PCS-40044 Student Guide: Planning & Doing an MPH Dissertation 2025/26

PCS-40044 Table of Contents

Introduction    
Dissertation skills and support    
Supervision

• Supervision time    
• Supervision meetings    
• Supervision feedback    

Formative assessment: Dissertation Proposal    

Accessing and Storing Data    

Key Considerations for Undertaking a Dissertation    

• Time management    
• Plagiarism    
• Artificial Intelligence    

Content and Layout of the Dissertation    

• Overall Layout    

A Research Timetable (Gantt chart)    
Form and Presentation of the Dissertation    
Submission of Dissertation    
Assessment    
Appendices    

PCS-40044 Introduction

This handbook offers an overview of key aspects of undertaking an MPH Dissertation at Keele.

PCS-40044 Dissertation skills and support

The MPH program is designed to ensure you develop key skills to complete a dissertation. 

As you progress through each module, you will be developing independent research skills, including:

• Critically appraising the literature
• assimilating key concepts, theories, frameworks, and policies
• understanding and using different methodological approaches and research methods
• Critically evaluating research
• academic writing skills (including the use of APA referencing style)
• independent study skills (including time management and prioritisation of activities)

In Semester 2, you will bring together these skills to help shape and ultimately undertake your dissertation. In Semester 3, you will carry out an independent piece of research and write this up to form your dissertation project.

Although the dissertation is primarily an exercise of independent scholarship, support is provided, including:

• Teaching sessions online and in-person (see your timetable for further details)
• 5 hours of supervision

There is also a wealth of support available from the university academic skills team:  Academic skills - Keele University 

Supervision 

In Semester 2, you will be matched with a supervisor. You will receive notification of who your supervisor is via email. 

Supervision Time

Over the course of the dissertation, your supervisor has 5 hours allocated to support your project. This time can be divided up and used for meetings and reading draft pieces of work. How you use supervision is flexible and should be discussed in the early stages of supervision with your supervisor on how best to use the time. 

Supervision Meetings

You will be responsible for organising meetings with your supervisor and setting the agenda. 

In an initial meeting, you may wish to focus on:

• The research question
• Initial plans for answering your research question (research approach, methods for data analysis)
• A supervision plan going forward

Supervision feedback

At the master's level, the dissertation is an opportunity to show your ability to work independently on a small piece of research. The end product must, therefore, be all your own work and not that of your supervisor, friends, or colleagues. However, there are opportunities to seek and receive supervisor feedback when planning and writing your dissertation.

Formal formative feedback opportunity: 2,500-word Dissertation proposal

An important opportunity for formative feedback is through submission of a dissertation proposal at the end of Semester 2 (details provided in the next section). Where possible, supervisors mark the dissertation proposal. This marking is in addition to the 5 hours allocated for supervision. 

Informal formative feedback opportunities:

Formative feedback occurs throughout the learning process and is gained whenever information is received that can be used to make changes to improve your work. Formative feedback can be conveyed by tutors, students, librarians, and others within and outside the university setting. Formative feedback can come in many forms (e.g., written, verbal, visual). For the dissertation, your supervisor will be an important source of formative feedback. It is critical that you discuss a supervision plan with your supervisor early on in Semester 2 to make the best use of the supervision time allocated.

Please note: It is important to recognise that it is not your supervisor’s responsibility to proofread your work. Supervisors can read draft examples of your work up to a maximum of 2,500 words in total. Please allow 15 working days for feedback on draft material, and allow sufficient time afterwards to action feedback given. It is also advised to agree on feedback timelines with supervisors in advance to plan around staff annual leave.

Please remember that the standard of English, style, and overall presentation of the dissertation is your own responsibility. It is important to ensure that your dissertation is properly proofread before it is submitted in order to ensure that grammar and spelling are correct. This is not your supervisor's responsibility, and you should find a colleague or friend to assist you in this respect, and use the Postgraduate student support in Student Services

A supervisor’s responsibility is to assist you in identifying obstacles to progress, as well as any deficiencies in your work that might be discerned by an external audience.

PCS-40044 Formative assessment: Dissertation Proposal 

A formative assessment opportunity is provided where you are invited to submit a 2,500-word dissertation proposal. Where possible, proposals will be reviewed by your supervisor and feedback provided to support the dissertation.

In your proposal, please provide a clear and concise title of the proposed dissertation.

