Collaborative Dissertation Research Question Submission Guidance

Welcome to the Collaborative Dissertation 2024 – We will be using the careers platform Handshake to administer this process, enabling us to grow capacity given the increasing number of organisations and students participating.

This short guide aims to help organisations get onboard with Handshake and submit their research question, which will then be advertised to Loughborough University London students.

The Collaborative Dissertation is a student's largest academic module. It is research focused and will result in the completion of a dissertation thesis that will be submitted for academic marking at completion. It is carried out from June-September as part of our students' requirements of Masters degrees in the various disciplines viewable on the Institutes pages here.

We recommend submitting your research question(s) as soon as possible so that students can consider these opportunities and prepare for application. If you are developing a research question with a specific student or academic, these submissions will also need to be submitted via Handshake but will not become open for wider application - These opportunities will not require a video pitch from a student as it will be assumed that you are happy to proceed with the student you have been engaging with by your submission.

Step 1: Joining Handshake

All Collaborative Dissertation partners will need a Handshake account to participate – You can set this up on the Handshake website.   Further guidance how to set up your ‘employer’ account can be found on the Handshake website.

Step 2: Connect with Loughborough University London as an institution

You will need to sign up to Handshake and connect with us to enable us to approve your research brief submission.

To begin, click Institutions from the left navigation bar, then click More Institutions on Handshake. 

Use the search bar to locate a specific institution, in this instance ‘Loughborough University’.

Click the grey button Request to connect with us and this request will then be approved by the team.

Step 3: Complete the Collaborative Dissertation 2024 application form

(Will not be able to view until step two is complete)

This short form which captures some basic contact details, sets out agreed working practices and shares the Collaborative Dissertation memorandum of understanding (MOU) – As part of the application form, you will be asked to agree with the terms set out in the MOU. Please ensure that you have read this and are happy to agree before completing the application form.

Please complete the application form before submitting your research question(s)

Some key items contained within this form confirm your agreement to work with us and that any intellectual property produced by students is therefore owned by students. Additionally, students are unable to sign up to non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements.

The data provided in your submission will be held solely for the purpose of Collaborative Dissertation 2024.  Other opportunities are available to collaborate with us and you will be provided with the option to opt-in to hear further details on these during completion of this form. By submitting this form, you agree to these terms. Further details on how Loughborough University London uses the data of external stakeholders are available.

Step 4: Submit your research question(s) through Handshake

Once you have signed into Handshake and completed the application form, you are ready to submit your research question.

  1. Click on ‘Post a job’ and arrive on the ‘basic information’ page
  2. Enter the ‘job title’ using the format <Research question title> <LU LDN CD24>
  3. Position type – Select ‘other’ then select ‘experiential learning’ from the drop down menu
  4. Job description – Please enter the background to your research question: Including a brief summary of your organisation, the origin of the research question and its significance (we recommend no more than 150 words in total) – Hyperlinks are available to use here as required for any supporting information
  5. Location requirements (At work/remote/hybrid) – Please select the most appropriate option for the expected working location for this research question
  6. Time requirements – Select:
    1. Select ‘Part time’ (leave hours blank)
    2. Employment duration – ‘Temporary or seasonal’
    3. Estimated start/end – Start ‘01/07/2024’, end ‘01/09/2024’
  7. Expected pay – Select ‘Unpaid’ and then tick ‘confirm job is unpaid, then select ‘continue’
  8. Categorise your job – Type ‘University student researchers’ into the search field and select
  9. Candidate qualifications – Please leave this section blank and select ‘continue’
  10. Choose institutions – This part is important – Select ‘Post to specific institutions’ and then search ‘Loughborough University’ in the search field and select, then ‘continue’
  11. Application process – Please enter ‘05’02’2024’ as application open date and ‘22/03/2024’ as application close date
  12. Number of hires – Please leave set at ‘1’
  13. How will candidates submit applications – Select ‘On Handshake’
  14. Additional required documents on Handshake – please tick ‘Cover letter’ (You will receive a cover letter containing candidate details, research proposal and a link to a video interview upon close of applications).
  15. Your hiring team - By default, this will select you as the ‘job owner’ and provide options to include availability for candidate messaging and email updates. Please select as appropriate or leave blank to opt out from candidate messaging and email updates.
  16. Your final opportunity to review your research question before submitting – Once you are happy with your submission, please select ‘Post job’ to finalise and submit your research question
  17. The Loughborough University Team will then review this and get back to you should there be any queries around your submission.

And that’s it! You have now successfully submitted your research question for Collaborative Dissertation 2024. If you have more than one research question to submit, then please follow the guidance in step 4 to completion – There is no requirement to complete the application form more than once.

Next steps:

  • Research questions will be available to view by students from the 15th December 2023
  • These will then open for applications from 5th February- 22nd March 2024
  • 2nd April - 19th April, organisations will review applications and interview shortlisted candidates
  • Final outcomes to be confirmed by organisations no later than 22nd April 2024

For further enquiries please e-mail collab-diss@lboro.ac.uk