ABSTRACT
This chapter explores what a dissertation or final-year project is, in order to better understand the distinctive features of the form of assessment within the undergraduate degree programme. For many undergraduate social science degree students, a significant element of final-year study is an independent learning project, generally known as a dissertation. More than any other undergraduate assessed work, the dissertation offers students' the opportunity to further develop their subject expertise and their social research, intellectual and organisational skills. Many institutions produce module guidance setting out the requirements and also will allocate students a dissertation tutor or supervisor. Students' supervisor, and any guidance which is offered, should be their primary sources of information and support for the dissertation project. In many universities, the dissertation project can be a significant influencing factor in determining students’ final degree classification as it often carries more weighting than a traditional module.
