PHY8003 : Research Skills II: Project Proposal (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Thomas Billam
- Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
- Capacity limit: 20 student places
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 15 |
| ECTS Credits: | 8.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The overall aim of the Module is to furnish the student with the critical thinking and planning skills to prepare a technical, organised and high-level research proposal, directed towards their dissertation project. The students will carry out a literature review of their chosen project to help plan the overall objectives and build on the current level of knowledge in the area of research. They will then prepare a detailed project proposal, assessed via a presentation and a written proposal document. As part of this module they will also experience being part of a research community in joining the research group seminars and school research seminars, gaining exposure to both narrow and broad research topics.
Outline Of Syllabus
Research-project planning.
Literature search of the research area.
Designing a project proposal.
Timelines and Gantt charts.
Participate within a research group, including attending research group seminars.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 40 | 1:00 | 40:00 | Dissertation proposal presentation |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | Research seminars present-in-person |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Dissertation proposal presentation prep, |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | PGRDP research project workshop |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Supervisor meetings- present in person |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 68 | 1:00 | 68:00 | Background reading / literature survey |
| Total | 150:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Seminar attendance, guided self-study and research supervision will promote critical thinking and reflection as they undertake active learning on the construction of scientific reports and articles. This will promote a deep understanding and appreciation of scientific methods and communication.
Preparation for project work is the responsibility of the student, but is facilitated by interaction with peers, the project supervisor and other research group members. This module gives students the opportunity to learn and practise skills in preparing a research proposal. The students will attend the workshop offered by the PGRDP to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to work on a research project with a supervisor. Presenting the project plan to the research group will also provide further feedback before final preparation of the dissertation proposal document, and allow the student to gain experience in communicating science. Regular supervisor meetings will help to refine the project plan and focus it towards the dissertation research.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 67 | Dissertation proposal. 4-8 pages, with figures and time plan, ~1800 words |
| Prof skill assessmnt | 1 | M | 33 | Dissertation proposal presentation. 15 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The dissertation proposal tests the student’s ability to assimilate scientific information, provide suitable references, motivate a problem, critically evaluate the state-of-the-art of the field, and plan a project. The dissertation presentation will assess the student’s ability to prepare and deliver a short summary of their proposed project in a clear and concise format to an audience of peers in a time-limited fashion. The dissertation proposal presentation has a secondary formative purpose for feedback ahead of the dissertation proposal, as well as its primary summative purpose.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PHY8003's Timetable