| Unit name | Research Project in Translational Cardiovascular Medicine |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SOCSM0001 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Hudson |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Bristol Medical School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
This unit is a significant part of the MSc programme, and is made up of several parts. For your main project you will spend approximately 12 weeks immersed in research in an area of interest to you related to cardiovascular science/medicine. Prior to this, you will plan a research proposal, preparing you for your main project by honing your research design skills. You will gain valuable experience in applied research methodology. You will generate, analyse and critically assess original data, or carry out secondary analysis of existing data, in both cases allowing you to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in your particular area of interest. During your research project, you will draw upon and apply the skills learned in preceding units to enable you to become an independent researcher.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The Research Project unit will apply the knowledge and skills introduced and developed in Research Methods in TCM (research design, research methodology, statistics) and other taught units (disease-specific methodologies and models, abstract writing, presentation skills). You will be engaged with this unit throughout the majority of the programme. If you are a full-time student, you will commence the ‘proposal pitch’ in TB1 and will complete this at the end of TB2. You will select your main project and meet with your supervisor in TB2 to enable you to begin working on your project in May, following completion of the taught units. You are expected to work on your project full-time for 12-weeks, supported by your supervisor. If you are studying part-time, you will complete the ‘proposal pitch’ in year 1 and work on the main project over both years. Submission of the dissertation is the final assessment on the programme, following a presentation and viva.
An overview of content
During this unit, firstly you will work collaboratively and creatively to formulate a project proposal, subsequently you will conduct an individual research project on a topic related to the field of translational cardiovascular medicine. For your individual project, you can choose laboratory-based research, a narrative/systematic literature review, a project proposal, or a data/clinical analysis project. You will be able to select a topic offered from a range of potential projects, or drive development of your own project. You will design and conduct original research in the field of translational cardiovascular medicine, exploiting knowledge and skills you have developed during the taught units. Additional training will be delivered in this unit, tailored to your specific project type and its research aims. You will present and defend your ideas and conclusions through written and spoken communication in the ‘proposal pitch’, dissertation, oral presentation and viva.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
You will gain an in-depth knowledge of a topic of interest to you. You will develop the creativity, expertise and confidence to enable you to carry out robust independent research that you can communicate effectively.
Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing this unit you will be able to:
Interactive tutorials including small group discussions and activities will help prepare you for the ‘proposal pitch’, and you will draw on previous teaching describing the benefits of group work. Students will learn collectively on this complex problem by sharing knowledge and ideas. The preparation (background reading) and conduct of your main research project will be achieved through independent self-directed study, guided and mentored by your supervisor. Asynchronous teaching materials will be available on the course webpage to help you project manage your research, and write your dissertation.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan:
If you do not pass the unit, you may be given the opportunity to resubmit your work depending on the mark you have achieved and as per the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SOCSM0001).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
