MSc Research Methods (P02889)

? Credit Points : 40 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : CHE-P-MSc-RM

The course includes three, six week mini-research projects performed in small teams, covering a range of skills and specialist techniques related to Medicinal and Biological Chemistry or Materials Chemistry, as appropriate, together with a literature survey and written report defining the scope of the subsequent individual research project work.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : A 2.1 University Honours Degree or its equivalent in Chemistry or a closley related discipline, or with the permission of the Head of School.

? Co-requisites : This course may only be taken as part of a Taught Postgraduate Masters degree in Materials Chemistry or Medicinal and Biological Chemistry.

? Prohibited combinations : Graduates from Edinburgh University BSc (Hons) or MChem/MChemphys (Hons) degrees in Chemistry or Chemical Physics may only take this course with the approval of the Head of School.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Chemistry, (School of Chemistry, Schedule L)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Full Year (Blocks 1-4)

? Additional Class Information : Approximately 400 hours of student practical, and report (and/or poster and oral) preparation effort, plus literature survey preparation effort, within times assigned.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course students will be able to:
- search the chemical literature on a given topic, and summarise the results of the search in written form to a professional standard
- execute a defined project of research, working as a member of a team, practising in ways which show a clear awareness of his/her own and others' roles and responsibilities
- carry out research effectively under guidance
- identify and define the principal aims, methods and results of a research project
- critically analyse and interpret the results of a research project, drawing and defending a set of conclusions
- present, at a professional level, the results of a research project in common scientific formats (written paper, oral presentation or poster presentation)
- use computer software to enhance the communication of research or the results of a literature survey
- assess the safety of chemical research in the research laboratory not only in terms of personal safety but also with respect to the safety of others in the laboratory and in the wider environment
- plan and present a coherent proposal for the investigation of a new area of research

Assessment Information

Written reports on each of three six week mini-research projects, a literature survey and a written report defining the scope of the subsequent individual research project work.