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MSc Biomaterials / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
PGT Dissertation

Course unit fact file
Unit code MATS63330
Credit rating 90
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Full year
Offered by Department of Materials
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The unit provides the student with the opportunity to study and research in-depth a topic relevant to their degree programme. 

Aims

The unit aims to:

  • Provide the student with an understanding of the process of scientific research.
  • Provide the student with experience of the research process including literature review, formulation of research aims and objectives, project planning, laboratory/modelling work, data analysis and interpretion, and report writing.

Learning outcomes

A greater depth of the learning outcomes will be covered in the following sections:

  • Knowledge and understanding
  • Intellectual skills
  • Practical skills
  • Transferable skills and personal qualities

Teaching and learning methods

The unit is delivered by individual student work (normally 900 hours) supported by supervision sessions (normally 20 hours). This unit builds upon the series of lectures on project planning, presentation skills, preparation of project poster and proposal, health and safety, and dissertation structuring, delivered within the Sem1 unit MATS64201- Research Methods. The student is expected to work part-time on the dissertation project on average 1day/week in the period of February-May, and full time afterwards until the dissertation submission in September.

Knowledge and understanding

  • Develop expertise in the field of advanced materials engineering,
  • biomaterials, nano-materials, corrosion control engineering, polymer materials science and engineering or textile technology.
  • Knowledge of the relevant literature pertinent to the dissertation topic.
  • Understanding of the research results and their relevance in the subject area.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the social responsibility aspects of the research and its context. 

Intellectual skills

  • Plan and execute a research plan.
  • Demonstrate skills necessary to analyse, interpret and draw conclusions from experimental/modelling data.
  • Communicate effectively the interpretation of, and conclusions to be drawn from, the results of literature reviews and own research data.

Practical skills

  • Assess project risks and propose mitigating actions.
  • Develop laboratory/modelling skills relevant to the project.
  • Present experimental data using the appropriate visualization methods, with an appreciation of uncertainty and accuracy.
     

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Direct and manage their own performance to successfully complete a research project with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Develop an ability to assess own skills and to develop them appropriately.
  • Scientific/technical writing skills and oral presentation skills.
  • Problem-solving skills and the ability to locate, analyse and utilise information.
     

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Dissertation 90%
Oral assessment/presentation 10%

Feedback methods

Feedback given verbally and written.

Recommended reading

Initial reading is provided by the project supervisor. The student performs an in-depth literature review using relevant books and articles from scientific journals, under the guidance of the supervisor.

Study hours

Independent study hours
Independent study 900

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Enrique Jimenez-Melero Unit coordinator

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