Unit information: Project Proposal in Health Sciences in 2022/23

Unit name	Project Proposal in Health Sciences
Unit code	MEDIM0016
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Holmes
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one
School/department	Bristol Medical School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Unit Information

This unit comprises of the writing and presentation of a research project proposal based on the student's individual chosen project which will be undertaken during the research phase of the MRes programme (Unit 5 – Research Project).

The aims of this unit are to:

• To ensure students have a good understanding of the scientific background of the chosen area of research before beginning their own research projects within that area.
• To ensure students have a clear understanding of their project aims and the methods by which they will be achieved.

• Provide experience in the acquisition and analysis of subject-specific information.
• Consolidate the learning from other units including: Critical evaluation of scientific papers; formulation of hypothesis-driven research questions; understand relevant experimental techniques; research methodology and statistical analysis; research ethics. To apply that knowledge to design, plan and write a research study proposal.
• To provide students with transferable skills in: IT; oral and written scientific communication; research ethics; planning, organisation and time management.

The proposal includes:

A review of the literature relevant to the research project (approximately 3000 words);

the aims of the project;

the impact of the project

a plan of the proposed research, including the experimental design, methods and proposed analysis;

ethical considerations

contingency plans;

a timetable and milestones;

references (total length 4500 words maximum, excluding references).

Your learning on this unit

At the end of this unit the students should be able to:

• Perform computer based searches of the scientific literature.
• Critically read and evaluate scientific papers.
• Formulate concise hypothesis-driven research questions.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of scientific techniques and statistical methods.
• Write and orally present proposals that use appropriate scientific terminology and descriptions.
• Understand the principles underlying research ethics.
• Value the importance of time-managing a research project.

How you will learn

Attendance at a grant-writing workshop. Directed reading. Guidance from project supervisor.

How you will be assessed

Research proposal contributing 90% to the unit mark

Oral presentation of the research proposal contributing 10% to the unit mark

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. MEDIM0016).

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.