Dissertation

If you are opting to complete an MSc, you will be expected to complete a Masters dissertation in the third year of the programme worth 60 credits.

This will take the form of the planning, execution, and reporting of a significant project. The subject matter must be relevant to the area of critical care. This is chance to acquire and develop new technical and non-technical skills, and to demonstrate your professional autonomy.

We permit several types of project:

• Clinical research
• Quality improvement project
• Clinical guideline development
• Systematic review (+- meta-analysis)

Reflecting the iterative nature of most modern healthcare projects we have an iterative course design with assessments spread over the year, with a portion of the total 60 credits available for each:

• Verbal proposal abstract (10%) - Week 2
• Written project proposal, 1,000 words (15%) - Week 8
• ePoster and presentation (15%) - 6 weeks before final deadline
• Final Project Report, 10,000 words (60%) - End of year

The dissertation is a self-directed component, and whilst there will be regular contact with a supervisor, there is no formal teaching programme. In conjunction with the course organisers you will identify an appropriate supervisor. Supervisors not currently associated with the University of Edinburgh are entirely permitted and will be supported throughout. In the event your primary supervisor is not or has not previously been affiliated with the University of Edinburgh or NHS Lothian then you will be appointed a secondary supervisor.