We distributed a questionnaire among the last two cohorts of BAESP students, in order to understand their needs in the conduct of dissertation. The questionnaire mainly involves students’ interest in the academic research, as well as the expectations for and difficulties in the dissertation project. Altogether 116 questionnaires were collected. The following section will spell out some of the results.

Around half of the participants implied the positive attitudes in academic research. They expressed the determination that they would carry out other studies besides dissertation. And undergraduates could do academic research.

• better data collection and interpretation skills;
• professional advancement; and
• personal development.

• ideas of what to do in the project;
• required knowledge for research;
• instructions from teaching staff, and
• time.