Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

First degree or equivalent in engineering

Co Requisite Comment

none

Aims

A1 to present an opportunity to undertake advanced research on an appropriate marine related topic working largely alone, and to present in a structured form the results of that research
The research may take the form of a critical review, a computational study, an experimental investigation, or some combination of the two/three.
A2 to acquire systematic understanding of knowledge in a specialised topic, possibly outside the scope of the taught modules.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module will have project briefings which present the project framework in terms of timetable, milestones and arrangement for supervision. In addition, key issues in carrying out a research project, such as project plan, literature review, writing a research proposal, and writing a report, etc. are addressed.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On completion of the module students will have an understanding of:

IKO1 specialised knowledge in the topic of the dissertation

Intended Skill Outcomes

On completion of the module students will have an understanding of:

ISO1 students will be able to identify issues for research and to retrieve accurate and relevant information both in paper and digital formats
ISO2 students will be able to carry out analysis and synthesis of topics or large experimental ore full scale data sets in a marine related subject
ISO3 students will be able to structure analysis and technical arguments
ISO4 students will develop ability to express the results of their research with clear and concise arguments
ISO5 students will be able to identify and order issues by relevance and importance
ISO6 students will be able to synthesise materials from diverse sources
ISO7 students will be able to develop critical judgement skills
ISO8 students will be able to make reasoned choice between competing solutions or arguments

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The project briefings provide students with the acquisition of the fundamental research skills and the project framework in terms of timetable, milestones and arrangement for supervision (IKO1, ISO1)
The project provides an opportunity to be able to independently formulate, undertake and report on a substantial design of research project (ISO1-ISO8)
The student is appointed a member of staff as a supervisor for their intended project who will help establish the scope and focus of the project. The supervisor then needs to sign the initial project brief
The supervisor is also responsible for helping the student with all matters relating to the project and is the primary point of contact for all technical and project management issues
Students are responsible for maintaining regular contact with their supervisor and for maintaining a written record of their meetings that is subsequently appended to the final report
Students should submit their initial project brief on the first day of their final taught module's intensive school, via e-mail to the programme administrator. Following on from this the completed dissertation should be submitted no later than six months from the date on which students are notified as to the identity of their dissertation supervisor. Extensions to this deadline are only granted in exceptional circumstances and students have to submit a PEC form for consideration in order to request an extension.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The dissertation is intended to provide the students with an opportunity to carry out a substantial and largely independent piece of research. The examiners assess the ability of a student to produce a written research report which demonstrates the intended learning outcomes described in IKO1 and ISO1-ISO8

The disseration will normally be of a length not exceeding 70 pages of A4

The Graduate Skills Framework Skills indicated as 'A' are also assessed in this way.

General Notes

N/A