This module enables students to pursue a research project under the guidance of a member of academic staff.

On successful completion of the project, students should be able to show experience and enhancement of the following key skills:

• Dealing with complex issues in a syste matic and creative manner

• Effectively communicating findings orally and in writing to specialist and non-specialist audiences

• Planning and implementing tasks autonomously at a professional level.

• Interacting effectively with others (eg, supervisor, technicians, etc)

• Designing poster/webpages

• Computing and ITskills (scope-dependent)         

Self-discipline, self-motivation, self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems




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On successful completion of the project, the student should be able to demonstrate ability in several of the following:

• Critically evaluating current research and advanced scholarship

• Defining/specifying a problem

• Researching and information-gathering

• Planning/designing experimental work using suitable techniques and procedures with due regard to safety

• Assessing and managing risk

• Analysing technical problems qualitatively and/or quantitatively and drawing conclusions

• Designing a system, component or process based on an outline or detailed specification

• Assembling and analysing data and drawing conclusions

• Evaluating current methodologies and (where appropriate) propose new methodologies

• Critically evaluate the project outcomes

• Making an original contribution to knowledge.

The purpose of the project is:

• to provide students with the opportunity to plan, carry out and control a research project at the forefront of their academic discipline, field of study or area of professional practice
• to prepare students for research or investigative work in professional engineering
• to enable students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the techniques applicable to research or advanced scholarship in their field of study
• to make an original contribution to knowledge.

The dissertation must provide evidence of:

• in-depth understanding of the subject
• mastery of research techniques
• ability to assemble and analyse data
• ability to evaluate the project outcomes.

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 systematic 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 disc ipline, 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 anddevelop 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 s ound judgements in the absence of completedata, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist andnon-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 skillsnecessary for employment requiring:

• the exercise of initiative andpersonal responsibility;
• decision-making in complex andunpredictable situations; and
• the independent learning abilityrequired for continuing professional development.

Tutorial - Project meetings with academic supervisor