This course involves an independent project the students undertake in semester 3 for which they are required to use the knowledge gained during the taught components of the programme (semesters 1 and 2).  Projects will focus on a clearly delineated hypothesis, research question or topic that requires either critical evaluation and/or synthesis of information from different sources and/or laboratory work and/or quantitative and/or bioinformatic skills.

Students will meet regularly with their supervisors throughout the project period.

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One dissertation (max 9,000 words; ILOs 1,2 & 4; 60% of the mark), one oral presentation (9-11 mins; ILOs 2 & 4; 25% of the mark) and one practical skills assessment in the form of a supervisor's report (ILOs 2 & 3; 15% of the mark).

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The supervisor's report cannot be reassessed.

The overall aim of this course is to enable students to undertake an independent project in the form of a research project, grant proposal, evidence synthesis, literature review, situation analysis or policy review/document relating to an aspect of the epidemiology of infectious diseases and/or antimicrobial resistance.  This course aims to specifically enhance students' conceptual, analytical, intellectual, written and oral communication skills.

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

1 Carry out independent literature searches such that they can critically review, evaluate and/or debate specific aspects relating to the epidemiology of infectious diseases and/or antimicrobial resistance.

2 Communicate (both in written form and orally), clearly and concisely, the background, rationale and outputs of their own independent investigations.

3 Work autonomously and take responsibility for their own work, deadlines and skills development.

4 Critically evaluate state-of-the-art methodologies or technologies used to study the epidemiology of infectious diseases and/or antimicrobial resistance such that they can justify the use of one over another.

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