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PX4011: PROJECT A (2016-2017)

Last modified: 28 Jun 2018 10:27


Course Overview

This course provides the opportunity to carry out an independent, open-ended, piece of research work. This can be in an area of physics (e.g. astronomy, nuclear physics, superconductors, dynamical systems etc.) or in related subjects where physicists tools can be applied (e.g. generation of proteins, biomechanics, infectious diseases etc.). The project can be dissertation based, practical or computational. You will develop: presentation skills; experience of reading and thinking about a specialist topic in depth; critical analysis skills of your own and other people’s scientific work and project management skills. This will help prepare you for your future career beyond university.





Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Session Full Year Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Professor Norval Strachan

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either Physics (PX) (Studied) or BSc Applied Mathematics (Studied)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

  • PX4006 Project A (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course consists of a supervised project taken as part of an Honours Degree in Physics which provides experience of investigating a real problem in physics, or its application, or in a related discipline, or in applied mathematics. Projects may be carried out within the University or in an external organisation. Presentation of the results obtained is an integral part of the investigation.

Further Information & Notes

(i) This course runs across both half-sessions. (ii) Available only to students in programme year 4 of a Physics-related programme or with the permission of the Head of Physics.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (100%), consisting of an oral presentation (10%), a thesis (60%), supervisor's report on the work (10%)and oral examination (20%).

Resit: Resubmission of in-course assessment.
Only the marks obtained on the first attempt can be used for Honours classification.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is given informally at the weekly project guidance sessions.

Formative assessment is also given after the oral presentation.

Feedback

Feedback is given on the oral presentation by both a CAS mark and written comments. The presentation may also be discussed verbally with the student.
The student gets informal feedback on progress during the weekly supervisory sessions.
The student has the opportunity to generate a draft of the thesis prior to submission for review by the supervisor who provides written comments typically inked onto the draft.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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