RESEARCH DISSERTATION (PRISE) - 2019/0

Module Overview

The research dissertation is a report on the individual project carried out by students to demonstrate research potential and ability to use existing and to acquire new knowledge and apply them in specific situation. A number of dissertations are carried out in collaboration with industry and upon successful completion of the module, the students will be able to approach an open-ended topic to research new ideas and experiment with new technologies.

Module provider

Chemical and Process Engineering

Module Leader

CECELJA Franjo (Chm Proc Eng)

Number of Credits: 60

ECTS Credits: 30

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Dissertation topics: Students are encouraged to come up with their own topic which, with the assistance of academic staff, will be formulated into a MSc level project. In addition, academic staff are asked to submit research topics for approval by the Programme Director. Each student will choose a topic which should in general address problems in the areas of Process Systems Engineering, but with proper specialisation according to his/her specific programme.  Topics are made available to the students in the course of semester 2.

Selection of research topics: Students select topics before the end of semester 2.  Proposers of topics assume the role of research supervisors.  Students are expected to consult with research supervisors to finally formulate the project, plan it and foresee outcomes, as well as to prepare concomitant report of approximately 2,000 words and the presentation of the research topic and expected outcome, planned methodology and project plan to students and members of staff.

Submission / assessment of dissertation: The deadline for submission is the beginning of September for October starting full-time and part-time students and mid-of-February for February starting full-time and part-time students.  Dissertations are reviewed and assessed by two examiners one of which is the project supervisor and assigned by the module coordinator. When the two markers initially disagree  on marks (normally with the difference more than 10 marks, they may seek agreement on the mark they jointly award on the basis of shared and agreed academic judgement, and an explanation must be available to a Board of Examiners should it be required. Where agreement cannot be reached between the two markers the Module Co-ordinator will discuss and seek to reconcile the assessment differences. On the rare occasions where differences are irreconcilable the matter may be referred to the relevant external examiner to agree how to reconcile the differences. In such a case the external examiner does not mark but is the final arbiter in deciding how to reach an agreed mark.

Research supervisors provide:

1.Advice on project formulation, formulation of hypothesis and expectation from the project, project planning and overall form of the dissertation;

2.Guidance on selection of relevant source material;

3.Guidance on appropriate methodologies and theoretical perspectives advice on structuring and presentational concerns pertinent to the particular dissertation.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

None Mark for the project proposal report is subject to 10 minutes presentation.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

• Understanding of scientific principles, methodologies and mathematical methods associated with a specific engineering problem, ability to plan and execute a problem towards the solution, as well as to analyse results in relation to the set problem.

• Project report – 10%, 20 hrs (LOs  1, 2)


• Research dissertation - 90%, 2 hrs   (LOs 3, 4, 5, 6)

• Project presentation verbal feedback is given by members of staff and students on project formulation and planning;


• Meetings with the supervisor where students are verbally advised on selected literature, project formulation and planning, selection of research techniques and execution, methodology of analysis of project results;

Module aims

• To provide an opportunity for students to pursue a single topic in depth and to demonstrate evidence of research potential for a master's degree.  Students are encouraged to either research a new concept or apply existing technology in a new field.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Introduce research method principles related to formulation of an engineering problem and respective hypothesis and outcomes, its planning, formulation of research technicques, conducting experimentation and analysisng results, all articulated in an report.

• Supervisory guidance by a dedicated project supervisor towards formulation of the project, selection of respective literature and advise on research methodology and results analysis;


• Self-study by students involving, as a matter of general principle, 25% to prepare themselves for the research topic (literature review, familiarisation with the technologies / techniques required), 50% to elaborate the new concepts, apply and experiment with the new technology and validate their propositions, and 25% to write-up the research dissertation.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENGM083

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2019/0 academic year.