MDUM8010 Chap.7 The Proposal and the Form Timetable
The Proposal and the Form Timetable
A course run on numbered forms
Every stage of the dissertation is recorded on a numbered form submitted with its deliverable, from the tentative topic in October 2026 to the final dissertation in June 2027. The outline attaches a serious consequence to the sequence: failing to submit the relevant forms and required deliverables by the deadlines, without valid reasons, leads to a fail grade in the course.
The preliminary proposal
At the end of the preparatory training, students opting for the dissertation submit a tentative topic with a preliminary proposal of four to five pages, in Times New Roman at twelve point, double spaced, about 1,200 to 1,500 words.
It contains a background that clearly articulates the research gap, the context and data sources, the methodology, the expected results and the potential of the work.
The coordinator assesses the proposals and assigns supervisors by matching proposals with expertise.
From proposal to final dissertation
Once topic and supervisor are confirmed, the student develops the full proposal, presents it in January, submits a draft on Moodle, and hands in the title and revised proposal with the draft ethics application in February.
Two progress reports follow in March and April, with the final ethics application due alongside the first.
A dissertation presentation is held in mid May, the completed draft goes to the supervisor for comments at the end of May, and the final dissertation is due at noon on 14 June 2027.
Two conditional forms
Two forms are used only when needed: a proposed change of dissertation title in March, and an application for extension of time in April.
The timetable warns that a late extension request without valid reasons will not be entertained, so both belong in the plan as decision points rather than emergencies.
What this chapter covers
- 01
Why the course is managed through numbered forms
- 02
The consequence of a missed form or deliverable
- 03
What the preliminary proposal must contain
- 04
How supervisors are matched to proposals
- 05
The proposal presentation and the draft proposal
- 06
Title, revised proposal and the draft ethics application
- 07
Two progress reports and what they record
- 08
Change of title and extension of time
- 09
The dissertation presentation, the draft and the final deadline
- 10
Three places where the timetable needs a second look
Worked example · free
Build a personal calendar from the published timetable
- 4List the required forms with their dates.
- 2Mark the conditional forms and their dates.
- 3Add two internal targets and justify them.
Key terms
- Preliminary Proposal
- A four to five page document of about 1,200 to 1,500 words submitted with the tentative topic, used to assess the idea and match a supervisor.
- Progress Report
- A formal report to the supervisor on the state of the research; the timetable fixes two, in March and April.
- Extension of Time
- A conditional application to extend the dissertation deadline, due in April and considered only with valid reasons.
- Dissertation Presentation
- The mid May session at which students present their findings before the draft dissertation is due.
The Proposal and the Form Timetable FAQ
What happens if I miss one of the dissertation forms?
The outline states that failure to submit the relevant forms and required deliverables in accordance with the deadlines, and without valid reasons, will lead to a fail grade in the course. The forms are therefore part of the assessment structure, and a missed form cannot be made up by the quality of the final dissertation.
How long is the preliminary dissertation proposal?
Four to five pages in Times New Roman at twelve point, double spaced, which the outline puts at about 1,200 to 1,500 words. It must set out the background with a clearly articulated research gap, the context and data sources, the methodology, the expected results and the potential of the proposed work.
When is the final dissertation due for 2026-27?
The published timetable gives 12 noon on Monday 14 June 2027, with Form A9, to the departmental general office. The completed draft for supervisor comments is due on 28 May 2027 with Form A8, and a dissertation presentation is scheduled for mid May, marked as to be confirmed.
Can I change my dissertation title after the proposal?
Yes, through a conditional form. The timetable lists Form A4 for a proposed change to the dissertation title, submitted to the departmental general office by 9 March 2027 if necessary. Discuss the change with your supervisor first, since the title should match the revised research question.
Assessment move
Copy every date in this chapter into your own calendar on the day your supervisor is confirmed, and set a reminder one week before each. Treat the two conditional forms as scheduled checkpoints: in early March, ask whether the title still fits the question, and in mid April, ask whether the plan still fits the time left. Answer both honestly with your supervisor while the forms are still available.
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