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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be scared to do a master's because of dissertation

28 replies

cowsoy · 01/07/2019 11:32

I really want to do a particular master's degree which would tie in perfectly with my job and really interests me but the prospect of doing a dissertation (compulsory in the master's I want to do) is really daunting me.

On the one hand, I feel like I should just go for it and the dissertation won't be that bad once I actually get down to doing it.

On the other hand I don't want to spend a load of money and time on a degree then get to the dissertation and not have anything to write about and fail :/

(my undergrad degree didn't have a dissertation so I've never done one before).

Any thoughts?

OP posts:

Divgirl2 · 01/07/2019 11:37

What is your undergrad in that you didn't have a dissertation?!

The dissertation won't be that difficult once you're studying but I'd seriously consider whether you have the time and the commitment to complete it once you start, especially if you're also working. Is it research based or taught?

JasperRising · 01/07/2019 11:38

First thought was does the course have a PGDip option where you do all the modules except the dissertation? Some courses even allow you to make the final decision on whether to do the dissertation to get the full masters after you have started. That would give you the reassurance that you will come out of the course with some qualification to show for your work.

Then what exactly is it that worries you about the dissertation? I'd it choosing the subject matter or the actual act of researching and writing? Choosing the subject can usually be refined once you've done the start of the course. And research and writing there are study skills options out there to help.

onanothertrain · 01/07/2019 11:41

I completed my masters this year. The dissertation was just a really long essay, the first one I've ever been over the word count for. The research part was initially really exciting because I picked a topic that interested me and I already knew a lot about. BUT 3 months in I was losing the will to live and 5 months in didn't give a shit if I failed (I didn't). Do it, you'll be fine!

GCAcademic · 01/07/2019 11:46

Your dissertation will be broken down into chapters, each of which will be the length of an essay. You will have guidance from a supervisor to plan your research and shape the dissertation. What you do need is good time management skills. The rest of it should be no more daunting than the usual coursework.

Booboostwo · 01/07/2019 11:51

No one just writes a dissertation. First you do the modules which give you all sorts of ideas for debates and questions in different areas. Then you present your supervisor with a possible idea and they help you refine it. Then you read around this area and write a chapter outline. Once this has been tweaked and approved by your supervisor you work on the outline of the first chapter, submit a draft, re-write it and move onto chapter 2.

The dissertation is al about cutting up a huge task into manageable bites than resemble what you have already done (stand alone essays) and then putting it all together.

Original poster

cowsoy · 01/07/2019 12:01

@Divgirl2 Modern languages, can't quite remember but I think we had the option to either do a dissertation or just do another module (or 2?) instead.

OP posts:

Sweetbabycheezits · 01/07/2019 12:04

Agree with PP that once you get to the dissertation part, you will have had loads of modules which will have inspired a topic, and there is lots of support while you are actually writing. You really won't have to choose your topic the minute you start, you will have plenty of time!

mindutopia · 01/07/2019 12:08

A dissertation at master's level really isn't a very big deal. It's usually a literature review or (depending on your field) some sort of critical analysis of something. It's relatively short and you'll have support and direction and it will be an area you are interested in.

I supervise and examine MSc student dissertations and really, if you want to do the master's, do not let this one thing put you off. I think the mistake some students make is thinking it both has to be perfect and it has to include everything and be ground-breaking. It doesn't have to be any of these things. It's just a hoop you have to jump through to finish your degree. You don't have to jump through it perfectly. You just have to stick with it enough to get it done.

stj82 · 01/07/2019 14:52

Couldn't agree more. Go for it's all worth it in the end. Just completed MA Social Work as a mature student.

lunicorn · 01/07/2019 14:55

Research how to do a dissertation. Don't leave it to the last minute. Take it steadily, and you'll be fine. You may even find you end up with too many words.

FriarTuck · 01/07/2019 15:00

It's only a long essay. Half the time it's c10-12k words so no biggie.

dreichuplands · 01/07/2019 15:01

It is long winded but easier in some ways than the other essays as it gets some checking along the way by your supervisor, you won't be left to do it all by yourself.

FriarTuck · 01/07/2019 15:01

And your problem will be deciding which words to cut out to get to the limit, not how to add more!!!

FAIL2PREPARE · 01/07/2019 15:04

It's not so bad writing a dissertation, i tackled mine by having set hours i worked on it so like a job, taking breaks and making sure i had at least one day off

Alaimo · 01/07/2019 15:22

I have supervised a number of dissertations in recent years. It's absolutely fine to have no idea what you want to write a dissertation on before starting the degree. Most students develop their interests during the masters, and choose a topic based on a particular lecture, reading, etc that they enjoyed.

