FAQ for BAR 2015-16

FAQ for BAR 2015-16

What is BAR?
BAR stands for Business Analysis Report and it is the capstone research project for the MSc Management & Finance at the University of Sussex.

Am I a BAR student?
You are if you are studying for an MSc in Management & Finance.

What do BAR students have to do?
The  BAR  report is  8,500  words,  with  a  submission  deadline usually at the end of August or the beginning of September. You will be notified of the specific deadline later.

Who marks the report?
The BAR supervisors mark the BAR report.

Are marking criteria available?
Yes the marking criteria are shown at the end of the module handbook.

Are appendices and references included in the word count for BAR?
No.

What referencing style should I use to refer to journal articles in my report, and compile the reference list?
The Harvard style.

Will I get marks deducted for incorrect use of the Harvard style?
Yes, sloppy referencing reduces the quality of any report including the BAR report.

Should the literature review focus on the companies I have chosen for the financial statement analysis?
No. It should focus on literature relating to financial analysis and SWOT analysis.

What sort of literature should be consulted for the literature review section?
Mainly articles in academic journals, and maybe some books and some websites. All literature sources should be in English.

What is the role of the supervisor?
Your supervisor will not write the report for you. The supervisor will give you some guidance at the beginning of this module and will provide feedback on drafts of your work.

How frequently will you meet your supervisor?
It depends on the progress you are making. All meetings, except the first introductory meeting, focus on written drafts. Your supervisor will decide when further meetings occur. You should attend the first meeting in person. Subsequent meetings may be in person or via Skype. After the first meeting, having a meeting with your supervisor only makes sense if there is sufficient progress on the draft compared to the previous meeting. A supervisor may insist on evidence of progress (i.e., a new draft) before a meeting can be scheduled. Of course, a meeting may also be scheduled if the lack of progress is itself an issue. If in doubt, please contact your supervisor.

Who arranges the first meeting with my supervisor?
Your supervisor will email you with the date and time of your first meeting. It is most likely to be in the first week of June, but may be slightly later.

What is the focus of the three lectures in May?
These lectures focus on aspects of doing the BAR, including conducting a financial statement analysis and a SWOT analysis.

Where should I go for further guidance?
You should do nothing relating to this module until the lectures begin in mid-May. After that, if you need any guidance, you should contact your supervisor.

By admin in Essays on October 25, 2016