Each student completes a separate individual research project under the guidance and supervision of a member of staff. In the first term, students prepare and turn in a 'literature review and project plan' to be marked, and will give a short oral presentation of this, also to be marked.

Students may choose a title from an approved list or propose one of their own. The main purpose of the project is to enable students to demonstrate knowledge of how economic ideas can be applied in greater length and depth than is feasible in the context of a taught course. Upon completion of the individual research project each student will have designed and implemented a modest research project in applied or theoretical economics, normally including a critical literature survey and the evaluation of evidence (as appropriate to the project title).

'A non-assessed sequence of lectures and laboratory sessions is taught to provide students with the econometric methods relevant for applied research.'

EC831 provides opportunities for students to develop academic and professional working skills in the following ways. Writing the literature review and project plan in the Autumn Term and the dissertation in the Spring Term develops students' academic skills and professional working skills, and contributes to key professional working and employability skills (working to deadlines; originality; writing coherently and analytically) and academic skills. We now have a mandatory oral presentation of the literature review and project plan; this will contribute to professional development through enhancing communication and presentation skills