PHY6207 MSc Project and Dissertation

1999-2000

Code: PHY6207
Title: MSc Project and Dissertation
Instructors: Research Group Staff and Hospital Staff
HE credits: 45
ECTS credits: 22.5
Availability: MSc in Medical Physics only
Level: 6
Prerequisites: none
Corequisites: none
Background Assumed: none
Duration: Term 2 onwards
Directed Study: Not applicable
Private Study: 600 hours
Supports Programme Aims: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11
Supports Programme Objectives: none

Assessment Methods

Oral presentation (2.5%), literature survey (2.5%), dissertation (95%, including marks allocated for work carried out during the project).

Rationale

This module provides the research component of the MSc programme. Hence it is the component that establishes the programme at Masters level.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As demonstrated in the dissertation and preliminary exercises, the student should be able to: perform a literature search; give a scientific presentation, work in the context of a research group, keep a professional log book, write a scientific report.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Supervision sessions, self-study, on-the-job training.

Transferable Skills

Time-management; report writing; keeping a research notebook; oral and written presentation, communication.

Assignments

Oral presentation, literature survey (500-1000 words), dissertation (approximately 75 A4 pages).

Module Text

Not applicable

Supplementary Reading

Not applicable

Syllabus Plan and Content

All students undertake a project; for both full-time and part-time students the project topic is decided at the beginning of Lent term. Full-time students are assigned a supervisor from the School at the beginning of the Lent term. part-time students undertaking a project outside of the School are allocated a supervisor from within the School and an external supervisor. The latter is usually a Medical Physicist within the Health service approved by the School. The internal supervisor meets with the external supervisor and the student during the appropriate Michaelmas vacation to agree a project and possible work-plan. Contact is maintained throughout the project by e-mail etc. and a further site visit in June/July by the internal supervisor.

1. Oral presentation
   Students are expected to research the background to the project and present a brief talk (5-10 minutes) to the Medical-Physics Research group. The purpose of this presentation is to identify a plan for the project and to receive comments from the Group which may be incorporated into the plan.
2. Literature survey
   At the end of Lent term a brief (500-1000 words) literature survey and background to the project should be prepared.
3. Dissertation
   A dissertation of approximately 75 pages must be written on the project and handed in (two copies) by 30th September of the appropriate year. Supervisors will give guidance on the layout of the project report and the first draft of the material where appropriate. Assessment of the dissertion is described in the School Handbook.

Feedback to Students

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

Feedback from Students

Feedback from students on the module is gathered via the standard student representation mechanisms.