Module Catalogue 2026/27

ENG8045 : Consultancy Dissertation Project

ENG8045 : Consultancy Dissertation Project

  • Offered for Year: 2026/27
  • Module Leader(s): Professor Mohamad Kassem
  • Owning School: Engineering
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
Semester 3 Credit Value: 50
ECTS Credits: 30.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The aim of this module is for the student to complete an investigative consultancy project for a client identified by the project supervisor and students. The student will develop their project that will enable them to undertake a consultancy-style project where the student can show their research, analytical, interpretive, critical analysis and design skills in solving a specific problem or question of interest to the client.

Outline Of Syllabus

Students will develop their project appropriate to their interests, which could be from a list of project areas provided by SENG academics. Academic supervisors will be allocated to the students based on their project area and the number of projects that can be managed by the individual supervisors.

The students will produce a Project Inception Report (PIR) during semester 2 that will be the design specification for their project. In semester 3 (and earlier if needed and student workload allows) the student will undertake their planned consultancy project under the supervision of the project supervisor (or appropriate deputy). This project will provide the project outcomes and deliverables identified in the PIR and test the student’s ability to advance their knowledge and research skills in this subject. The student will produce a consultancy project report in the format of a concise, high quality professional report appropriate for their degree programme and according to the specifications of the PIR/PP. The student will then deliver a 10 minute presentation at the end of their project to an audience of students and academics that demonstrates their ability to explain their project, its outcomes and conclusions and to answer questions based upon the scientific and technical rigour of their approach.

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
• Develop expertise in their field of interest through research of academic literature;
• Design an appropriate experiment/scientific investigation in their field of interest;
• Critically analyse data

Intended Skill Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
• Implement their project according to the design specification;
• Communicate their findings through interactions with their supervisor, written report,
and professional presentation;
• Work with others in a team.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion115:0015:00Oral presentation (including preparation)
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion120:0020:00Literature review
Guided Independent StudyProject work1431:00431:00Research leading to dissertation
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1120:00120:00Dissertation writing
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDissertation/project related supervision121:0012:00Meetings with the supervisory team, student led/organised
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesModule talk21:002:00Introduction to module
Total600:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The students practise and develop their engineering management knowledge, and their generic skills, through independent study of an individual consultancy project. They gain the skills and knowledge delivered by the module by “learning through doing” as they undertake the project. They are supported by one or more academic supervisors who advise on experimental approach, methodology and result interpretation.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Oral Presentation153M1010 minute presentation on the dissertation followed by 5 minutes of questions
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Report3M90Approx. 5000 words, to be written in a professional report style or equivalent piece of work that best meets the clients needs
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Report3MProject Inception Report (PIR) - Approximately 1,000 words
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The aim of the assessment is to test the student’s ability to implement a substantial independent consultancy project according to the Project Inception Report to answer a specific question or questions of interest to the client, to report that investigation and to present the information both to an audience in the form of an oral presentation and as a substantial written report in a style that meets the needs of the client.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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Disclaimer

The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2026 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, staffing changes, and student feedback. Module information for the 2027/28 entry will be published here in early-April 2027. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.