BL5498 Advanced Research Project (MMarBiol/MBiol)

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Full Year

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

60

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Open only to students enrolled in the MBiol and MMarBiol Degrees.

Planned timetable

Not applicable

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr C McDougall

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr S Northridge

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module will involve the development of advanced research project to investigate a defined problem within the fields of marine biology or general ecology, appropriate to the MBiol and MMarBiol degrees. The time spent on this module will be divided between practical work, reading literature related to the project, analyzing the data generated during the practical work and writing, as well as preparing and delivering a presentation on the project. Students will be supervised by a member of staff (supervisor) within the School of Biology who will guide and advise them in research activities throughout the academic year. Students are also expected to meet their supervisor on a regular basis. They may also attend seminars and the lab meetings of the group they work with.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS BL4603

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

Students are expected to typically spend approximately 25 hours a week on their project, divided between practical work, data analysis, reading and writing.

Scheduled learning hours

28

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

572

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • By the end of this module students will have demonstrated their ability to define a research question
  • By the end of this module students will have demonstrated their ability to plan and execute an experimental research plan
  • By the end of this module students will have demonstrated their ability to conduct field work based practical research or database mining and analysis research
  • By the end of this module students will have demonstrated their ability to problem solve
  • By the end of this module students will have demonstrated their ability to analyse and interpret experimental data
  • By the end of this module students will have demonstrated their ability to communicate scientific ideas and data in an oral and written format