are expected to work independently for the vast majority of the learning hours of the dissertation project. Students are also expected to actively maintain contact with their supervisor.Ìý

The MSc Dissertation Handbook is provided to guide students and their supervisors in preparation of the dissertation, including all of the relevant templates.Ìý

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Supervised dissertation work.Ìý

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The below information applies to all full time and flexible modular students on taught PGT programmes in SBE.Ìý
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:Ìý

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;Ìý

• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.Ìý

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission which applies to all full time and flexible modular PGT students in SBE can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdfÌý

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.Ìý

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs