AT7059 - Masters Dissertation

What will I learn on this module?

In this module you will gain an in-depth insight business and management research, academic knowledge and business issues around a specific topic; all of which are required to produce a Masters’ Dissertation. By the end of the module you will have written a 15000-word Masters’ Dissertation. The areas included are:





Justification for the choice of topic


In-depth understanding, awareness and critical analysis of existing and up to date literature evidenced by a comprehensive and well-referenced literature review with an extensive reference list


Selection, justification and application of an appropriately rigorous methodology, including limitations of the approach selected


A clear statement of the findings of the research


Critical analysis of the findings


Explicit links between the analysis and the conclusions supported by critical argument


Evidence of original work or thought for example in the form or context of the data collected, analytical process or application of findings.






The topic selection is your choice based on your own individual areas of interest but linked to the Masters’ programme by having a significant consideration of sustainable business as part of its title, consistent with the title of your programme.

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn through a combination of one-to-one supervision with a member of academic staff, supervisor directed study and independent study. Your academic supervisor will be selected based on academic expertise and will be directed towards your Dissertation through the content of the submitted proposal. The supervisor can either be from academic staff employed by AUAS or Northumbria given the joint nature of your Masters’ programme.



Directed learning will centre upon a range of activities including pre-reading and preparation for supervision meetings. Independent learning will centre upon you identifying and pursuing areas of interest in relation to your subject area. Critical reflection on knowledge, experience and practice underpins the learning and teaching philosophy along with the explicit development of competence.



Your supervisor will be an appropriate academic member of staff will be appointed after the dissertation proposal stage. Whilst the aim of the dissertation is to encourage your ownership of the dissertation, the supervisor will provide on-going support by guiding you through the process. As well as the formal supervision meetings, the supervisor can you support you through additional contact such as email.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

During the Masters’ dissertation you will be supported by your appointed dissertation supervisor, who will be a member of academic staff from either Northumbria or AUAS.

A comprehensive eLP site will store all the appropriate materials needed to support the development of your dissertation work.

Your appointed supervisor will provide both formative and summative feedback.





As you develop your research and Dissertation, you will be supplied with formative feedback on your performance by your supervisor, who will help you develop your Dissertation work. You may also receive formative feedback from other relevant staff, e.g. those who have made key inputs into the Research Methods module on areas such as research ethics, data analysis or specific aspects of subject discipline. The support for the Dissertation involves the formal supervision, additional informal contacts as indicated, and the significant formal input provided through the Research Methods module that leads to the proposal development.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

N/A

How will I be assessed?

The summative assessment for the Dissertation module comprises of a single document with a length of 15000 words.



Formative feedback will continue via formal supervision meetings with your appointed academic supervisor, selected based on expertise in the subject discipline from either Northumbria or AUAS, and summative feedback will be provided following the marking of the Dissertation.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

The Masters Dissertation is an important milestone of your learning journey within the programme. It provides students with the opportunity of initiating, managing, and carrying out of a major research project. The research project is based on a business and management topic of your choice which is themed around one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The conclusions of your research project aim to inform academic knowledge and business practice.





Based on the research proposal you designed within the Research Methods module you will carry out your planned research project. You will work under the supervision of a member of academic staff who will give you appropriate guidance and support throughout the dissertation process whilst encouraging learner autonomy. This is your Masters’ Dissertation and you will have responsibility for decision making as the dissertation proceeds. The allocation of your supervisor, who may be drawn from either Northumbria or AUAS, is informed by the proposal submitted earlier in the Research Methods module and the specific area of your research.



On completion of this module, you will be able to conduct research and organise the findings into a comprehensive and explicit structure that is critically assessed and is linked to the conclusions drawn. You will demonstrate this by identifying a topic, critically selecting and applying an appropriate research methodology and data collection method(s), demonstrating a rigorous understanding of the relevant theory and literature and showing how these link to the research method(s). You will also critically reflect on how your research contributes to the understanding of the topic area and how it informs professional practice.

Course info

Credits 60

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 18 months Full Time

Department Newcastle Business School

Start August 2026

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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