60 CREDIT STANDARD PROJECT - 2022/3

Module Overview

Expected prior learning:  Appropriate background knowledge related to the project topic.




Module purpose:  This is an individual student project module giving each student an opportunity to gain realistic experience in developing a solution to a problem from its inception to a demonstrable result. It provides a framework as well as vehicle for exercising all key aspects of project work, from project specification, through literature and technology research, leading to project planning, problem solving as well as design and implementation, culminating in performance assessment, project demonstration, and project evaluation. It also provides a scope for gaining practical experience ininterpersonal skills, use of IT, project management, project reporting and project presentation. The project can be either of engineering design nature or have a research flavour.






 

 

 

Module provider

Computer Science and Electronic Eng

Module Leader

XIAO Pei (CS & EE)

Number of Credits: 60

ECTS Credits: 30

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Module Availability

Crosses academic years

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

 






The project forms an integral and important part of the course. It is intended to occupy some 600 hours spread over approximately 100 working days, of which 25 are for planning and preparation. The normal arrangement is that students may carry out a project either in the Department or in industry. The duration of full time project work is nominally 14 weeks, but there is also preparatory work in the earlier semesters. Projects are usually individual, although it is possible to have a group project which can be broken down into different parts so that the contribution of each individual can be separately specified and assessed. For University based projects there may be a need for students to visit companies, especially if there is an industrial link in the project.

The different environments where a project can be carried out are as follows.

University: Projects are usually carried out in association with one of the research centres - a full time academic or experienced research worker will be appointed as academic supervisor though day-to-day supervision may sometimes be by a researcher working in the project area.

Industry: Arrangements exist for students, if a sponsor is available, to undertake a project in industry or one which is carried out in collaboration with industry. Students who are voluntarily carrying out an industrial project away from the university are normally paid a bursary by the company for the duration of the full-time project work. The research groups also have several industrially funded research projects and MSc projects often contribute to this activity. Part time students are encouraged where possible to undertake an industry based project if they are working within a suitable job.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable: students failing a unit of assessment resit the assessment in its original format.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy for this module is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the following.

• Command of the Subject


• Subject Specific Skills and Practices


• Scholarly and Professional Skills and Attitudes


• Commitment to developing lifelong continuing professional development (CPD)


• Ability to communicate findings of work carried out and demonstrate contribution to both a research team and wider research community.

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of the following:

 

1:  Mid Project Review (via written report and interview) (15%).

2:  Final dissertation (via submission of dissertation and viva examination)  (85%)

 

Details of the submissions required and how to write them are provided in the MSc project handbook. Timings for submission deadlines are detailed in the MSc programme handbook.

 

Formative assessment and feedback

A student will primarily receive formative assessment/feedback during meetings with his/her project supervisor, and during the mid-project review process.

Students will also submit an initial first report at the start of their project, which though not assessed will be referred to by examiners at the interim stage to determine if the project is progressing according to the original plan and any need for changes to the plan are identified. Students will also get formative feedback from the supervisor with regard to their project plan.

Other formative feedback will be received through a project fair that takes place shortly after the submission of the mid project review.






 

Module aims

• To provide an opportunity for the student to plan and tackle a research and/or development problem, and to gain experience thereby, including experience in having to produce a report and to defend their work under viva-voce examination conditions.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to allow students to achieve the specified learning outcomes by means of study and research & development work, all of which is supervised by a full-time academic or an experienced research worker. In this way, a student can gain mentored experience in applying knowledge achieved during academic studies to particular theoretical or practical problems. As part of this process, the student will need to critically evaluate the relevant literature, marshal ideas for research or lab evaluation, and produce a reliable and coherent report.

 

Learning and teaching methods include the following.

• 
  Training sessions delivered by the University library and introductory lectures/presentations delivered by the department (6h)
  


• 
  Individual supervision meetings (20h)
  


• 
  Supervised study and research, guided by a full-time academic or experienced research worker.
  


• 
  Work on projects begins in December in Semester 1 after allocations have taken place and ends in the following August. Reporting and contact time should be arranged between the student and supervisor.
  

 

 

 

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: EEEM004

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 2022/3 academic year.