Course Catalogue

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The course will provide students with the opportunity to carry out an independent research project in the field of bioscience relevant to their Masters degree. The students will gain experience in research techniques, report writing and presentation skills.

The project will involve regular interaction and meetings with the project supervisor and attendance at research group meetings and seminars. The project will take place over the summer, full time.

As stated in the generic regulations for Taught Masters courses, students will be permitted to progress to the research project only if they have obtained a grade point average of 12 (equivalent to C3) or above in the taught courses with at least 75% of the credits at grade D3 or better and all credits at grade F and above.

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Supervisor's report (35%) - ILO 2, 7-9

Student's written report (50%) - ILO 1-4, 6 (5000 words max)

Oral presentation (15%) - ILO 5 (15 mins)

The course aims to:

■ Provide students with an opportunity to perform a piece of original research to investigate a hypothesis or research questions within the subject area of the Masters programme.

■ Provide an opportunity for students to develop practical and/or technical skills, analyse data critically and draw conclusions suggest avenues for future research to expand their research findings

■ Develop skills in presenting research findings in different (written and verbal) formats.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Design, plan and execute scientific experiments associated with the subject area of the Masters degree;

2. Develop and practice troubleshooting skills to address technical scientific and analytical problems;

3. Critically evaluate and analyse experimental data, and draw conclusions based on their findings;

4. Evaluate explanatory hypotheses and develop plans for further research, as appropriate to the topic chosen, identifying key areas where future research is needed;

5. Summarize and critique own research findings in context of previously published literature and in discussion with other members of research group.

6. Effectively communicate research findings to relevant stakeholders in oral and written format, following appropriate scientific conventions;

7. Take responsibility for the research project and associated resources with a degree of autonomy appropriate to the type of research;

8. Plan and manage time effectively by prioritising tasks and meeting deadlines;

9. Work co-operatively and effectively with colleagues to develop interpersonal and teamwork skills within a research environment, and reflect critically on their role and performance within the group.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.