KD7065 - MSc Engineering Project

This module is an engineering research project over a semester working closely within one of the departmental or Faculty research groups. In addition to 1 hour weekly supervision and feedback sessions, from a supervisor or researcher on the work being undertaken you will also receive a series of 1 hour weekly lectures, covering topics in which you will learn:
• Library Resources
• Information Research and Appraisal techniques.
• Setting Objectives, Scheduling and costing.
• Technical writing and presentation

In addition, as an MSc student, you will be expected to learn independently using the library resources to support the formal lecture material.

As this is a cross departmental module, you will receive academic support primarily via the MSc Engineering project supervisor and module tutor. However other staff such as programme leader and all academic staff will, and do, provide you with additional support and advice. Learning material, notifications, support material are provided using the eLP with links to material, pertinent for the module. Lectures and supervisor meetings are times for students to ask questions regarding the module material and individual project proposals. Individual academic support can be obtained with the module tutor via pre-arranged appointments using the email facility. However as a postgraduate student academic support can only be provided by proactive student action by making appointments with either the module tutor or their dissertation supervisor.

Your project supervisor will provide guidance to you on a one-to-one basis while the module tutor will be the point of contact of the requirements and assessment of the module.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Undertake an innovative engineering problem from initial problem formulation to final completion, whilst applying existing engineering knowledge and expanding to advanced level. (AHEP SM3fl, EA1fl, D3fl, EP1fl)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Apply a range of analytical, practical and prototyping skills to a given engineering problem. (AHEP EA3fl, EP2fl)
3. Disseminate technical findings to wider audience. (AHEP D6m)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. Consider the wider aspects of an engineering problem, including ethical conduct in engineering, socio-economic, environmental, health and safety and risk assessment issues. (AHEP ET1fl, ET2fl, ET4fl, ET5fl, ET6fl)

Formative Assessment:
Weekly feedback from the supervisor during the one-to-one meetings. Summative Assessment will be provided within the University feedback guidelines.

Summative Assessment:
The summative assessment of this module is made up of:
1. 80% thesis/research paper
Thesis will be 50 pages and the research paper will be 6 pages. The choice is agreed by supervisor and student based upon the quality of the work undertaken.
Module Learning outcomes 1,2,3 and 4 are assessed
2. 20% oral poster presentation
This will take the form of a 20 slide powerpoint presentation or an A1 poster presentation.
Module Learning outcomes 2,3 and 4 are assessed

N/A

N/A

In this module, you will have the opportunity to engender a spirit of enquiry into a practical or theoretical engineering problem. It includes an aspect of information retrieval and critical appraisal; development of practical skills and/or discussion of results; and an opportunity to compose a thesis or research style paper and to deliver a presentation on the project.

A series of introductory lectures will provide you with advice and guidance on general aspects of research, project management and report writing skills relevant to the project.

During the project, you will be engaging in a substantial amount of individual independent work, under the guidance of the academic supervisor. You will have a regular weekly meeting with your supervisor to review your work and provide formative feedback to you.

Summative assessment for this module is a thesis or research paper (80%) and a poster presentation on the project (20%).