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Unit information: Extended Research Project in 2024/25

Please note: Programme and unit information may change as the relevant academic field develops. We may also make changes to the structure of programmes and assessments to improve the student experience.

Unit name Extended Research Project
Unit code PHPHM0019
Credit points 40
Level of study M/7
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Dr. Brennan
Open unit status Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)

PHPHM0013 Extended Project Planning

Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)

None

Units you may not take alongside this one

None

School/department School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience
Faculty Faculty of Life Sciences

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

How does this unit fit into your programme of study?

Students will conduct the extended research project that they planned in the Extended Research Project Planning unit. Students will work closely with one or more academic supervisors as part of their research group, with the expectation that they take an active part in any lab meetings. Students will collect and analyse data and present it in the form of a written research paper and an oral presentation. The project will be around 14 weeks in length, with the main period for collecting data occurring in TB2. Students will be advised by their project supervisor and may have an additional supervisor in case their project is based outside the School. Regular facilitated group meetings with other MSci students will promote discussion about the progress of their project and brainstorming of problems that arise.

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content

Learning Outcomes

On completing this unit, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate the ability to conduct independent scientific research and collect valid data
  • Interpret and analyse scientific data;
  • Summarise and present results appropriately;
  • Interpret their findings within the context of current published research.

How you will learn

Mostly independent research. Individual consultations with supervisors. Students learn from each other from being part of a research group.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

6000-word dissertation written in the form of a research paper (tests ILOs 1-4) 60%

250-word scientific and lay abstracts (tests ILO 2) 5%

Supervisor’s report on lab performance (tests ILO 1) 15%

Poster presentation and defence (tests ILOs 2-4) 20%

When assessment does not go to plan

Resources

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. PHPHM0019).

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.

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