English - MA Dissertations and Theses

Graduate Study

Graduate dissertations, theses and directed studies

All students must include either a dissertation (two or three papers; up to 20,000 and 30,000 words respectively) or a thesis (four papers; 40,000 words maximum) as part of their MA degree. Students enrolled for the BA (Hons) may include a one-paper directed study (up to 10,000 words) as part of their degree (0201.590). Dissertations, theses and directed studies all require independent research, carried out under the supervision of a suitable member of staff. (The requirements for the MPhil and PhD differ from those for the MA. If you are considering enrolling for an MPhil or PhD, please refer to the university handbook for postgraduate studies.) The following remarks are intended for students writing dissertations and theses as part of their MA.

Supervision

There is no doubt that writing a dissertation or thesis is more demanding than the equivalent amount of coursework. Most students, however, find that completing a sustained piece of independent research is the most satisfying part of their graduate degree. The protocols and suggestions listed below have been designed to make writing a dissertation or thesis a positive and rewarding experience.

Choosing a supervisor

You should approach your potential supervisor towards the end of the year before you intend to enroll for your MA. (This will usually be toward the end of your BA(Hons) year.) You must choose a supervisor who has expertise in the area in which you would like to work. Staff research interests are listed in the English Graduate Handbook. The Convenor of English will be happy to advise you if you find you need help selecting a topic or supervisor.

Choosing a topic and submitting a proposal

Once you have established that the staff member is willing and able to supervise your research, you should consult with him or her regarding the submission of your thesis proposal. The English Programme distributes proposal forms towards the end of the year, and these should normally be submitted for approval by November 30 of the year prior to beginning your research. (Proposals include a brief description of your research topic, a brief bibliography, a time-line, and an indication of whether library resources are adequate for your area of research.) Proposals are considered by the whole Programme and accepted on the basis of the academic soundness of the research, the willingness of the staff concerned to undertake the supervision, and the availability of library resources. Research topics also require ethical approval. This is generally a formality, and given by the Convenor, but if you intend to conduct personal interviews as part of your research, you will need approval from the Faculty Ethics Committee. The English Convenor will direct you to the appropriate Faculty committee member.

The supervision process

Early on in the process you and your supervisor should discuss the expectations you have of each other. The supervisor and the student have certain rights and responsibilities:

It is the student's right to expect regular meetings. Exactly how regular should be determined early in the supervision process. One meeting of up to two hours every two weeks is about average. (You may need to meet more often at the beginning of your research, and again immediately prior to submission; you may find you need fewer meetings once you are under way with your writing.) You can expect punctual feedback on written work. The expected "turn around time" for feedback should also be established early in the process: two weeks is a reasonable expectation. (Even if feedback on written work is negative, you have a right to expect criticism to be framed constructively.) You can expect your supervisor to point you towards recent and pertinent scholarship relating to your topic. It is your responsibility to submit all written work to an agreed standard of completion. It is your responsibility to make meetings with your supervisor. Supervisors may ask students to write brief memos following supervision meetings. These summarize the session and outline tasks to be completed prior to the next meeting.

It is the supervisor's right to expect regular meetings with students, and to receive written work at agreed and regular intervals. It is the supervisor's responsibility to provide scholarly advice, especially in terms of documentation and formatting of the final dissertation/thesis. Supervisors may provide notes summarizing supervision meetings and outlining tasks to be completed prior to the next meeting.

There are funds to assist with the copying and binding of completed dissertations/theses. Wherever possible, the Faculty will also provide computing facilities, study space and limited funds to assist with inter-library loans. The Faculty may occasionally be able to assist students with research trips and travel to conferences. Students should seek advice from the Convenor of Chinese regarding the availability of such funds.

Progress reports

Students present written progress reports about four months into their research, and again towards the end of the year. Progress report forms are distributed by the programme and must be signed by the supervising member of staff.

Submission Deadlines

University regulations require that dissertations and theses be submitted one year or two semesters after first enrolment in the MA programme, no later than the fourth Friday of the relevant month.

Extensions

A maximum extension to these submission dates of three weeks may be granted on written application to the Associate Dean Graduate and Postgraduate, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Examination

Completed dissertations should be submitted to the Programme Convenor and theses should be submitted to the Gateway. Copies are then distributed to the supervisor and an external examiner from another Department of English within New Zealand. The internal and external examiners submit their reports to the Convenor of English. The opinions of the internal and external markers carry equal weight in determining a final grade. Students are entitled to see the examiners' reports. (Arrangements for external examination may vary from department to department within the university.)

Further Information

Detailed information about theses and dissertations for MA degrees is available in the Handbook for Masters Theses and Dissertations at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Information Centre.

The preferred style sheet for all written assignments in English, including dissertations and theses, is the MHRA Style Book (fifth edition).

Masters students are also advised to consult the Guide to the Presentation of Theses at the University of Waikato prepared by the University of Waikato Library and available from the Library Information Desk, level 2, or online http://www.waikato.ac.nz/library/learning/g_thisguide.shtml.