MSc project for MSc programmes in Geomatics, Sustainable Water Environments, and Environmental Futures.

April/May - students select Project topic after initial meeting with staff

May - preparation of Project proposal

June - students formally start work on project.

Students meet supervisers regularly (fortnightly) during the summer

July and August - Progress reports

August - submission of MSc project and MSc data.

Geog5085P

None

Written project proposal 10%; pre-recorded oral proposal presentation 5%

A major project report covering the aims and outcomes, background, methodology, outcomes and evaluation of the project - 80%.

Collation of digital data associated with the project, including appropriate metadata - 5%.

The aims of the project are:

■ To integrate knowledge gained during the programme by applying it to a substantial and intensive project; 

■ To give experience in preparing a project proposal, including pre-recorded oral presentation.

■ To allow students to pursue one particular topic to significantly more depth than possible during the taught part of the course;

■ To encourage investigative study and the application of this to a particular task;

■ To develop an awareness and experience of a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods and their applicability in different research settings, if appropriate to project

■ To give experience in preparing a substantial report on an extended project.

■ To give experience is preparing data and products for archiving

Projects may be of three basic types:
- a theoretical / research oriented project in which some problem is investigated by experimentation or collection of primary data or analysis of a substantial secondary data set;
- an assessment project, in which the suitability or comparability of equipment, software or methodology to a defined task is investigated;
- an application oriented project in which the client and/or end user's requirements are considered and satisfied by appropriate products.

Outcomes will depend upon the nature of project selected, but generic outcomes are given here.

On completing this course students will be able to:

■ Discuss project requirements with a client or supervisor and produce a detailed specification for the outputs of the project;

■ Prepare a written project proposal and present this orally.

■ Plan and carry out a substantial research task.

■ Write a comprehensive report of a significant project.

■ Assemble data from the project, including appropriate metadata

■ Work to deadlines

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

Submission of  written and pre-recorded oral project proposal, and a project report conforming to the standards specified in Programme Handbook