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Module Catalogue

CH985-70 MSc Research Project

Department
Chemistry
Level
Taught Postgraduate Level
Module leader
Nikola Chmel
Credit value
70
Module duration
20 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

Twenty-week individual project including approximately 4 weeks write up, carrying out research on a specialised topic in Chemistry or a closely related subject under the direction of an academic or industrial supervisor and their team.

Module aims

The module is designed to develop student research skills, through an extended project in an area of chosen discipline. Students will become aware of the elements of research, including appraising the literature, designing novel experiments (practical and/or computational), assessing results and drawing conclusions that they will be able to set against the current field. This module will allow students to be original in their application of knowledge to the solution of new, research-led problems. The philosophy of the Chemistry MSc degrees is to provide a student experience and training which brings them to the state of the art in the field of analytical science or polymer chemistry. The Research Project module is thus a key component of the course, since it provides students with the opportunity to carry out a research project under the supervision of an academic or a researcher from industry. Students are given guidance from the supervisor, and have the opportunity to design and plan their own research work and assess the safety implications of their proposed research. Students will be expected to present a 10,000-word report which should be at the standard of a research paper. They also present their work in the form of a seminar and poster to the rest of the cohort and other academics. This forms part of the assessment of the project. During this session, students face questions from their peers and academics. These activities allow students to develop presentation and communication skills.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Research project
Twenty-week project including approximately 4 weeks write up, carrying
out research on a specialised topic in chemistry or a closely related field under the direction
of an academic or industrial supervisor and their team.

Presentations and assessment
Presentation of the research project as a 10,000-word report which should be at the standard of a
research paper, seminar talk and a presentation of the interim results during a student
conference in a form of a poster.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Complete individual COSHH assessments for a diverse range of experiments (where applicable)
  • Understand and be aware of current research and problems relating to the area of the research project. To be able to critically evaluate the literature and identify the most important body of work.
  • Plan experiments and carry out appropriate analyses.
  • Present to peers a critical evaluation of their research work and to be able to defend their work to an audience of peers.
  • Write a high quality report at research level including an appraisal of the literature, experimental methods, results and discussion, conclusions

Research element

Twenty-week individual project in including approximately 4 weeks write up, carrying out research on a specialised topic in chemistry or a closely related subject under the direction of an academic or industrial supervisor and their team.

Subject specific skills

The module is designed to develop student research skills, through an extended project in an area of chosen discipline. Students will become aware of the elements of research, including appraising the literature, designing novel experiments (practical and/or computational), assessing results and drawing conclusions that they will be able to set against the current field. This module will allow students to be original in their application of knowledge to the solution of new, research-led problems.

Transferable skills

Critical thinking, Problem solving, Communication, Teamwork and
working effectively with others, Information literacy (research skills), Digital literacy, Professionalism

Study time

Type Required
Project supervision 20 sessions of 2 hours (8%)
Other activity 480 hours (92%)
Total 520 hours

Private study description

No private study requirements defined for this module.

Other activity description

Individual research project work: 16-weeks at a notional average of 30 hours per week (480 hours total) under the direction of a research supervisor.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A1
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Project Report 70% 120 hours No

A 10,000-word project thesis.
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Assessment of Execution 10% No

Supervisor mark for execution of research
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Presentation and Poster 20% 60 hours No

Poster and presentation
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Written work will be marked and feedback (usually written) will be given. Seminar and the poster
will have verbal feedback.

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 1 of TCHA-F1PY Postgraduate Taught Analytical Science and Instrumentation
  • Year 1 of TCHA-F1PX Postgraduate Taught Analytical and Polymer Science
  • Year 1 of TCHS-F1PK Postgraduate Taught Polymer Chemistry
  • TCHA-F1PW Postgraduate Taught Polymer Science
    • Year 1 of F1PW Polymer Science
    • Year 2 of F1PW Polymer Science

This module is Unusual option for:

  • Year 3 of TCHA-F1PW Postgraduate Taught Polymer Science

This module is Core option list B for:

  • Year 1 of TCHA-F1PY Postgraduate Taught Analytical Science and Instrumentation