Please use the following subheadings to structure the body of the proposal:

Background – an overview of the topic area, drawing on relevant literature, leading to the identification of a problem area or knowledge gap to be addressed.
  
Aims and research question – state the research question/objectives and aims.

Methods – justify and describe study design, data collection methods* and data analysis methods. 

*Please note, where existing data is being used, a description of how the data was sourced and accessed, and/or how this data was originally collected should be provided, where possible.

Possible outcomes – outline likely findings or outcomes of the project.

Timeline for the project – a detailed timeline of dissertation activity in the form of a Gantt chart (e.g., Semester 1, Week 2).

References – a complete reference list of in-text citations formatted according to APA 7th guidelines. 

Accessing and Storing Data

(ignore for systematic/scoping/meta-synthesis reviews)

For your MPH dissertation project, you will not be collecting new data. Instead, you will be using existing data that has already been collected.
 
For purposes of research integrity, it is important to ensure appropriate processes and steps are adhered to when dealing with data. It is your responsibility to ensure these processes are followed (e.g., appropriate storage of data) and, where necessary, a data sharing agreement is in place.

PCS-40044 Key Considerations for Undertaking a Dissertation

Time Management

You are obliged to complete your dissertation within a specified and pre-determined time limit. You must work backwards from the intended date of submission and consider how much time is needed to: 

• Undertake the literature review
• For systematic/scoping reviews: Complete database searches, screening, and extraction procedures
• Analyse the data
• Consolidate findings in light of what is already known
• Draft dissertation chapters
• Write up/polish various drafts
• Type the final dissertation (How much time is needed? What about allowing time for proofreading, problems, delays, etc.?)
• Add and format references

Most dissertation completion problems arise because of poor time management rather than a lack of ability. You need to show professionalism in undertaking your research in the same way as you would in your work situation: time constraints are not acceptable reasons for delay.

Plagiarism 

Plagiarism is intellectual theft. Any copying of other people's work from texts, papers, dissertations, or other material will be heavily penalised and is likely to result in your dissertation being failed. It is imperative that you properly cite all references, papers, texts, journals, etc., which you have used in your research, together with any acknowledgement of assistance which has been given either verbally or in writing while you carried out your research project.  

Artificial Intelligence

Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in an assessment to present work as your own, or to fabricate in-text citations and references, is also considered academic misconduct (as outlined in the Student Academic Misconduct Code of Practice) and will be heavily penalised, and is likely to result in your dissertation being failed. 

Although AI is not allowed to be used to write academic assessments, we recognise that it can be helpful with your learning. The University has produced a useful study guide on using AI effectively during your academic studies. It explains what AI is, when it is appropriate to use it, and how to use it to support your learning. It is recommended that you take some time to read the presentation to ensure you understand what is appropriate about the use of AI in your academic studies.

PCS-40044 Content and Layout of the Dissertation

Overall Layout
 
The layout of your dissertation should be as follows: 

• Title Page 
• Acknowledgements 
• Abstract 
• Table of Contents 
• Main Text and Chapter Organization (word count = 15,000 words)
• Appendices 
• References 

1. Title Page 

The title of your dissertation should be framed as a specific statement that will be addressed and answered in your dissertation conclusion and recommendations, where you demonstrate your understanding of the course material. 

The title page should contain the Dissertation title, your name, the course studied, the date submitted, and the word count of the main chapters. 

Example:

                                                                     Dissertation title
                                                                               by
                                                                         Your name
                                             A dissertation submitted in part fulfillment of the degree of
                                                        Master's in Public Health at Keele University
                                                                                Date:
                                                                            Word count: 

2. Acknowledgements 

Using a single page only, you should briefly acknowledge any assistance, support, ideas, or co-operation you have received in completing your dissertation. 

3. Abstract 

The main arguments, conclusions, and recommendations of the dissertation are condensed into no more than one A4 page (double-spaced). 

4. Table of Contents 

It is advisable to develop an outline contents page relatively early in the dissertation process and, if necessary, discuss this with your supervisor, since it plays a considerable part in determining the structure of your dissertation. A good structure is essential to ensure that your thought processes flow logically. 

In the dissertation itself, your Table of Contents should include, as a minimum, a list of chapter numbers, chapter titles, and page numbers for each chapter, together with details of any appendices you may wish to include. You may, if you wish, expand the detail given to provide information on sections within the chapters, but you should ensure that you do not obscure the clarity of the Table of Contents with this additional material. 

