Dissertations/Final Year Projects

What is the role of a dissertation or final project supervisor? A dissertation or final project supervisor:

• provides guidance on all aspects of developing and conducting your dissertation or final year project. 

• assists with setting interim deadlines and offer advice as to how long each section should take. 

• assists you in developing autonomy in your dissertation or final year project and your overall learning skills. 

• should not assist with content development or writing any part of the report. They are also not in a position to assist in developing a student’s overall language. ​​​​​​

Remember, the supervisor's duty is to guide you so that you can produce your best effort, and not to assist with continual revision until the dissertation has acquired a certain grade that you may have as a target. The supervisor's approval of your progress cannot be taken to imply any particular grade or classification. You should not request this of your supervisor at any stage of the dissertation module.

Be mindful of the following:

• Look at your department’s dissertation guidelines to find out if there is a limit to the number of times you are permitted to see your supervisor. You can then begin to organise completion of sections or chapters of your project/dissertation around your meetings. Knowing that you have an appointment with your supervisor often acts as an incentive to complete work! 

• Make notes of your meetings, and if appropriate, email a summary of agreed actions, suggestions, deadlines, etc. to your supervisor to confirm that you have listened to and understood what was discussed.  

• Find out how many drafts of your dissertation your supervisor is willing to read. This tends to vary from one discipline to another and you may also find that your supervisor is not permitted to read certain parts of your dissertation, even at the drafting stage. 

• Be aware of and considerate of your supervisor’s situation. They are likely to have: 

  • A number of undergraduate dissertations to supervise, plus some postgraduate student projects to supervise too.

  • Their own research requirements – all academic staff are required to conduct their own research projects. 

  • Teaching and administrative duties. 

  • Their own lives – family, social, and community duties.​​​​

Asking for help: All students have some questions or concerns at some point during their dissertation or final year project: 

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions or raise concerns. It’s far better to ask and find a solution at the earliest opportunity rather than leave it until it’s too late to sort out. 

• Although you should try to find out answers to any questions you may have yourself, don’t waste a very long time doing this. Prepare any questions you have that you couldn’t solve yourself or that you need clarification on.​