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SMGT40080

Academic Year 2026/2027

Dissertation (SMGT40080)

Subject:
Sports Management
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Public Hlth, Phys & Sports Sci
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
30
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Ross Neville
Trimester:
Summer
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The research project constitutes the final stage of the MSc programme and is one of the most important elements, accounting for a third of students’ final grade. The module presents an opportunity for students to conduct applied research, demonstrate creativity and critical thinking, as well as to develop and defend their ideas. The projects will typically focus on current sport related issues from a management perspective in an Irish and / or international context. In researching the specific topic, students will draw upon and further develop the knowledge and skills acquired during the MSc programme.

To successfully complete this research project, students will be required to obtain ethical approval/exemption, analyse and synthesise the relevant academic literature, develop a conceptual framework, produce a formal research design and carry out data analysis and synthesis. Working within the research process, students will develop skills in the analysis of complex material, gain a working knowledge of methodologies for data collection and analysis and develop skills in planning and managing effectively a substantial investigation of an organisational practice, issue or problem. The projects will focus on thematic areas proposed by staff members and co-designed with students .

The aim of the project is to enable students to focus on specific topics which have practical relevance to the sport industry and to conduct a body of research which is substantial enough to potentially make a contribution to a particular area/organisation.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles and practices of the research process.
2. Identify and define a sport management-related research question within an established methodological framework.
3. Undertake a review of the sport management (and related academic) literature to synthesise the available evidence and identify areas for focused exploration.
4. Articulate and manage the potential ethical dimensions of the research process (e.g., sensitivity, privacy, consent).
5. Design and implement a research methodology, including data collection and analysis techniques, that aligns with the research question.
6. Communicate the findings of the research process in a clear, transparent, and accessible format.
7. Act autonomously in managing the research process over a prolonged period, under the guidance of an academic supervisor.

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

244
Autonomous Student Learning

464
Lectures

24
Tutorial

6
Total

738

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
In line with the MSc programme values, the module utilises a teaching and learning approach which places students at the centre of the learning experience; promoting a collaborative and interactive learning process. Students have the opportunity to actively engage and learn during the module through research seminars, individual or group meetings with their research supervisor, and through autonomous self-directed learning.

Notes on use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
Staff may utilise AI during the programme to support teaching and learning, and it will be clearly indicated if and when AI is used. Students are prohibited from representing work as their own that they did not write, code or create. Submission of AI-generated content to this Module by a student without explicit permission and attribution is not allowed, and it may reflect unacceptable professional behaviour. This may result in the initiation of a student disciplinary procedure in accordance with the University Student Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity Policy

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Research Proposal (submitted in the Autumn Trimester)
1,500 words
See module Handbook for further details.		 Week 12 Graded No
10
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Literature Review (submitted in the Spring Trimester)
2,500 words
See module Handbook for further details.		 Week 9 Graded No
15
 No
Individual Project: Dissertation written as a journal article (submitted in the Summer Trimester)
8,000 words
See module Handbook for further details.		 Week 10 Graded No
75
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will also be provided with feedback on their research proposal and individual literature review assignment post assessment. Students will also be provided with formative feedback on selected draft sections of their dissertation.

Name Role
Dr Andre Andrijiw Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Tom Fabian Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Peter Horgan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Seamus Kelly Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Alexander Latinjak Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Luciana Lolich Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor James Matthews Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Ross Neville Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Joel Rookwood Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Eleni Theodoraki Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Summer Lecture Offering 51 Week(s) - 1 Mon 09:00 - 15:50
Summer Lecture Offering 51 Week(s) - 42 Thurs 09:00 - 12:50
Summer Lecture Offering 51 Week(s) - 10 Thurs 09:00 - 16:50
Summer Lecture Offering 51 Week(s) - 36 Thurs 09:00 - 16:50
Summer Lecture Offering 51 Week(s) - 1 Tues 09:00 - 18:40
Summer Lecture Offering 51 Week(s) - 2 Tues 10:00 - 12:50
Summer Lecture Offering 51 Week(s) - 25 Wed 09:00 - 11:50
Summer Lecture Offering 51 Week(s) - 25 Wed 12:00 - 16:50
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