A further optional extra is to provide a list of the figures/tables you have included in your dissertation. However, this should only be included if the number of tables and figures is significant.

5. Main Text and Chapter Organisation 

The actual ordering of chapters will depend on the topic and your approach, but normally it should be as follows: 

Chapter 1: Introduction

Usually, this chapter contains the following: 

• Over-arching background to the topic area and why it is important in the context of public health
• Why this is a worthwhile issue/problem, e.g., how it fits into current research in the area
• Particular concepts or issues may need definition or explanation
• What the limits of your study are – i.e., what you are not tackling
• The research question
• The aims of the study/research problem/research questions.
• Outline how your dissertation is structured 

Chapter 2: Literature Review

This chapter is a critical review of what has already been found by previous researchers in the subject area relevant to the research question. In constructing this chapter, consider the following critical questions about the current research literature base:

• Is it comprehensive? 
• Do findings stand the test of time? 
• What areas are omitted? 
• How have previous approaches/methods to research in this area limited understanding/knowledge? 

In the broadest sense, the literature review is the most important element in the research process. Its purpose is to identify and review existing and relevant information, so that you can demonstrate your understanding of the current body of knowledge and how this relates to your own research. Your review must be clearly written, logically ordered, and should lead naturally on to the need for, the purpose, and the design of the dissertation project. 

The final form and content of the literature review is your own responsibility: a supervisor can give guidance where necessary, but cannot write or review the literature for you.

Chapter 3: Methods

This chapter must be written in an academic way with references to the literature on research methods. You should restate your aims within the chapter and explain and justify why the approach taken is appropriate for fulfilling study objectives.  

A possible format for this chapter may be: 

• Restate the problem/issue/question(s) you are investigating; 
• Explain the most appropriate research methodology. It is important to provide a clear justification for the approach taken and support this with relevant up-to-date references. 
• Discuss data collection methods (including participant recruitment, if relevant), providing justification for the methods and how these were used. 
• If using existing data, reference a completed copy of the data sharing agreement – if one was required – that should be included in the appendix.  
• Describe how the data was analysed. 
• Critically discuss issues of validity and reliability (for quantitative research) or rigour, transparency, and trustworthiness (for qualitative research) of methods used. 

Chapter 4: Results

Give details of the results you obtained - ensuring that they are clearly and unambiguously detailed. This section normally begins with a description of the participants or populations involved in the research, with a summary of their demographics (this could be provided in a table).

How you present your results will depend on the research approach taken, the aims of your study, and the type of data analysed. Some students present numerical information in tables or figures (e.g., graphs) and describe the significant points from it, while others may present data in a thematic structure and provide illustrative quotes from participants. Be guided by your engagement with the literature and examples for how results are presented for the type of approach and study design adopted. 

Consider using any relevant reporting checklists or templates (e.g., for systematic reviews, a PRISMA flow diagram will be needed).

Chapter 5: Discussion and Conclusion

Begin the discussion by reiterating the aims of the research, followed by a brief summary of what was found in relation to these aims. You will then need to interpret your findings in relation to the literature. For example, you may wish to show how your own findings relate to other research in the field. In addition to this, if you have used a theoretical concept or model in your research, then you may wish to show how your own findings relate to the concept or model. 

It is usual at this stage to consider the implications of what you have found. It may be relevant to consider what your findings mean for public health policy or future initiatives. State what recommended actions you consider should be taken based on your research. Recommendations can also include what the focus should be for future research studies based on your findings (i.e., given what we know now, what is important to understand or find out next?). 

It is also important to critically evaluate the quality of your research. Identify its strengths and limitations and what could be done differently, or be desirable to do, if the work were carried out again.

End this chapter with a conclusion about your research. Summarise your whole study: what you aimed to do, what you actually did, what you found out, and the significance of this. You may also include a discussion about your professional learning as a result of undertaking the study.

Linking Chapters and Coherence

The dissertation must be logically ordered with a clearly defined beginning, leading through sound discussion to well-supported conclusions and recommendations. Each chapter must connect with both its predecessor and its successor so that it adds to the central arguments you make. 

6. Appendices 

Appendices should be grouped at the end of the main text of your dissertation. Possible documents you may wish to include in an appendix are tools used for data collection (if available), and may include:

• questionnaires, interview questions (sometimes referred to as an interview schedule or topic guide)
• completed data sharing agreement form (if relevant)
• search strategy and data extraction tables when conducting a systematic review
• reporting checklists

You should not use appendices to pad out your dissertation with non-essential or unrelated material: this may be penalised. 

