Many students initially view the successful production of their dissertation as little more than an essential part of the process to obtain their degree. However, your dissertation can be much more than this. It is important that you consider the potential benefits a research-based dissertation offers when planning your project. Your project and the resulting dissertation can provide the following opportunities:
Intellectual independence: A Masters research project gives you a great chance to immerse yourself in a research topic, taking full ownership of it intellectually. You will be able to explore ideas and methods in much greater depth than as an undergraduate student because you will now have the skills and the experience to tackle your research topic much more efficiently, and the concentrated, focused time in which to do so. This is likely to be your first exposure to fundamental research and can be a deeply rewarding and inspiring experience.
Chance to acquire new skills and broaden your horizons: You are likely to obtain greater intellectual satisfaction and improve your employment potential if you use your project as an opportunity to acquire new expertise. Consider how you can develop your practical and analytical skills during the dissertation process, acquire new skills and/or extend existing ones. If you are undertaking a project in a subject area that is relatively new to you, this can extend your knowledge into a new area of expertise. Alternatively, working on something you are already familiar with allows you to increase your depth of understanding in that area. You have a unique opportunity to obtain assistance from supervisors with expertise in several disciplines – use it!
Possibility to get your dissertation published in a scientific journal. Most MSc dissertations are substantial pieces of work and some are potentially suitable for publication (recent examples can be provided from your course convenor). Just a little extra thought during the preparation of your project and some additional care in writing up could make your dissertation publishable. Your supervisor may be able to offer considerable help in this. If they make a significant contribution to the development of your project, methods of data collection and analysis, or editing, it is reasonable to consider joint publication (you would normally expect to be first author), particularly as they can help with the refereeing process your work will undergo before it is published in the peer-reviewed literature. Publication is of particular benefit to students thinking of going on to do PhDs; published papers are an excellent way to improve your chances of securing PhD funding.
Establish key contacts, perhaps with potential employers. If you undertake a project in conjunction with an external organisation, use the opportunity to develop useful contacts. By delivering a competent and professional report in the form of your dissertation, you will impress people who may be in a position to consider you as a future employee. Your university supervisors are also likely to use your project work as a guide to writing a good reference on your behalf
