This course aims to develop the students' (1) sense of curiosity to knowledge; (2) critical thinking skills to assess ideas; and (3) ability to demonstrate original discovery/innovation/creativity in applying their knowledge and skills in their independent research. Students will develop expertise in a chosen subject area through the application of theory and techniques provided by the programme. In undertaking independent research and producing an academic dissertation, students will demonstrate their intellectual capacity in producing a significant piece of academic writing, understanding of the chosen subject matter, and the ability and skills necessary in managing and presenting the dissertation in a precise and coherent manner.

Grading of Student Achievement: (Refer to Grading of Courses in the Academic Regulations (Attachment) and to the Explanatory Notes.)

Students will be given a duration of 25-30 calendar weeks to complete the dissertation. The final deadline for submission of the dissertation will be announced by the School of Law. Students can only extend the submission deadline of their dissertation for 1 week by approval of their supervisors. The dissertation topic must be approved by the Programme Director. Students should take an initiative role to contact their supervisor in the course of preparation of the dissertation. Please refer to the LLMArbDR LW6409A Guidelines for Students and Supervisors for further details on the roles and responsibilities of LW6409A students and dissertation supervisors.

The dissertation is to be prepared and submitted in accordance with the standards in the "Regulations for the Form of Theses" as contained in the City University of Hong Kong Calendar. The length shall be in the range of 12,000 to 20,000 words (excluding footnotes). The main text may be supplemented by footnotes as per the Oxford Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA) and appendices.

The dissertation will be assessed on the basis of the finished written work. The dissertation will be marked by the dissertation supervisor and by another marker, who will normally be a member of the academic staff of the School of Law. In some cases, where relevant expertise is required, the second assessor may be from another department or from an outside organization. Each assessor will mark the dissertation on the basis of 100 points. The weight of each assessment is a maximum of 50%, giving a total of 100% for the dissertation. Where the marks awarded by the two assessors differ widely (more than 20 marks), a third marker will act as the final arbiter.

Assessment of the dissertation will be based on the student's:

- ability to plan, monitor and maintain a viable work schedule;

- the scope of the dissertation, the extent to which it addresses opportunities and objectives in the chosen subject area;

- degree of innovation and original achievement in the dissertation;

- ability to integrate and develop knowledge and skills learned in the programme;

- degree of success in meeting the goals of the dissertation topic; and

- quality and clarity of the written dissertation.

On the recommendation of the internal assessors, the Dissertation Committee may require the student to present and defend the dissertation viva voce. This oral presentation of the dissertation will not contribute to the final mark. The purpose of the oral presentation is to test the students comprehension of the content and context of the dissertation, and to confirm that the work presented is that of the student. The oral presentation will be made before a panel appointed by the Dissertation Committee and normally comprising the Programme Director or the Chairman of the Assessment Panel as Chairman, the dissertation supervisor and the second assessor.