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Teaching
There are approximately twelve options courses focusing on advanced topics across a broad range of aspects of Earth Sciences. MASt students are required to choose six of these options.
Students also undertake a substantial individual research project, chosen from a set of topics proposed by academic staff.
A field trip runs for just over a week, during the late Lent Term/Easter vacation. This is a key part of the course and attendance is strongly encouraged.
| One to one supervision | Each student will have a Supervisor for their research project, and lecturers may arrange small group supervisions for the options courses, but students are encouraged to take advantage of the supervision system more generally. Twelve hours of supervision are recommended for the research project. |
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| Seminars & classes | The Department hosts a broad range of seminars and seminar series, and all students are encouraged to attend as many as possible. This is the best way of tracking the very latest research, and seeing how it gets done (and presented). The weekly Departmental Seminars and Bullard Seminars are particularly recommended. A short series of five-six seminars at the beginning of Easter Term will address issues and research broadly connected to the field trip. |
| Lectures | Each student will choose to study six out of at least twelve option courses. These are taught via lectures and the majority of options also have practicals. There are four hours of teaching per week for each option, running for four weeks, totalling between 12 and 16 hours of teaching (lectures and practicals) per option course. |
| Practicals | Each student will choose to study six out of at least twelve option courses. These are taught via lectures and the majority of options also have practicals. There are four hours of teaching per week for each option, running for four weeks, totalling between 12 and 16 hours of teaching (lectures and practicals) per option course. |
| Small group teaching | Students will meet with supervisors frequently and formal progress meetings will be arranged several times in each term. |
| Journal clubs | There are some subject-specific Journal Clubs, and there is a weekly 'Isotope Coffee' session. |
| Posters and Presentations | During the early part of Lent Term MASt students will produce a poster on their research project. By this point students need a substantial quantity of data, analysis or results to display, and a realistic assessment of what work is yet to be completed. In Easter Term MASt students will be expected to give a 10-minute presentation on their project, to their fellow students, the Course Co-ordinator, and other research and academic members of staff. |
Feedback
Students will receive formative feedback from their project supervisor during and up to the project hand-in deadline. The poster session and oral presentation also offer opportunities for feedback on the student's ideas and thinking.
Students will receive further feedback regarding other aspects of their work from their supervisor, Director of Studies, option course leaders, and the designated Course Co-ordinator.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
An individual research project of 7,500 words is required, to be submitted with related lab, practical and field notebooks.
Written examination
Six unseen option papers.
An unseen 'seminar' paper of two hours duration, consisting of two sections, A and B. Topics may relate to a field trip or to general aspects of Earth Sciences.
Examinations take place in the main Easter examination period.
Practical assessment
Some of the options have assessed practicals or examined practical papers in addition to the written option papers.
Other
A viva voce will be held after examinations in relation to either the individual research project or Earth Sciences generally.