| Unit name | Research Project Unit |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BRMSM0024 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Professor. Wylde |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
NONE |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
NONE |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
NONE |
| School/department | Bristol Medical School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
The research project acts as a focus for programme level assessment, enabling candidates to show that they can employ the skills learnt in the other components of the programme to produce a quality piece of academic writing. In obliging the research projects to take the form of either a systematic review of a clinical problem or technique explored during the clinical elements, or a novel piece of work using data that candidates collect from their clinical practice, the clinical flavour of the programme is preserved and the relevance of the programme to a candidate’s career aspirations are clear.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
The research project runs alongside the other units (Clinical Units 2, 3 and 4, and Research Methods units 1 and 2). The research project will have a clinical supervisor and an academic supervisor. Allocation of supervisors will be self-directed by the candidate with assistance by the Unit Lead for research projects where required. A list of potential supervisors, with associated project title suggestions will be made available through online portals.
An overview of content
Students will be required to select a topic of study that is applicable to your future career, of relevance to your
clinical practice and of sufficient complexity to provide the opportunity for in depth study. There are summaries of potential research project topics put forward by supervisors, and you also have the option of developing your own research project topic. Students will carry out either: a systematic review examining the existing literature, diagnosis and therapy and future direction of research of a clinical problem -OR- create a piece of original research using new or existing data comprising an introduction reviewing relevant existing literature, a method (including statistical analysis techniques), results and a conclusion.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will be confident in writing a piece of academic work in the format of an academic paper for a medical journal.
Learning Outcomes
To be awarded the credits for the research project, candidates must show that they have:
The research project is carried out by the student with support from two supervisors (one clinical, one academic). The candidate will be required to meet these tutors regularly throughout the creation of their project for guidance and to offer specific advice. At a minimum student should meet their tutors every 6 months face to face, and every 8 weeks via an online method. The frequency of additional meetings will be determined by the performance of the candidate and the support that individual candidates require. Further contact hours will be made available with the programme directors and specific academic staff when required for specific advice at the candidate's request. Candidates who are experiencing difficulty should be identified through supervisor or personal tutor meetings and additional support will be available via the programme directors if required. Supervisor meetings and action points should be recorded in the candidate's reflective diaries.
Your dissertation represents 60 credits out the total 180 credits of the MSc. The University guidelines state that one credit point is broadly equivalent to 10 hours of total student input. Therefore, it is expected that you spend approximately 600 hours on your dissertation project (around 12 hours per week over one year). Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks
The teaching delivered as part of the research methods units will inform this project.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark
Candidates will be required to select a topic of study applicable to their future career, of relevance to their clinical practice and of adequate complexity to provide the opportunity for in depth study. The research project should be a maximum of 4000 words including the abstract, body of the text and references. The study must feature techniques of inquiry such as meta-analysis or qualitative methods according to the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) level 7. The originality and the scope of techniques used will form the basis of assigning a grade to the work. The work will be marked using the University generic marking criteria (Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes). The research dissertation represents 100% of the 60 credits available in this unit.
When assessment does not go to plan
Supplementary or resit assessment of the unit will be in accordance with the regulations and code of practice for taught programmes https://www.bristol.ac.uk/academic-quality/assessment/regulations-and-code-of-practice-for-taught-programmes/student-progression-pgt/.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BRMSM0024).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
