Example schools and education dissertation topic 2:

To what extent do the undergraduates living in fully-catered halls of residence suffer poor diet and nutritional deficiencies in the elite universities of England?

A qualitative study using food diaries, interviews and nutritional analysis of the meals served at three of England’s collegiate universities, this dissertation seeks to evaluate the quality of meals served at ‘normal’ hall. Noting budgetary constraints, a propensity for meals served with various types of the same carbohydrates, and meat colloquially referred to as ‘omni-beast’ as a consequence of its origin (be it beef, lamb or pork, being largely indistinguishable on either taste or colour grounds), this dissertation charts not only the comparative weaknesses of the food served amongst the three universities but also the extent to which the nutritional benefits of such food is higher, lower, or comparable with that eaten by their contemporaries who live out. Student nutrition and health is often portrayed in the media as little more than instant noodles and chips and a consequence of student laziness- this dissertation seeks to debunk this myth, and show the institutional reality of food served within three of England’s leading universities.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Brown, L. B., Dresen, R. K. and Eggett, D. L. (2005). College students can benefit by participating in a prepaid meal plan. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 105(3), pp. 445-448.
• Nelson, M. C. and Story, M. (2009). Food environments in university dorms: 20,000 calories per dorm room and counting. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 36(6), pp. 523-526.
• Peterson, S., Duncan, D. P., Null, D. B., Roth, S. L. and Gill, L. (2010). Positive changes in perceptions and selections of healthful foods by college students after a short-term point-of-selection intervention at a dining hall. Journal of American College Health, 58(5), pp. 425-431.