Marking Criteria for the Dissertation - Postgraduate

The following criteria are applied to postgraduate dissertations. Please note that the criteria are slightly different
to the general marking criteria for written assignments, to take into account the research design and creativity of
the dissertation project. Dissertations can follow varied formats so please check with your supervisor or module
leader if you are unsure about how the assessment criteria relate to your project.

To achieve a particular grade, a piece of work does not have to achieve all criteria (i.e. markers will assess your
work as a whole and use their academic judgement to weigh the criteria and arrive at a final mark).

Knowledge & understanding Research design and structure

Depth of knowledge and Ability to formulate and explain

understanding of relevant
concepts, issues and evidence,
including cutting-edge research
and scholarship
Accuracy and precision of
interpretation
Breadth and/or depth of reading
and research as relevant to the
assessment task
relevant research topic and/or
questions
Use of appropriate theory, approach
and/or methods
Coherent research design and
structure
Critical awareness of contribution
and limitations of the research
within larger field of study

Intellectual skills Presentation & referencing

Ability to critically analyse and
evaluate ideas, issues and
evidence
Ability to develop argument
Ability to apply knowledge and
techniques of research and/or
advanced scholarship which are
relevant to the assessment task
Ability to develop independent
ideas and insights
next page for expectations and guidelines related to each grade.
Ability to express ideas clearly and
fluently and to use appropriate style,
vocabulary, and visual illustrations
where relevant
Appropriate use of academic formats
and conventions, including
referencing
Please
refer to the
 Knowledge & understanding
80100 Outstanding knowledge and understanding of
relevant content. Accurate and precise
High interpretation. Evidence of outstanding breadth
Distinc and/or depth of reading and research, and
tion demonstrates full mastery of specialist and cutting-
edge content.
70-79 Excellent knowledge and understanding of
relevant content. Accurate and precise
Distinc interpretation. Evidence of substantial breadth
tion and/or depth of reading and research as relevant to
the assessment.
60-69 Good / very good knowledge and understanding
of relevant content. Accurate and precise
High interpretation. Evidence of good breadth and/or
Pass depth of reading and research as relevant to the
assessment.
5059 Fairly good knowledge and understanding of
relevant content, although there may be a lack of
Pass precision and accuracy in interpretation. Evidence
of fairly good breadth and/or depth of reading and
research as relevant to the assessment.
4049 Unsatisfactory knowledge and understanding of
relevant content. Some accurate interpretation, but
Fail includes significant errors and/or irrelevant content.
Limited evidence of relevant and appropriate
reading.
0-39 Poor knowledge and understanding of relevant
content. Characterized by major misinterpretation,
Low inaccuracy, omissions and/or irrelevant material.
fail Lacks evidence of relevant and appropriate
reading.
Intellectual skills
80100 Outstanding intellectual skills. Sophisticated
critical analysis/ evaluation. Outstanding argument
High and use of theoretical and empirical material.
Distinc Demonstrates full intellectual independence and
tion contributes to broader academic debates.
70-79 Excellent intellectual skills. Thorough and incisive
critical analysis and evaluation. Excellent argument
Distinc and integration of relevant theoretical and empirical
tion material. Demonstrates full intellectual
independence.
60-69 Good / very good intellectual skills. Good critical
analysis and evaluation. Effective and well-
High sustained argument, which is relevant to the
Pass assessment. Demonstrates intellectual
independence.
5059 Fairly good intellectual skills. Some relevant
critical analysis, evaluation and argument, but does
Pass not always pursue ideas clearly or develop a
sustained argument. Demonstrates a degree of
intellectual independence.
4049 Unsatisfactory intellectual skills. Demonstrates
limited critical analysis and evaluation and tends to
Fail rely on description. Lacks a clear argument or the
argument is weak and only partly relevant. Work
lacks evidence of intellectual independence.
0-39 Poor intellectual skills. Lacks any critical analysis,
evaluation or argument that is relevant to the
Low assessment or it is extremely weak. Work lacks
fail any evidence of intellectual independence.
Research design and structure
Outstanding formulation of research topic and/or
questions. Creative and coherent research design which
is well supported by theory and follows an appropriate
structure. Demonstrates a sophisticated level of critical
awareness and ability to reflect on research limitations.
Excellent formulation of research topic and/or
questions. Coherent research design which is well
supported by theory and follows an appropriate
structure. Demonstrates a high level of critical
awareness and ability to reflect on research limitations.
Good / very good formulation of research topic and/or
questions. Coherent research design which is supported
by some relevant theory and follows an appropriate
structure. Demonstrates a level of critical awareness
and ability to reflect on research limitations.
Fairly good formulation of research topic and/or
questions. Research design is mostly coherent but
some inconsistencies in the structure. There are
connections to theory or literature but not always
relevant or correct. Demonstrates a limited level of
critical awareness.
Unsatisfactory research design. No evidence of a
serious attempt with regard to the design or structure of
the research project. There may be no clear research
question or objectives and major inconsistencies in the
method or approach chosen, or its application.
Poor research design. Lacks any evidence of a serious
attempt with regard to the design or structure of the
research project. No clear research question or
objectives and major inconsistencies or deficiencies in
the method or approach chosen, or its application.
Presentation & referencing
Outstanding presentation. Exceptionally well written
work that is clear, and fluent at all times. Demonstrates
an excellent command of appropriate academic formats
and conventions.
Excellent presentation. Very well written work that is
clear and fluent. Demonstrates an excellent command of
appropriate academic formats and conventions.
Good / very good presentation. Well written work that
is generally clear with few errors. Demonstrates a good
command of appropriate academic formats and
conventions.
Fairly good presentation. Adequate written expression,
although there are weaknesses. Demonstrates a fairly
good command of appropriate academic formats and
conventions.
Unsatisfactory presentation. Intelligibly written work,
although there are some major weaknesses and the
writing is sometimes unclear. Limited command of
appropriate academic formats and conventions.
Poor presentation. Written expression is unclear and
very poor, with major weaknesses and/or substantial
problems and errors in use of academic formats and
conventions.