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PH40065: Final year project (MSci)

[Page last updated: 23 October 2023]

Academic Year: 2023/24
Owning Department/School: Department of Physics
Credits: 18 [equivalent to 36 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 360
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CW 20%, OR 10%, OT 70%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 20%)
  • Oral (OR 10%)
  • Other (OT 70%)
Supplementary Assessment:
PH40065B Reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: While taking this unit the student should be able to:
* demonstrate the ability to plan the project and to manage their time appropriately;
* research the background to the project using academic journals, textbooks and computer-based resources;
* demonstrate a thorough understanding of the scientific theory and background to the project, and understand the academic context in which it will take place;
* prepare and write a 'project plan' for their project;
* demonstrate clear innovation and initiative in carrying out the project;
* demonstrate industry and motivation in carrying out the project;
* for an experimental project, demonstrate good practical skills in the construction of apparatus and circuits, and in data measurement and interpretation;
* for a computational project, design, write and test computer programs to simulate the physical system under study, and interpret the results from these programs;
* rigorously analyse the results from their project and critically evaluate their work in relation to other published work.


Aims: The aims of this unit are to provide students with the opportunity to investigate in depth an aspect or application of physics, and to develop experimental and/or computational skills complementary to those developed in lecture courses.

Skills: Written Communication T/F A, Spoken Communication T/F A, Numeracy T/F A, Data Acquisition, Handling, and Analysis T/F A, Information Technology T/F A, Problem Solving T/F A, Working as part of a group T/F A, (Practical laboratory skills T/F A), Project planning/management T/F A.

Content: Final year projects offered cover a wide range of physics and most reflect the research or teaching interests of academic staff. Projects may be related to the Department's externally sponsored research projects (funded by the Research Councils, public companies, and UK government or EU agencies), with the development of undergraduate experiments, or with the investigation of topics relating to physics education.

Course availability:

PH40065 is a Must Pass Unit on the following courses:

Department of Physics
  • USXX-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics (Year 4)
  • USXX-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Study year abroad (Year 5)
  • USXX-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Year long work placement (Year 5)

PH40065 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Chemistry
  • USSC-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) (Year 4)
  • USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 5)
  • USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) with Professional Placement (Year 5)
  • USSC-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Chemistry stream) (Year 4)
  • USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Chemistry stream) with Study year abroad (Year 5)
  • USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Chemistry stream) with Professional Placement (Year 5)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.