In the third year of your degree programme, you are required to write a Dissertation of between 8,000 and 10,000 words in length. This Dissertation is equivalent to one full Course Unit. It is expected that you put 200 hours of work into researching and writing your dissertation.

The Dissertation is an opportunity for you to examine, in greater depth, an area of interest to you and to try out your skills as an independent researcher. You will have a member of staff to act as a supervisor.

At the end of the dissertation students should be able to:

1. demonstrate that they are an independent learner;

2. show research in a topic in a recognisable area of philosophy to a higher level than covered in the course;

3. present a substantial piece of written work, satisfying the criteria of scholarship in the discipline;

4. indicate familiarity with, and critical reflection on, existing literature in an established area of philosophical inquiry;

5. exhibit indications of original thinking.