MT5097 Portfolio Dissertation for Statistical Ecology MSc Programme

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Full Year

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

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

Available only to students enrolled on the MSc in Statistical Ecology

Planned timetable

Individual supervision by arrangement with supervisor

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

Module coordinator

Dr C S Sutherland

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

Module Staff

Team Taught

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

Module description

Students will submit a portfolio comprising a range of outputs based on a single research topic. The submission will consist of a compulsory element (50% of the module grade) alongside a free choice element (50% of the module grade). The compulsory component comprises a report (maximum 4000 words, 30% of the module grade) alongside a reflective element (maximum 1000 words, 10% of the module grade), and an oral presentation (maximum 15 minutes, 10% of the module grade) summarising the project topic. For the free choice elements students can optionally choose either a 15-30 minute short film (modern essay, 50% of the module grade) or two of the following elements (25% each): podcast, webpage, poster, field report, training materials. The reflective element contained in the compulsory component describes (in part) why each portfolio element was chosen and describes the audience each element is intended to reach.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Not available

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

Project meetings with supervisor, by arrangement

Scheduled learning hours

12

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

Guided independent study hours

576

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Learn how to conduct research on a topic of the student's choice
  • Equip students with transferable skills in the communication of scientific work to lay and expert audiences
  • Ability to communicate scientific research effectively through oral presentations
  • Ability to communicate scientific research effectively through a written report
  • Give students experience of communicating scientific research through media other than oral presentation or written report, including some of the following: video, podcast, web page, poster, field report and training materials