NG4T702B - Individual Dissertation 01 Sep 2023 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 4

Associated Module Information

Module Code: NG4T702B
Module Title: Individual Dissertation
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Built Environment and Civil Engineering
Faculty Sub Group: Civil Engineering
Module Leader: Trevor Price, Bowen Yan
Module Team: Karen Lefeuvre, Darren Evans, Emmajane Mantle, Sarah Moses, Andrew Tomkinson, Joseph Crago, Grant Avon, Bowen Yan, Thomas Lambourne, Anthony Harris, Angela Morris, Mary Powell, Debbie Hughes, Alan Protheroe
First Intended Intake: JUL 2017 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 60 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100149 - construction
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 4
Valid From 01 Sep 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

Using appropriate resources, undertake a major, comprehensive, innovative piece of investigative research, relevant to the student’s subject area.

To develop and demonstrate the students’ ability to gather extensive evidence, carry out a thorough and in depth critical analyse, produce sustained argument(s) and synthesise the findings of the research in a professional manner.

To enable the student to demonstrate their in-depth knowledge and understanding and apply a methodological approach when completing a project independently, through a thorough, comprehensive and accurate interpretation of results/data evidenced through a clear presentation of findings.

To encourage lifelong learning through continuous professional development.

Content Summary

Each student will select a relevant topic within the field of their subject area, and produce a synopsis to be moderated and agreed with the project supervisor.

As agreed with the supervisor the student will undertake the range of work necessary to achieve the aims and learning outcomes of the module

A lecture series will be delivered at the beginning of the academic session. They will typically include (but are not limited to) project management, research methodology: identification and review of theory and literature; assembling a theoretical framework; collection of data; laboratory and/or field work; accurate bibliographic referencing; general approaches to empirical studies.

The student will be required to produce a research paper suitable for submission to an identified journal, t produce a final dissertation in accordance with the guidelines on content and structure given in the final year individual dissertation handbook.

The key elements of this being in line with the identified Journal’s ‘Authors Guide’ (or similar) and usually requires outlining the research aims, objectives, methodology, primary data collected, evaluated and analysed. Conclusions and recommendations then discussed.

Once the student has agreed aims and objectives with their supervisor, the student identifies an appropriate journal along with its ‘guide for authors’ and agrees this with supervisor. The student than produces written output suitable to the journal’s Guide for Authors.

NOTE: Assessment takes place once the final paper is complete, and before submission to the journal.

Post-assessment, the supervisor may, or may not, wish to help the student hone the work, before submission to the journal. The student then becomes 1st author, the supervisor 2nd author of the submitted work if published.

As part of the assessment of the written output the student will attend a viva voce to verbally examine their technical and/or analytical knowledge and understanding of their final research paper

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 15
Project supervision 18
Independent Study 483
Directed Study 72
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 12
Total Hours Selected 600

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Work independently and methodically with limited supervision demonstrating appropriate research skills and initiative.
LO2 Clearly identify problems by demonstrating thorough knowledge and understanding to technical research findings through in-depth critical analysis and synthesis of information; evidenced by relevant up-to-date literature, research reports and other relevant evidence.
LO3 Effectively present through original work the findings of an individual project, through sustained argument, both orally and in writing.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Online Oral Assessment Presentation (Synchronous Online) 1 A prepared 15 minute oral presentation by a candidate (followed by 15 mins of questions) before examiner(s), where knowledge, technical content, ability to answer questions and presentational skills are assessed. 30 N/A 20 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Dissertation / Major Project 1 A written work reporting the results of a research project providing a coherent argument about the topic addressed and aiming to incorporate an element of originality in the argument and /or the evidence used to sustain it. 0 8000 80 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3
Presentation (Synchronous Online) 1
Dissertation / Major Project 1

Reading List

Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches by John W. Creswell, SAGE Publications, Inc; 4 edition, 2022.

How to be a 1st class student: Easy ways for science and engineering students to ace assignments and excel in exams by Trevor J. Price, 1st edition, 2019, ISBN-13: 978-1790288212.

Key readings will be drawn from sources relevant to the context and subject matter of the dissertation. The student’s supervisor will provide guidance as necessary.

Guide to Research Projects for Engineering Students: Planning, Writing and Presenting by Eng Choon Leong, Carmel Lee-Hsia Heah, Kenneth Keng Wee Ong, CRC Press, 2021.

Research Methods for Engineers, by David V. Thiel, Cambridge University Press, 2022.