Dissertation Area

Hi!
I am doing my postgraduate course in International Relations and now I have to start thinking about my dissertation topic and research questions. Before I started the course, I thought I would be doing something related to diplomacy. However, taking a module in the first semester made me realise that I do not really relate to that and I don't want to work in diplomacy. Now I am stuck about where to begin with my dissertation topic. Any suggestions on how to get out of this rut?

Reply 1

UniLancashire

Official Rep

Hi there 👋

This is a completely normal feeling - a lot of people struggle to make a decision on what to focus their dissertation on so you're not alone. A few tips that helped me when I was choosing my dissertation topic were:

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Spend time researching now. I understand you might currently just be feeling panicked about the overwhelming amount of topics but it's really important you don't rush into a decision and take time to really research them. You'll likely find that some have been explored too much, whereas others won't have enough to talk about. Have a look back at the modules you studied and pick out key areas that you were interested in ands go from there.

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Make sure to pick a topic that you find interesting. Your dissertation is something you'll spend months researching and working on, it's really important to choose a topic you find interesting. A lot of people go for a topic that will benefit their future career, but it's easier said than done to know what job you're aiming towards! I went with a subject I was inspired by as I knew my passion for the area would help me get through the whole writing process.

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Choose something different. It's impossible to pick a subject that no one has researched before so don't worry if some research is already out there. However, it is important to go with a topic that has capacity to be explored more thoroughly. You want to have the ability to come up with your own conclusions and results that aren't repetitive of what's already been produced. Contrasting to this, don't choose something that is too narrow that you won't be able to reach the word count. You need to be able to expand on your points and draw conclusions enough to help shape your arguments.

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Speak to your tutors. When I was struggling to choose I found that speaking to my lecturers and personal tutor really helped spark inspiration. They listed some broad topics and together we found some niche avenues that I was interested in. They simply want the best for you and will be more than happy to offer suggestions on where to start.

Ultimately I'd recommend picking a topic that inspires you and is something you want to learn about in more depth. Have a research, don't put too much pressure on yourself, and go with your gut!

Best of luck with your decision!
^Hannah 🙂

Reply 2

Kingston Zhi En

Official Rep

Original post

by tyuninforlove

Hi there @tyuninforlove ,

Are there any particular areas, case stu😗dies or issues within International Relations that you are passion about or are interested in exploring?
You may want to list down these topics of interest into a mind map and identify common themes. This may help you start the process of developing some research questions and a framework to begin your research!
I would suggest to contact your academic tutor for any recommendations on relevant academic text 🤗
It is always best to start early when it comes to writing assignments!
All the best .

Zhi En
(Kingston Student Rep.)

Reply 3

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

Hi there!

Choosing a dissertation topic can feel really overwhelming at first, but starting with what genuinely interests you makes the process much easier.

Reflect on the modules you've enjoyed most or topics that have piqued your interest - you're already sort of doing this by deciding what you DON'T want to do, which is a great place to start!

If you have a specific career goal or pathway in mind, think about any potential topics that might align with that - it can become a great talking point in future job interviews.

By identifying a broad area, you can then begin narrowing it down by reading recent journal articles to spot gaps in the research or underexplored angles that you find interesting. As well, set up a meeting with any potential supervisors that might specialise in the broad area of study you have decided on - they might be able to give you pointers or suggest topic ideas.

Personally, I met with my supervisor and asked what their research interests were and ideas she wanted to look into but didn't have the time. From there, we came up with 3 potential topics for my project. I went away and did a little research into all 3 and then narrowed it down to the topic I found most interesting!

Make sure your topic is manageable within the timeframe and resources available. As well, by meeting with potential supervisors, they will be able to tell you whether a topic is feasible to do in the timeframe you'll get which will be a really helpful thing to think about!

Points to take:

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Read recent research to identify gaps or fresh angles