7. References: 

Your reference list will begin on a new page and should include all materials specifically referenced within the text and formatted according to APA style guidelines (7th edition).

Keele University library has a subscription to Bloomsbury citethemright – an online resource to aid with the use of different referencing style guides.

• Choose your referencing style
• APA 7th
• Subscription required
• Log in
• Log in via your institution
• Type ‘Keele University’ in Find your Organization. Click on ‘Keele University’ 

Here you will find information and guidance on how to present your in-text citations in the main body of the dissertation as well as appropriate formatting of your reference list. Simply click on the relevant types of source (e.g., Books, Journals etc.) to find guidance on how it should be formatted according to APA 7th edition. 

An example for a printed book:

(NOTE: You must note references accurately at the time of reading a journal/book/website or noting an idea/evidence. If you leave accurate referencing until the writing-up stage, your memory will likely play tricks on where you found it, the source may be unavailable, and you may spend a lot of time searching through the literature!) 

PCS-40044 A Research Timetable (Gantt chart)

Researchers regularly use Gantt charts to plan a research timeline or timetable. Gantt charts are helpful to give an overview of all the activities required to complete a dissertation and when these activities need to happen, and how long each one is likely to take.

Before you begin your dissertation, you should consider some common difficulties: 

• Attempting to research an area that is too wide and cannot be completed within the time allowed and within the word limit imposed. 
• Beginning to write up your findings before you have thought through your ideas about your topic or before you have done any reading around the topic. 
• Failing to grasp fully or understand properly what is involved in undertaking independent research and writing a dissertation. 
• Not planning or keeping (in a general sense) to your plan. Failing to schedule your work using several self-imposed short-term targets, which help to structure what you do and when. 
• Exceeding the word limit and being verbose in the way you present your ideas. 

A useful way of working out a timetable is to look at the submission deadline and count back the weeks, thinking through professional and personal commitments. Set yourself short-term goals each week for tasks you want to progress and/or complete. 
The following outline is suggested as a possible approach, designed to help you plan your own research timetable so that each aspect of your dissertation is fully covered: 

• Confirm data sharing agreement and obtain data.
• Write your introduction to the study. 
• Complete the literature review. 
• Carry out a detailed data analysis. 
• Review your introduction to the study. 
• Begin the writing up of your dissertation. 
• Finalise your analysis. 
• Review your introduction to the study. 
• Write up all chapters into draft form. 
• Review and edit chapters.
• Finalise proofreading; the dissertation should be in the final stages of completion. 

It is normal in any research project that the Gantt chart and timetable will need revisiting on several occasions, as some tasks may take longer/shorter than originally anticipated.

Form and Presentation of the Dissertation

The following parameters are provided to guide course members in the final 
preparation of their dissertation for submission: 

Submission: 

All dissertations should be submitted electronically via the assessment folder for the module on Keele’s online learning environment (the KLE). There is no need to submit a hard copy. 

Typing: 

• You should use a 12 font in either Arial or Times New Roman (or any other standard font).
• Use double line spacing, except for long quotations, which must be single line spaced, indented, with inverted comas.
• When using a quotation, the page number of the cited source should normally be in brackets at the end of the quotation (see APA 7th edition style guide). If the quotation is an excerpt of participant data, add the participant code in brackets at the end of the quotation (e.g., patient 01). Use bold or italic to only emphasise and should not be used as the norm. 

Chapter: 

• Each chapter should start on a new page. 

Footnotes: 

• Footnotes should not normally be used. If, however, footnotes are considered to be appropriate to your study then they should be numbered, single-spaced, and placed at the end of each relevant chapter. 

Margins: 

• Normal 

Paging: 

• Pages should be numbered. Start a new page for each Chapter. 

Language: 

• The dissertation should be written in English, following the correct conventions for UK English grammar and spelling.

Word-processing: 

• You should normally use the left justification formatting. Fully justified text can leave large spaces between words, and this hinders the Examiner's ability to read your work. 

File type:

• Files submitted should be a Word document. If a PDF is submitted, this will not be marked, and a Word version of the dissertation will be requested.

If you are in doubt about any aspects of the presentation, please check with the module tutor. 

NB: when you submit your dissertation, it should be accompanied by a Dissertation submission form (available in Appendix 1)

Length of Dissertation

Dissertations are judged by the quality of their content and not their length, although dissertations that are significantly longer or shorter than the required length will be heavily penalised. Please take note of the word length of the Dissertation that you are registered for. 

