| Unit name | Extended Research Project |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHPHM0019 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Brennan |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
PHPHM0013 Extended Project Planning |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
This unit is the core feature of the 4th year of the MSci programme, providing the opportunity to experience conducting research at the cutting edge of the field. It enables you to learn and apply practical and/or analytical techniques to answer a specific research question and gives you the chance to put into practice the project plans that you developed in the Extended Research Project Planning unit. The experimental findings arising from the Extended Research Project may, in some instances, contribute to new knowledge and understanding in the field and could potentially be publishable.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Students will conduct the extended research project that they planned in the Extended Research Project Planning unit. Students will work closely with one or more academic supervisors as part of their research group, with the expectation that they take an active part in any lab meetings. Students will collect and analyse data and present it in the form of a written research paper and an oral presentation. The project will be around 14 weeks in length, with the main period for collecting data occurring in TB2. Students will be advised by their project supervisor and may have an additional supervisor in case their project is based outside the School. Regular facilitated group meetings with other MSci students will promote discussion about the progress of their project and brainstorming of problems that arise.
An overview of content
There is no significant content delivered on this unit. Instead, you will explore a specific research question under the guidance of a supervisor who is an expert in that field of research. This will involve both self-directed literature searches and the generation and/or analysis of experimental data.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
You will have developed your confidence in tackling unfamiliar problems, working with others and trusting your own judgement. In managing the practical work, you will have improved your time management and organisational skills. Fundamentally, you will have gained some experience and insight into whether you find research rewarding and something that you want to do in the future.
Learning Outcomes
On completing this unit, students will be able to:
Mostly independent research. Individual consultations with supervisors. Students learn from each other from being part of a research group.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Supervisors will provide formative feedback on a draft of the Extended Research Project dissertation.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
6000-word dissertation written in the form of a research paper (tests ILOs 1-4) 65%
250-word scientific and lay abstracts (tests ILO 2) 5%
Supervisor’s report on lab performance (tests ILO 1) 10%
Poster presentation and defence (tests ILOs 2-4) 20%
When assessment does not go to plan
The reassessment task will be in the same format as the main assessments.
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. PHPHM0019).
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.
