PHY4415 Project and Dissertation

1999-2000

Code: PHY4415
Title: Project and Dissertation
Instructors: Dr S.J. Matcher and Research Group Staff
HE credits: 40
ECTS credits: 20
Availability: MPhys programmes only
Level: 4
Prerequisites: none
Corequisites: none
Background Assumed: none
Duration: Semesters I and II
Directed Study: 26 hours nominal (supervision)
Private Study: 374 hours
Supports Programme Aims: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11
Supports Programme Objectives: none

Assessment Methods

Poster Presentation (12.5%), laboratory work and viva voce (25%), dissertation and viva voce (62.5%).

Rationale

A major distinguishing feature of the MPhys degree is its substantial project which requires students to apply the knowledge they have acquired to a real problem in a research environment. The aim is to foster the skills in open-ended problem solving which distinguish the practising physicist from the physics scholar. PHY3122 constitutes the first part of a two-part, 70-credit project extending over the third and fourth years of MPhys programmes. PHY4415 forms the second part.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• give a scientific talk which conforms to accepted standards of presentation;
• work co-operatively within a research team, keep a professional research notebook which is neat, accurate and objective;
• write a substantive scientific report, containing original results and analysis, and defend it orally.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Supervised project work, self-study.

Transferable Skills

Time-management; working in groups; report writing; keeping a research notebook; oral and written presentation; communication; independent background research, appropriate use of computers.

Assignments

Background review and report, weekly reports as detailed below.

Module Text

Not applicable

Supplementary Reading

Not applicable

Syllabus Plan and Content

Students will continue to work in one of the existing main research groups in the School on the project commenced in their third year (PHY3122 q.v.).

Note: Further details of the MPhys projects and assessment criteria are given in the School of Physics handbooks.

1. Project Work at End of Year 3
   The 40 credit rating of this module includes nine credits brought forward from nine days work at the end of the Trinity term of Year 3 (four days of week 29 and the whole of week 30)
2. Poster Presentation
   In weeks 1-2 of the Michaelmas Term the students will spend four days jointly preparing a poster display on their work. The assessment will take the form of a discussion of the display with each student in turn, on the afternoon of Thursday or Friday of week 3.
3. Project Work
   In weeks 3-10 of the Michaelmas Term the students will spend an average of 2 days per week on project work (making a total of 16 days). This work will be assessed, on the basis of notebooks and a viva voce examination, on Thursday or Friday of week 11 in the Lent Term.
4. Final Dissertation
   In weeks 14-20 in the Lent Term the students will spend a further 10 days' work on further analysis of the project and on preparing an individual (not joint) final dissertation of no more than 10,000 words on the project. The dissertation will be assessed with the aid of an oral examination in week 21 if the Trinity Term.

Feedback to Students

Students have a weekly supervision meeting with their supervisor(s).

Feedback from Students

Feedback from students on the module forms part of the weekly supervision meetings. Students can also discuss matters with the second assessor for their project or the MPhys Projects Co-ordinator.