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LAW-30083 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

LAW-30083 - Dissertation (Double Module) - ISP
Coordinator: Emma Allen Room: CBC2.005 Tel: +44 1782 7 34512
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733218

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

N/A

Barred Combinations

N/A

Description for 2025/26

This is your chance to pursue, in depth, an area of academic interest by developing your own research question and undertaking the necessary research.
This two-semester module requires you to complete an extended piece of supervised research over an entire academic year and concludes with the submission of a dissertation. Although you will be supported by a member of academic staff whose interests and expertise relate to your agreed topic, this module requires real self-discipline to undertake it successfully. You will be required to demonstrate independence of thought and action. This does not mean, however, that a dissertation needs to be a lonely task. You will be encouraged to participate in a number of active group workshops specifically designed for the key stages of undertaking a dissertation (e.g. developing a research topic and formulating a research question, maximising reading and literature review strategies and writing up and presenting a dissertation). Alongside the workshops, a dissertation workbook has been developed to promote and scaffold independent project management.

Aims
This module provides students with an opportunity to devise and undertake their own extended research project, under the guidance of a supervisor. Students undertaking this module will have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate skills in ways not normally tested by taught modules, including the ability to:
a) organise their own work over several months;
b) locate (with guidance, where appropriate) essential material;
c) organise a large amount of material on a single topic or theme;
d) make use, where appropriate, of the interdisciplinary nature of the Keele degree programme; and
e) communicate clearly and effectively in an extended piece of written work.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/law-30083/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Formulate a viable legal research question: 1
Justify the choice of an appropriate research methodology: 1
Demonstrate effective project management and self-directed learning skills: 2
Evidence structured progress through the production of a work-in-progress report: 2
Independently produce a substantial, well-structured and persuasive piece of legal writing: 3

Study hours

Group workshops: 10 hours (5 x 2-hour sessions)
Individual supervision: 2 hours (4 x 30-minute meetings)
Self-directed reading, proposal and dissertation preparation = 288 hours

School Rules

N/A

Description of Module Assessment

1: Research Proposal weighted 10%
Research Proposal
Students will produce a research proposal not exceeding 750 words, which will be submitted in the latter part of Semester 1. Each proposal will be first marked by the module leader (or an independent marker when the module leader is also the student's supervisor) and second marked by the student’s supervisor against clear criteria. If a mark cannot be agreed, an independent third marker will be asked to adjudicate.

2: Report weighted 10%
Work-in-Progress Report
Students will produce a work-in-progress report not exceeding 750 words, which will be submitted in the early part of Semester 2. The report will comprise a proposed dissertation structure with brief annotations and a concise narrative on project development since the proposal. Each report will be first marked by the module leader (or an independent marker when the module leader is also the student's supervisor) and second marked by the student’s supervisor against clear criteria. If a mark cannot be agreed, an independent third marker will be asked to adjudicate.

3: Dissertation weighted 80%
Dissertation
Students will produce a final dissertation with a maximum word limit of 8000 words (excluding footnotes and bibliography), which will be submitted at the end of Semester 2. Each dissertation will be marked by two members of staff: (i) the student's supervisor; and (ii) a member of staff other than the student's supervisor. Both will agree a mark jointly. If a final mark cannot be agreed, an independent third marker will be asked to adjudicate.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025