Research Dissertation

This is the final module in the award pathways MSc Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging and MSc Advanced Musculoskeletal Assessment and Practice.

It consolidates your learning and equips you to take your career forward with a range of skills and knowledge relevant to your professional practice. It is an opportunity to undertake an independent research project relevant to your field of practice.

You will formulate a research question, plan and carry out the project, analyse and write up the results. You can undertake primary or secondary research, or audit/service evaluation or a library based critical literature review research project.

Learning outcomes

• Acquisition of an in-depth good understanding of an area of study and practice
• Undertaking a systematically planned literature search and a thematic analysis of material accessed following the literature search
• Acquisition and insight into ethical and governance considerations
• Production of an appropriate methodology for the study and Analysis of data generated by the study 
• Creation of  critically robust conclusions and recommendations for practice

Our expert staff

The module is led by Professor Jo Jackson.

Academic and research supervisors are drawn from across our expert team of staff in SRES.

You must have successfully achieved 120 credits on the relevant Masters programme before undertaking this Dissertation:

• MSc Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging.
• MSc Advanced Musculoskeletal Assessment and Practice.
• MSc Advanced Musculoskeletal Assessment and Practice (Imaging).

English language requirements

If English is not your first language we require an IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 450/200.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Module Outline

In this module you will work independently under the supervision of an academic. Throughout the year of your study, there are a number of workshops and online resources to support you. You will build on content from previous modules including:

• Working with a supervisor
• Building on critical appraisal skills
• Developing an appropriate and feasible research question
• Designing a research project and protocol
• Ethical and Governance considerations
• Quantitative and qualitative data reporting
• Evaluation of the research process/evidence
• Presentation skills
• Authorship/writing skills
• Dissemination strategies
• Project and Time management

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Assessment strategy

• A 12000 word dissertation with associated appendices and documents.

• Fees for 2023-24 (.PDF).

• Fees for 2024-25 (.PDF).

If you have any questions about the module fees please email msk@essex.ac.uk.

In the first instance approach your Education Liaison Manager to see if funding can be secured via the organisation you are working for.

To apply for an individual module please complete the module application form (.docx) and email to msk@essex.ac.uk for the attention of Sophie Young.