| Unit name | Research Project |
|---|---|
| Unit code | VETSM0040 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Kennedy |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
VETSM0042 - Research Skills |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Bristol Veterinary School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
This unit provides an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience of wildlife-related research. Students will be able to demonstrate their skills in topic selection, in investigating the background context of their chosen project, in research design and implementation, in analysis and in report writing. They will also gain exposure to the processes by which scientific results are communicated and debated. The project will culminate in the submission of (i) a literature review, and (ii) a scientific paper suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. Acceptance of students onto the research project unit will be conditional upon them having successfully passed the taught stage of the MSc programme.
On completing this unit students should have a deep understanding of their chosen project topic. They should also be familiar with the essential principles of research design in the context of wildlife health and conservation. It is expected that, as a minimum, students should be able to:
A research project guide will be supplied to all students. Students will then be expected to suggest a project topic of their own initiative, after discussion with academic staff. The Programme Director will approve all research projects and will check that each student has appropriate supervision. The supervisors will advise the students throughout their projects, including holding discussion meetings with them during office hours as necessary.
The learning outcomes for this unit will be assessed using a combination of a literature review (30%) and a scientific paper suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal (70%).
Students will be expected to show considerable initiative in searching the literature for information on their chosen projects. It is expected that the students will refer to a diverse range of sources. Primary sources will include books, journals and other research sources accessible through the University library but, for some topics, it may be necessary to carry out more detailed (e.g. archive) research.
The following are some examples of generic research-orientated texts that the students might find helpful:
