Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Define your research question and produce a research proposal
4–8 weeks (programme-dependent)
A Master's programme culminates in a dissertation or major project. The research question is the foundation. Define a specific, original research question for your Master's dissertation or major project: it must be answerable within a Master's scope, it must be non-trivial (not resolvable with a single literature search), and it must contribute something not already in the published literature. Produce a 3-page research proposal: background (what is known), gap (what is not), your specific research question, proposed methodology, and why this question matters. Have the proposal reviewed by your dissertation supervisor or a subject-matter expert in the field.
Proof required
Submit your 3-page research proposal and a 1-page summary of the reviewer's written feedback, including at least two substantive methodological or framing challenges the reviewer raised.
What gets checked
- Research question is specific — 'what is the impact of social media on mental health' is a topic, not a research question.
- Reviewer feedback includes at least two substantive challenges — 'looks good' is not a review.
- Methodology section names the specific approach (e.g. thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, quasi-experimental pre-post design, systematic literature review) — 'qualitative research' is not specific enough.
Common mistakes
- Research question that is too broad — if you cannot answer it within a Master's dissertation word count, it is not a Master's question.
- Methodology that is not aligned with the research question — quantitative methodology for an interpretive question, or vice versa.
- Reviewer who is not a domain expert or academic — a peer student who has not conducted research is not a suitable reviewer.
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Ask the student to state their research question in one sentence — if they cannot, it is not specific enough.
- Ask what methodology they will use and why it is appropriate for their question.
- Ask what the two most significant challenges the reviewer raised were, and how they responded.
Complete data collection and produce a progress chapter
3–6 months (programme-dependent — data collection timeline varies significantly)
Complete your methodology chapter (or equivalent in your field) and your data collection or primary research phase. The methodology chapter (10–15 pages) must: articulate your epistemological position, justify your chosen methodology, describe your sample or data sources, explain your analysis approach, and address ethical considerations for the research. Then begin analysis and produce a 5-page progress chapter — not a polished chapter, but a working document that shows what the data is actually saying, including unexpected findings and where your initial assumptions were challenged.
Proof required
Submit your methodology chapter, a summary of your data collection (what you collected, from whom, and how), and your 5-page progress chapter. The progress chapter must include at least one unexpected finding.
What gets checked
- Methodology chapter addresses ethical considerations specifically — not 'I followed ethical guidelines' but which ethics committee approved the work, if applicable, or how you addressed consent and anonymisation in non-regulated research.
- Progress chapter includes at least one unexpected finding — a chapter that confirms all initial assumptions is unlikely to be honest.
- Data collection documentation includes who or what you collected data from — not just 'I conducted interviews' but from whom (anonymised) and how many.
Common mistakes
- Methodology chapter that describes what you will do rather than what you did — methodology must be written in past tense post-collection.
- Progress chapter that is a literature review rather than analysis of your own data.
- Skipping the ethics section because the research seems harmless — all research involving human participants requires ethics documentation.
Resources
Foundationstart here
What a verifier looks for
- Ask about the ethics approval — was it required? If yes, what body approved it? If no, why not?
- Ask about the unexpected finding in the progress chapter — what did the data show that the literature review did not predict?
- Ask whether the methodology matches the epistemological position — ask them to explain what their position is.
Submit completed dissertation and pass viva or equivalent assessment
3–6 months (completing writing, submission, and assessment)
Complete and submit your Master's dissertation (or equivalent major project) and pass the programme's summative assessment — a viva voce (oral examination), presentation to an examination panel, or portfolio submission as required by your institution. The assessment must be conducted by qualified assessors from your institution or programme. Receive your formal grade or pass notification. Produce a 1-page reflection on what the dissertation process taught you that coursework alone could not.
Proof required
Submit your dissertation title page and abstract (not the full dissertation — it is confidential), your official grade notification or pass confirmation from your institution, and your 1-page reflection.
What gets checked
- Grade notification is official — a self-reported grade without supporting documentation is not accepted.
- Abstract accurately reflects what the dissertation argued and found — not what you planned to argue at proposal stage.
- Reflection identifies something specific the process taught you — 'it was challenging' is not a reflection.
Common mistakes
- Dissertation submitted but viva or assessment not yet completed — this milestone requires both submission and successful assessment.
- Grade notification from an institution not accredited in its jurisdiction — check that the programme is formally accredited.
- Reflection that describes the difficulty without identifying what you learned that you could not have learned from coursework.
Resources
What a verifier looks for
- Ask the student to summarise what their dissertation found in three sentences — tests whether they can communicate the work.
- Verify the grade notification is from an accredited institution.
- Ask what the viva or assessment felt like — what question challenged them most?