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BSc Research Project & Skills - PHY00052H

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  • Department: Physics
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Yvette Hancock
  • Credit value: 40 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

The BSc project is a research-based, open-ended investigation, which is conducted in small groups or individually. Each project has a specific academic supervisor who will give guidance and assistance as needed at regular supervisory meetings. A list of the projects on offer for each academic year is made available towards the end of the preceding academic year and tailored towards the student’s degree programme. The module will involve the development of skills in undertaking research under supervisory guidance, and more advanced skills in scientific writing and oral communication, including the development of presentations that would be suitable for a scientific conference.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25 to Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

BSc Project:

Project work builds upon the expertise that you have already acquired in Stages 1 and 2, with the aim being to develop the student’s ability to design, carry out and report on an extended investigation in the form of a research project using the scientific method. The project aims to also provide an opportunity for creativity and original thought in terms of the project design and execution.

Professional Skills:

The communication skills component brings together all of the skills gained in Stages 1 and 2 and extends these to Stage 3 level, namely, finding and evaluating information and written, oral and poster presentations. Students will prepare and deliver individual presentation contributions suitable for a scientific conference, namely a poster and a talk. They will be able to answer questions pertaining to their project work as part of these presentations and in oral examination. They will also prepare a project plan, and timetable for their project, as well as a formal project report.

Module learning outcomes

  • Plan and safely conduct a major project including risk and ethical assessments
  • Communicate complex physical concepts and results to peers using recognised academic approaches such as posters and reports.
  • Investigate an area of physics relevant to your specialist area [e.g. Physics, Astrophysics, Physics with Philosophy, Maths and Physics, or Theoretical Physics] in a systematic way, using appropriate critical assessment of literature sources, experimental, observational, computational, theoretical, and/or mathematical techniques
  • Critically assess academic information acquired from databases and libraries original source references [published scientific papers, books, etc.]
  • Evidence the project work carried out in a paper-based hard-bound or electronic notebook systematically and contemporaneously
  • Communicate and collaborate effectively with stakeholders such as project partners or supervisors

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
General Progress & Notebook		 N/A 35
Essay/coursework
Poster		 N/A 5
Essay/coursework
Project report & oral exam		 N/A 50
Essay/coursework
Project update		 N/A 10

Special assessment rules

Non-compensatable

Additional assessment information

For further details see the BSc Projects Student Handbook and assessment pro forma, which will be available on the VLE.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Project report & oral exam		 N/A 50

Module feedback

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme. We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments.

A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback. This can be found at: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/assessment-and-examination/guide-to-assessment/

The School of Physics, Engineering & Technology aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme. In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work. Students are provided with their examination results within 25 working days of the end of any given examination period. The School will also endeavour to return all coursework feedback within 25 working days of the submission deadline. The School would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The School will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each semester provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.

Our policy on how you receive feedback for formative and summative purposes is contained in our Physics at York Taught Student Handbook

Indicative reading

Reading recommendations will be advised by the project supervisor as appropriate.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.