MSc Business Analytics Research Project Thesis Handbook 2026 | TUS

1     INTRODUCTION  

In partial fulfilment of the Master of Science in Business Analytics programme at Technological University of the Shannon, learners are required to complete and submit a research project of 16,000 words. This research project will account for 30 credits out of the 90 credits required to obtain the Master’s degree.

The research project provides an opportunity for learners to develop their interest in a particular area of study and to demonstrate their ability to carry out independent academic research. In researching and writing the project for submission, learners demonstrate that they have developed intellectual insight into the topic of interest, as well as the ability to critically evaluate and integrate other published research in their chosen area.  

Responsibility for completion of the project resides with the student. Support is available from a member of the programme team to provide guidance and direction to the student via a weekly online meeting. However, researching and writing of the research project is ultimately the student’s responsibility.  

This document does not attempt to explain the research process or various research methodologies in any detail, as these are covered in the Research Methods module. Instead, it provides an overview, including the project requirements, the role of the supervisor, and guidelines on the layout, structure and referencing a written academic project at this level.

1.1    SUBMITTING THE RESEARCH PROJECT

Submission is via a soft copy Moodle, there is no requirement to submit a hard-bound copy of the thesis. The dates of submission will be confirmed on Moodle. 
The project must be the student’s own work. Copying from any other source, without acknowledgement, constitutes plagiarism. Details of the plagiarism policy can be found on the TUS website under TUS Academic Integrity.
Learners are asked to confirm that the research project is their own work. Suitable pro-forma for doing this is included later in the thesis template document.

1.2    LATE SUBMISSION

Research projects submitted after the closing date will incur a 10% penalty in marking.

1.3    DEFERRALS

A deferral may be granted to an individual student in exceptional circumstances, which must be notified to and approved in advance by the Faculty of Business, Hospitality and Humanities.  

1.4    WHO WILL ASSESS RESEARCH PROJECT?

The Research Project will be assessed by at least two members of academic staff before a sample of marked projects is presented to the external examiner. The first will be the supervisor. The second will be another internal examiner who will act as peer mentor.

1.4.1    PROJECT PRESENTATION INTERVIEW

In addition, each student will be required to attend a Project presentation online which will be assessed by a panel assembled from internal or external examiners. The student will be asked questions on the content of their thesis and the research process. This will also be used as a verification that the thesis is the student’s own work. If the Project presentation examiners are not satisfied that the student is adequately able to both defend their work and prove that it is their own work, this will then be discussed at the exam board meeting. The project presentation process will be conducted remotely using appropriate technology.

1.4.2    WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU FAIL?

Failure to reach the required standard in the research project will entail a resubmission by the student. 

1.5    RESEARCH SUPPORT 
 
The Research Project involves the carrying out a self-managed piece of research. However, the student’s own efforts will be supplemented by a formal programme of support in the form of advice and encouragement from an academic supervisor.

ASSESSMENT

On the examination of a completed research project, the supervisor and a second reader will independently assign a grade. The external examiner will be involved in agreeing the final grade to be assigned to the learners.

In general terms, we expect research projects to show evidence of:

• knowledge of business and management
• comprehension
• application of theory
• analysis and synthesis
• evaluation.

A project will be awarded a Distinction/First Class Honours (70% or more) if:

• the student shows an excellent grasp of course material and uses it to great effect in the research project; the student demonstrates breadth of knowledge and a critical understanding of at least one core business subject and any conclusions drawn are supported by the argument having considered all major alternatives
  
  
• major concepts are handled critically rather than superficially
  
  
• recommended texts and readings are referred to where they add support to the case being made; the student includes other sources not directly recommended by tutors and shows evidence that they have thoroughly researched the topic through their critical use of a wide range of relevant and challenging material
  
  
• the research project is well constructed with objectives well set out, problems stated, analysis carried out and conclusions convincingly drawn; and limitations are clearly pointed out.
  
  
• the research project is well presented in a concise and articulate way; it is well written with tables, graphs and bibliography/references properly laid out; quotes are acknowledged and sources cited
  
  
• research methods are explicitly laid out and clearly justified; methodology is appropriately employed; data used is accurately described, methods of use recorded and analysis employed to support the main argument.

To be awarded a pass grade (40%) or more:

• the work should be legible and readable with good grammar, spelling and punctuation; tables, graphs and bibliography/references are properly laid out; quotes are acknowledged and sources cited; there is an adequate but not stimulating executive summary
  
  
• there should be some use of relevant material  
  
  
• the general project guidelines should have been followed.
  

The project will be graded a Fail (39% or less) if:

• the research project does not answer the question asked or does not meet its own objectives , or
• presentation is sufficiently poor to prevent communication taking place, or
• vital material is absent, or
• the relationship of the research project to a particular issue is not discussed or is only discussed in a superficial way. 

MARKING BREAKDOWN

The criteria against which your research project will be assessed are: 

Learners should ask themselves the following questions to help ensure they are meeting the assessment criteria. 
Abstract and Introduction (10%)

• How well does the abstract set the scene?
• How clear are the research aim and objectives?
• How compatible are the objectives with the aim?
• How adequate does the executive summary synthesise the overall piece of work?

Research Question (5%)

• Ability to formulate and articulate robust, well formed, credible and realistic research questions.
  Literature Review (20%)
• Has there been critical engagement with the literature?
• How widely/deeply has the student read his subject?
• Have the key seminal texts been mentioned?
• Is there a separate list of references?
• Are there a reasonable number of recent references?
• Are research gaps identified?

Research Methodology (20%)

• How appropriate is the research method to the research aim and objectives?
• How extensive is the explanation of alternative business research methods available?  
• How well has the student justified his choice of method(s)?
• How well has the student critiqued / explained the limitations of his chosen method(s)?
• Has the data collection tool (e.g. questionnaire, interviews) been designed appropriately to measure what it set out to achieve?
• If a questionnaire was used, what kind of sample was chosen, how were the recipients determined, how was the sample size determined etc?

Analysis of Findings (15%)

• Is there an explicit data analysis strategy and reporting?
• How well does the analysis of findings address the objectives?
• Has the student captured the more salient findings

Discussion (15%)

• Has the student attempted to link the lit review discussed to their findings?
• Has the student acknowledged any limitations to their research findings?
• Has the student provided critical discussion and reflection?
• Has the student provided a framework for possible future research?

Conclusions (and any Recommendations) (5%)

• How closely do the conclusions address the research objectives?
• How well do the conclusions meet the overall aim?
• Are the conclusions consistent with the analysis of findings and discussion section?
• Have the conclusions been stated with an appropriate level of confidence consistent with the research approach?
• How appropriate/feasible are the recommendations?  

Presentation and Referencing (5%)

• Was a detailed List of Contents included? 
• Was the dissertation logically structured?
• How easy was it to understand what the student was attempting to say?
• How appropriate was the use and choice of illustrations/charts/tables/figures?
• Was appropriate material shown in an appendix?

The oral presentation or project presentation before a panel of examiners will be used to confirm the validity of the allocated mark. The duration will be approximately 25 minutes. This presentation will be scheduled accordingly and can be facilitated with the use of appropriate technology. The presentation is worth 15% of the overall thesis grade with the thesis accounting for 85%. The presentation is used to affirm the work is the student’s own and is part of the Quality Assurance process of the programme.