The module descriptors for this programme can be found below.

Modules shown are for the current academic year and are subject to change depending on your year of entry.

Please note that the curriculum of this programme is currently being reviewed as part of a College-wide process to introduce a standardised modular structure. As a result, the content and assessment structures of this course may change for your year of entry. We therefore recommend that you check this course page before finalising your application and after submitting it as we will aim to update this page as soon as any changes are ratified by the College.

Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.

Major Individual Research Project

Module aims

The Individual Project is the culmination of your postgraduate studies and constitutes a piece of individual research that must include some element of originality. For this module you will complete an individual research project in your chosen area of research, either working with one of the Department’s specialist researchers and academics and their research group, or by undertaking an external project working with an internationally leading engineering company, typically at their site. 

Learning outcomes

On successfully completing this module, you should be able to:

1. plan and manage a research project over an extended period;

2. take personal responsibility for their work;

3. tackle open-ended research work and apply prior theoretical knowledge to practical situations;

4. analyse and synthesize information from a wide range of sources;

5. select and use appropriate computational and/or experimental methods towards the successful completion of their project aims;

6. communicate the outcomes of the project work effectively and accurately, in both a written and oral format. AHEP Learning Outcomes: SM8M, SM9M, EA6M, EA5m, EA7M, D9M, D10M, D11M, EL8M, EL9M, EL10M, EL11M, EL13M, P9m, P10m, P12M, G1, G2, G3m, G4 

7. evaluate the safety, security, sustainability and ethics implications your project and propose appropriate mitigations for any issues identified.

Module syllabus

Content varies annually based on project tiles proposed by students and staff, and student preferences.

Teaching methods

You will carry out the individual project under the supervision of a member of academic staff or an external industrial supervisor. You will spend the majority of your time in self-directed study, reviewing literature, utilizing theoretical, computational or experimental methods to complete your project objectives. You will be supported by regular meetings with your supervisor, presenting your progress, discussing your findings and agreeing on future plans. 

Assessments

- Your ability to communicate your work and findings in writing and orally is summatively assessed through a final Thesis (40 pages max) and the Final Oral Examination (30 minutes), where your review of literature, methodology and findings are presented and discussed.
- Your conduct throughout the project is summatively assessed by the supervisor in the project carry-out and formatively assessed during your progress meeting with your supervisor.
- Your ability to assess and plan for the security, safety, sustainability and ethical considerations associated with the conduct and outcomes of your projects will be assessed through a planning document assessed by your supervisor on a pass/fail basis. Where the initial submission does not meet the expected standards, you will be able to improve your plan and resubmit it until the stipulated final deadline.
The Safety, Security, Sustainability and Ethics assessment is a must pass component and must be resubmitted in session to the satisfaction of the assessor.
If module is failed, the typical reassessment offered will be resubmission of the project thesis followed by an oral assessment (if deemed necessary by the Board of Examiners).

Coursework - Thesis (60%)

Practical - Final Oral Examination (20%)

Practical - Project Carry-out (20%)

Coursework - Safety, Secuirty, Sustainability & Ethics (0%)

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