Overview
Either a piece of original work on a specified research question, or a more wide-ranging discussion which gives a critical account of existing literature and knowledge.
A research essay of a maximum length of 20,000 words (excluding footnotes, bibliography and appendices).
About this paper
| Paper title | Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Subject | Religious Studies |
| EFTS | 0.5 |
| Points | 60 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2026 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $4,181.00 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- Three 300-level RELS or RELX papers
- Restriction
- RELX 490
- Limited to
- BA(Hons), PGDipArts
- Eligibility
- This paper is normally available only to students enrolled for the Bachelor of Arts with Honours or Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Religious Studies.
- Contact
Associate Professor John Shaver: john.shaver@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
View more information on the Religion website: www.otago.ac.nz/religion
- Teaching staff
Course Coordinator: Assoc. Prof John Shaver
- Paper Structure
- Students are assigned a supervisor with whom they will meet regularly. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss possible topics with a supervisor at the end of the semester prior to the one in which they begin work on the research essay.
- Teaching Arrangements
- The deadline for submission is 1 November. This is a strict deadline. Extensions will only be provided in cases of unforeseen circumstances that significantly restrict a student's ability to complete the dissertation on time. This does not include work commitments or any other activities entered into voluntarily. In cases where there are serious unforeseen circumstances, the student should discuss them with their supervisor at the earliest possible opportunity.
Note: For students who wish to begin the dissertation in second semester the code will be RELS 491. The deadline for submission in this case is 1 June. - Textbooks
- Textbooks are not required for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
- Satisfactory completion of this paper will be shown by presentation of a dissertation that demonstrates that the student is able to
- Develop an appropriate research question, plan and write a dissertation
- Employ effective information search strategies utilising appropriate library resources, databases and archives
- Undertake a literature review that places the topic within a wider field of knowledge
- Critically analyse a body of knowledge relevant to the research problem (across a range of research methodologies and/or within a particular field of interest)
- Select, justify and apply appropriate research method(s) to the research problem
- Analyse, present and discuss findings meaningfully within the field of Religious Studies
- Prepare a written dissertation setting out, and defending, the student's view on the research question
Overview
Either a piece of original work on a specified research question, or a more wide-ranging discussion which gives a critical account of existing literature and knowledge.
A research essay of a maximum length of 20,000 words (excluding footnotes, bibliography and appendices).
About this paper
| Paper title | Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Subject | Religious Studies |
| EFTS | 0.5 |
| Points | 60 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2027 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- Three 300-level RELS or RELX papers
- Restriction
- RELX 490
- Limited to
- BA(Hons), PGDipArts
- Eligibility
This paper is normally available only to students enrolled for the Bachelor of Arts with Honours or Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Religious Studies.
- Contact
Associate Professor John Shaver
- More information link
View more information on the Religion website.
- Teaching staff
Course Co-ordinator: Associate Professor John Shaver
- Paper Structure
Students are assigned a supervisor with whom they will meet regularly. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss possible topics with a supervisor at the end of the semester prior to the one in which they begin work on the research essay.
- Teaching Arrangements
The deadline for submission is 1 November. This is a strict deadline. Extensions will only be provided in cases of unforeseen circumstances that significantly restrict a student's ability to complete the dissertation on time. This does not include work commitments or any other activities entered into voluntarily. In cases where there are serious unforeseen circumstances, the student should discuss them with their supervisor at the earliest possible opportunity.
Note: For students who wish to begin the dissertation in second semester the code will be RELS 491. The deadline for submission in this case is 1 June.
- Textbooks
Textbooks are not required for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Satisfactory completion of this paper will be shown by presentation of a dissertation that demonstrates that the student is able to:
- Develop an appropriate research question, plan and write a dissertation.
- Employ effective information search strategies utilising appropriate library resources, databases and archives.
- Undertake a literature review that places the topic within a wider field of knowledge.
- Critically analyse a body of knowledge relevant to the research problem (across a range of research methodologies and/or within a particular field of interest).
- Select, justify and apply appropriate research method(s) to the research problem.
- Analyse, present and discuss findings meaningfully within the field of Religious Studies.
- Prepare a written dissertation setting out, and defending, the student's view on the research question.