Unit information: Research Project in 2022/23

Unit name	Research Project
Unit code	AENGM0079
Credit points	80
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Professor. Barton
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	Students will only take this unit for exit award purposes
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	N/A
School/department	School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Unit Information

The individual research project is an open-ended investigation of a composites manufacturing related topic with a focus on the state of the art in manufacturing and design. Each project is carried out under the supervision of a member of staff.

The precise nature of any project will vary depending on the research topic. However, any project will require a systematic review of the (relevant) literature that leads to an initial research question and possibly associated hypothesis. With this in mind, students will be guided towards choosing an appropriate methodology to tackling the identified open problem. Research question, hypothesis and methodology typically get refined over the course of the project as the students’ understanding becomes increasingly sophisticated. An important element of the individual project is to systematically evaluate this process, paying particular attention to responsible innovation, and eventually producing a clear and coherent write up. Projects may involve the design of hardware, software, experiments, a study, etc.

The aim of the unit is to develop independent research skills including:

• systematically identifying and studying a body of literature on a particular area of composites manufacturing or design;
• identifying an open research problem;
• undertaking research (e.g., a study, development of a novel prototype, experimental work) to address the research problem;
• identify a unique contribution to knowledge
• systematically describe the process and outcome of the research in the form an original research dissertation.

Your learning on this unit

Upon successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. Work independently on a project related to design and manufacture of composites products.
2. Apply background knowledge to define the research question and develop overall project objectives.
3. Provide a coherent account and rational for the solution to the research question based on the findings on the programme of work.
4. Demonstrate unique contribution to knowledge of research findings.
5. Effectively communicate your research in terms of motivation, methodology, results and relation existing work.

How you will learn

The unit does not have any taught elements. Students meet regularly with supervisors to discuss progress.

How you will be assessed

Your project will be examined by the contents of a written dissertation which will comprise 100% of the assessment. It will be reviewed by two independent internal examiners who will judge if the research work is suitable for a MRes Award. The main body of the dissertation must not exceed 20,000 words. The word count does not include frontispiece information (e.g. title page, abstract, contents) and does not include references. Appendices, up to 10 pages, may be included. The dissertation should contain:

• A clear research question, aim and objectives (ILO 1, 2, 5).
• A statement novelty of the research underpinned by the literature review or by the industrial context (ILO 1, 2, 5).
• A review of the state of the art in the area (ILO 2).
• A clear description of the methods used in the research such that it can be replicated in the future (it should be noted the dissertation is an internal document covered by the NDA with the company) (ILO 1, 3, 5).
• The research findings accompanied by a discussion of the results and their impact (ILO 3, 4, 5)
• Conclusions and future work (ILO 3, 4, 5).

The dissertation must demonstrate that you have accomplished independent work at the level of the current state-of-the-art in composites manufacturing based relevant to a specified industrial challenge (ILO 1). The dissertation must demonstrate you have appreciated the demands of industrially based research and have demonstrated your ability to define your contributions to knowledge (ILO 3, 4). You must demonstrate that you are able to plan and manage a research project, including conveying results to the international research community at an acceptable level of technical English (ILO 5).

Dissertation: (100%) (ILO 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. AENGM0079).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.