PCS-40044 Dissertation – Target length of 15,000 words, +/- 10%

Submission of Dissertation

Submission dates 

The final dissertation is due for submission at 1 pm (BST), 5th September 2025, via KLE.

If you find difficulty in submitting for the appropriate date, then you should complete the Extenuating Circumstances Form. There should be clear and valid extenuating circumstances for the failure to submit a Dissertation on time. You should also provide relevant evidence to support your case. 

You should submit an electronic Word (e.g., .doc, docx) version of your dissertation via the KLE. You don’t need to submit a hard copy of the dissertation. 

Your dissertation should be accompanied by a copy of the Dissertation Submission form (which you will find at the end of this handbook, Appendix 1) to confirm that the dissertation is all your own work. This form should be inserted as the first page of your dissertation. 
When your dissertation arrives, it begins the assessment process: 

a) One copy is sent to your supervisor, who is the first internal examiner; 
b) One copy is sent to another member of the course team who is the second internal examiner; 
c) The two examiners meet to discuss their marking and agree on a grade; 
d) Dissertations are sent for review by the External Examiner;
e) The Examination Board recommends final awards. The Examination Board may refer a dissertation back to a course member for additional work, with an opportunity to resubmit one more time. 
f) The University notifies all course members of the outcome of the Examination Board.

PCS-40044 Assessment

Your dissertation is a piece of work independently developed and executed. It will be assessed based on its academic merit, its intellectual content, the quality of its presentation, and your ability to draw together all the various strands of core course teaching into the approach taken towards the problem identified. 

In addition to the MPH Assessment Criteria, course tutors and the External Examiner also consider the following when awarding a grade to a dissertation:

Academic Merit and Intellectual Content

Originality 

• To what extent have you introduced original thought into your dissertation? 
• Does your dissertation develop naturally and logically from previous research? 
• Does the dissertation rely too heavily on a small number of earlier pieces of research? 
• Is the content of your own work free from any form of plagiarism and/or artificial intelligence? 

Breadth of Background Reading 

• Is there a sound review of the relevant literature which shows the state of research in the area?
• Is the literature review relevant and connected to the study?
• Have you correctly interpreted and critically applied previous research? 

Research Design and Methodology 

• Were your aims and research question(s) clearly defined at the outset? 
• Does your work demonstrate an appropriate knowledge and understanding of the research methods literature? 
• Were the techniques you used appropriate both to your study and to the database used? 
• Did you show that you recognise limitations of the research? 

Conclusions and Recommendations 

• Do the conclusions and recommendations derive directly from, and relate directly to, your analysis? 
• Does your study relate logically to other work being carried out in the chosen field? 

Quality of Presentation 

This will be assessed on a range of variables, including: 

• Layout
• Adequate and correct pagination
• Correct and consistent referencing within the text and in the bibliography
• Quality of diagrams, tables, and charts 
• Quality of proofreading
• Standards of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and expression. (Marks will be deducted for poor use of the English language) 

PCS-40044 Appendices

APPENDIX 1 – MPH Dissertation submission form
KEELE UNIVERSITY. DISSERTATION TITLE 
NAME (BLOCK CAPITALS) 
Dissertation submitted for the degree of Master's in Public Health

I certify 

(a) That the above dissertation/project is my own account, based upon work actually carried out by me, and that all sources of material not resulting from my own experimentation, observation, or specimen collecting, including observational data, have been clearly indicated. 
(b) That no part of the work incorporated in the above dissertation/project is a quotation from published or unpublished sources, except where this has been clearly acknowledged as such, and that any specific direction or advice received is also properly acknowledged. 
(c) That I have read, understood, and abided by the terms of Regulation VII1.5 below: 

Conduct Concerning Dissertations, Projects, Essays, etc., Which Form Part of a Final Examination for Assessment Purposes
 
(a) Titles must be approved or specified by the Department concerned in accordance with the provisions in the Calendar. 

(b) The dissertation, projects, or essays, etc., shall be in the student's own words, except for quotations from published and unpublished sources which shall be clearly indicated as such and be accompanied by full details of the publications concerned. The source of any map, photograph, illustration, etc. shall be similarly indicated. The student shall indicate clearly the sources, whether published or unpublished, of any material not resulting from his own experimentation, observation, or specimen collecting, including observational data.