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| Module Availability |
| Semesters 1 and 2 |
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| Assessment Pattern |
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Unit(s) of Assessment
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Weighting Towards Module Mark (%)
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Continuous assessment –
Final mark determined by:
Project report [40%]
Oral examination [35%]
Project management [25%]
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100
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Qualifying Condition(s)
An overall mark of 40% is required to pass the module.
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| Module Overview |
| The module provides an opportunity for students to undertake, guided, individual research into a subject related to their programme of study. Students are required to take independent ownership of their project and demonstrate this through their management of the available resources, including meetings with project supervisor(s), the timely acquisition of relevant information/ experimental results, and the preparation and submission of a formal written report of less than 100 pages. |
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| Prerequisites/Co-requisites |
| Completion of the progress requirements of Level HE2 |
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| Module Aims |
To enable the student to undertake an in-depth study of a topic which interests him/her and that is relevant to their degree programme and future career.
To allow scope for students to demonstrate initiative, perseverance and common sense.
To encourage students to develop a critical appreciation of a topic and its broader context.
To give students the opportunity to write a detailed, professional, report within a fixed page limit, that sets out the aims, objectives, details and conclusions of the work undertaken. |
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| Learning Outcomes |
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By the end of the module, students will be able to:
· Undertake individual and original work on a specific topic that is informed by the available literature and which is appropriately managed from inception to completion.
· Write a detailed, professional, and properly referenced report within a given page limit.
· Present, and subsequently defend, their work at an oral examination.
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| Module Content |
The Individual project forms the basis for a concentrated study of a topic and may involve: a laboratory investigation; the design of a structure or scheme; a computer-based study such as a finite element study or hydrological predictions; a mathematical analysis; a comprehensive critical literature survey or any combination of these activities. Projects should usually include a critical review of published data and in ALL cases a certain amount of individual research is required that should discussed in relation to the relevant background literature.
All projects lead to the preparation of a formal, written, report restricted to a maximum of 100 pages (at a line spacing of 1.5, font size 12) including all figures, tables and references. Any supporting material, such as data or computer codes, may be presented in an appendix volume, which will not be read by the examiner. |
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| Methods of Teaching/Learning |
Learning is achieved by guided individual research and study, making full use of all the appropriate resources. The learning process is supported through an introduction to research methods and time management and through regular, time restricted, meetings with academic supervisors (20-30 minutes per week).
Total student learning time 300 hours. |
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| Selected Texts/Journals |
Varies according to project; background and specific reading is likely to be extensive. |
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| Last Updated |
30th September 2010 |
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