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Teaching
The basic programme design is 1+3 years, with the first year consisting of three laboratory-based projects, each lasting ten weeks. Students select their project from principal investigators associated with the programme. Training in transferable skills will involve the following: communication skills – oral and written presentations; report, thesis and paper writing; and project planning. At the end of each project, the project outcome and student progress are assessed by means of a written report followed by an oral discussion with the supervisor and assessor in terms one and two, together with a poster presentation in term three. Within the first year, there is additional training in statistics.
| One to one supervision | Students are supervised by the principal investigator or a designated supervisor for the duration of their laboratory placement. Meetings will take place on a regular basis. |
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| Seminars & classes | During the MRes year, students attend one mandatory seminar per week during term time, others are optional. |
| Posters and Presentations | A poster presentation is made at the end of term three in year one. |
Placements
Students will undertake three placements or rotations in the laboratories of different contributing supervisors to give them experience of different working environments.
Feedback
Students should expect to receive ongoing feedback from all supervisors involved in their research project. In addition, the principal supervisor will write termly online reports which can be accessed by the student.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
No thesis is required for the MRes degree. The PhD will be examined by a thesis and an oral examination (viva).
Essays
Students must successfully complete the MRes before they may progress to doctoral study
The MRes examination takes the following form:
- A portfolio of research reports (of not more than 20,000 words in total exclusive of tables, footnotes, bibliography, and appendices) which will provide evidence to satisfy the Examiners that a student can design and carry out an original investigation, assess and interpret the results obtained, and place the work in the wider perspective of the subject. The portfolio will include a formal project grant proposal.
- An oral examination (viva voce) on the work submitted by the student and on the general field of knowledge within which such work falls.
Other
Before students can enter the second year, they are examined for an MRes (Master of Research). Award of the MRes degree and decision to proceed on to the PhD programme involves evaluation of all written reports, a formal project grant proposal and viva voce examination by an internal examiner together with an external university examiner. The examiners provide a report on the outcome of the assessment, their recommendation on registration/progression, and any feedback they wish to provide for the student and supervisor.
All PhD students are required to undergo formal assessment (by written report and viva) at the end of their first year in the PhD stage of the programme. If successful, the student moves from being "probationary" to being registered for the PhD and can proceed with their project.