It's really not that hard to write a half-decent dissertation: make sure you're topic is manageable and not overly ambitious (your supervisor will help you with this), listen to the advice & guidance given to you, and don't leave everything to the last minute.

Some students can struggle a bit with the transition from work to studying (especially if their first degree was a while ago), but if you take on board the guidance & feedback provided on assignments & essays, then the dissertation should be very doable!

madeamistake234 · 01/07/2019 15:39

I think that it would really help if you explained what discipline this proposed Masters degree is in?

For example, in the social sciences (which I have a background in) "it's just a long essay", as some posters are suggesting, is not accurate. For a Masters dissertation, you would be expected to write up the findings of a small-scale research project that you conducted yourself.

I really would not let it put you off though, as on any decent Masters program you will be given training in the research methodologies that you need to use before you undertake a dissertation over the summer.

Also, you will have an academic assigned to supervise you. If you use your supervisor wisely (e.g. by submitting early drafts for him or her to read and give you feedback) then you will minimise your chances of doing poorly in the dissertation.

Meowington · 01/07/2019 15:41

Currently doing my Masters dissertation as we speak. You’ll be absolutely fine. The degree prepares you for writing it along the way! My undergrad didn’t have a dissertation either. Well... they called it a dissertation but it wasn’t! It’s was a 3,000 word report.

SweetPetrichor · 01/07/2019 15:58

Don't be put off by the dissertation. It's honestly not as bad as it seems. I did a dissertation in my undergraduate and post graduate degrees and had no issue with either, despite dreading them. At the time, they seemed like the longest things ever to have to write, but now that I'm graduated and employed in my role I write documents and calculations as long as my dissertation without a second thought.

swingofthings · 01/07/2019 16:02

The biggest stress to writing a dissertation is the time it demands which can much more than the time spent in lectures and studying for exams. If you work FT, have kids, it might feel quite daunting, but then again, if you are determined and well organised, you can still do it. Just make sure to book a holiday afterwards if you can!

ilovetrees30 · 01/07/2019 16:03

The Masters thesis is a scary prospect. Mine was 15k words but as long as your topic is one that interests you you will struggle to keep to that limit. I also studied my MSc distance learning whilst working full time. It was hard going but I managed to complete it and get a distinction.

SoundofSilence · 01/07/2019 16:06

I really enjoyed doing my Masters dissertation and it helped me make a career change. I had lots of help choosing a project. The university had some research projects going on which they were looking for help with so we tailored my project to contribute to the wider project. I'm sure you won't be short of ideas by the time you get to that point.

Grumpos · 01/07/2019 16:11

Like pp’s have said, you don’t just jump into a 15,000 word dissertation, you do several modules which are directly related to research which sets you up nicely for it.
Also you will most likely work on several essays and reports in the other modules before the dissertation stage which will refresh your ability to write critically.
I did a masters a couple of years ago (submitted dissertation in October 17) and although the process is hard and draining it’s also really exciting and can be incredibly rewarding in terms of realising what you are capable of. I sometimes look over mine and always think “I can’t believe wrote this, it’s brilliant!” (Non stealth boast I got a distinction)
The biggest thing you can do to help yourself is chose a dissertation subject you really care about and enjoy reading, researching and discussing. If you pick something you have no real passion about it will be an absolute drag, no matter how good you are at writing.
I say go for it!

IncandescentShadow · 01/07/2019 16:17

My dissertation was the easiest part of my Masters! No classes to go to, good supervision and a lot of help from my university about how to go about picking a topic and presenting it. Once I got started, after a certain point it almost wrote itself, because there were themes that had to be covered.

My tips are to find an area you're interested in during the masters itself, pick a dissertation topic in a related but slightly obscure area that no-one really knows that much about, make sure you sure you use the required referencing style correctly, usually Harvard, and do your research thoroughly.

allpanicnodisco2 · 01/07/2019 16:27

No advice really but I feel the same as you. I did have to do a diss for my undergrad and hated every second of it, so I'm put off doing a masters which will probably have an even longer one! However, I didn't have a very good supervisor and started later than I should, which wasn't ideal. It's also good to think about it in terms of separate essays- 5 2,000 word essays seems much less daunting than 10,000 words.

Morgan12 · 01/07/2019 16:27

My masters started in September and I had to have my idea and outline prepared for November so it wasn't a case of do the modules first and that will give you an idea. I had to already have an idea. Which thankfully I did.

Mines was 20,000 words consisting of a literature review and critical analysis of my original research. I did a mix of online surveys and face to face interviews.

I didn't even fully start it till the January and handed in my final draft in March. It was fine. I really liked my topic though so once I got going I enjoyed it. Starting was genuinely the hardest part.

I say go for it.

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