A supervised dissertation of up to 20,000 words in one of the four subdisciplines of politics: comparative politics, international relations, New Zealand politics or political theory. Students have 12 months to complete the dissertation, which will show employers that they have mastered an excellent capacity for independent research, argumentation and critical analysis. Successful completion is also essential for undertaking research at the PhD level. The MPols Convenor runs a series of compulsory workshops to assist students develop the skills for their dissertation and each student is allocated a primary supervisor in their area of interest.
About this paper
| Paper title | Research Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Subject | Politics |
| EFTS | 0.5 |
| Points | 60 points |
| Teaching period(s) | 1st Non standard period (27 February 2026 - 19 February 2027)
(On campus)
2nd Non standard period (17 July 2026 - 9 July 2027) (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $4,181.00 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Limited to
- MPols
- Eligibility
- Enrolments for this paper require departmental permission. View more information about departmental permission.
- Contact
- politics@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- Teaching staff
- Textbooks
Textbooks are not required for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Lifelong learning, Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the paper, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical and conceptual approaches to the study of politics and show knowledge of issues and themes in the study of politics;
- Iidentify relevant sources - primary, secondary, oral and other - for analysing politics;
- Undertake independent, self-directed research;
- Apply their understanding and knowledge through written analysis; and
- Demonstrate a highly developed capacity for critical analysis.