This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Undergraduate Handbook 2025-2026 (archived)
Module ACCT3082: Dissertation in Accounting
Department: Accounting
ACCT3082: Dissertation in Accounting
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tied | 3 | 40 | Available in 2025/2026 | None. | Durham |
Tied To
- N204: Accounting and Management with Placement Year
- N206: Accounting and Management with Study Abroad
- N302: Accounting and Finance with Placement Year
- N304: Accounting and Finance with Study Abroad
- N408: Accounting
- N409: Accounting with Placement Year
- N410: Accounting with Study Abroad
- NN42: Accounting and Management
- NN43: Accounting and Finance
Pre-requisites
Corequisites
- ACCT3071 Research Methods in Accounting
Excluded Combinations
- ACCT3052 Dissertation in Accounting & Finance
Aims
- The dissertation should be a substantial piece of work that provides a detailed and critical examination of a particular topic. Empirical research is encouraged where appropriate to the topic but is not compulsory. The dissertation can also be based upon an area of interest encountered during work experience through an internship, placement or similar.
- It aims to provide students with an opportunity to undertake a substantial research project on an approved topic of interest, and to present their findings and conclusions in an extended and coherent piece of work.
- It aims to develop students' abilities to plan and manage their own learning.
- It aims to facilitate students' development of research skills and provide the opportunity to apply their knowledge to an appropriate topic associated with their degree pathway.
Content
- The content of the dissertation will be decided in consultation with an appropriate member of staff, should be of relevance to their degree pathway, and is subject to approval.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- To have acquired extended knowledge of a relevant topic of interest.
Subject-specific Skills
- By the end of the module students are expected:
- To have acquired skills of independent research and project management;
- To be able to demonstrate an ability to present and analyse data in a clear and appropriate manner;
- To be able to demonstrate an ability to present arguments and conclusions in an extended and coherent form.
Key Skills
- Written communication
- Planning, organising and working to deadlines
- Problem solving and analysis
- Initiative
- Computer literacy
- Intellectual challenge
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Learning is facilitated by lectures, drop-in tutorials, supervisor consultations and support for private study.
- Students will have individual consultation sessions with a named supervisor throughout the term.
- Formative assessment is by means of dissertation milestones.
- Summative assessment is through the production of a dissertation of 10000 words.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 10 | Weekly | 1 hour | 10 | Yes |
| Tutorials | 10 | Weekly | 1 hour | 10 | |
| Supervision Sessions | 6 | 20mins | 2 | Yes | |
| Preparation and Reading | 378 | ||||
| Total | 400 | ||||
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 90% | Dissertation | 10000 words | 100% | |
| Poster | 10% | Poster | 100% |
Formative Assessment
Draft chapter
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.