To provide an opportunity for the student to:

• Apply engineering knowledge, initiative, enthusiasm, etc to plan, carry out and control an open-ended project in a topic of their choice
• Enhance their communication skills: writing research papers, giving oral presentations and presenting a poster
• Experience a major task similar to those of working as a professional engineer in an industrial or research organisation

The student will continue the individual project started in Year 3, normally under the supervision of the same member of staff.  He/she will report findings both orally and in writing, details of which are to be found in the Project Guidelines.

The project provides the main means for assessing whether a student meets the QAA’s Qualification Descriptor for a Master’s degree (level M)

(taken from Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, January 2001)

http://www.qaa.ac.uk/crntwork/nqf/ewni2001/contents.htm

Master''s degrees are awarded to students who have demonstrated:

1. a system atic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their academic discipline, field of study, or area of professional practice;
2. a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship;
3. originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline;
4. conceptual understanding that enables the student:
5. to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline; and
6. to evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses.  

Typically, holders of the qualification will be able to:

1. deal with complex issues bothsystematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
2. demonstrate self-direction andoriginality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planningand implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level;
3. continue to advance their knowledgeand understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level; and will have:
4. the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:

• proof of initiative and personal responsibility;
• decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations; and
• the independent learning ability required for co ntinuing professional development

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