MAS4091/4391 MMath/MMathStat
Project
Additional Information 2008-2009
Projects
- Projects will vary both
between and within subject areas. However they all should involve you in
using some knowledge from courses taken in your first three years, and
also in learning some new material through reading research papers or
advanced textbooks.
- Projects will include,
depending on the topic, some or all of: data collection and analysis,
simulation, more general computing, literature reviews, theoretical
developments.
- You should already have
been allocated a project, and supervisor(s), before the summer. If this is
not the case, please contact me as soon as possible.
Work and supervision
- You should meet with your
supervisor(s) during the induction week. You are strongly advised to start
your project during this induction week when you will have relatively few
other commitments.
- A project should represent
the equivalent of about 400 hours of work spread over the two semesters.
In principle, the module is split 20 + 20 (credits) over the two semesters
but, in practice, how the work load is spread will depend on the nature of
your project.
- You should see your
supervisor(s) regularly by appointment (usually weekly).
- The School may be able to
assist in certain costs involved in your project, e.g. in the production
of questionnaires. Any such request should be given to the module leader
before the cost is incurred.
- If any problems arise with
your project that cannot be sorted out by your supervisor, please see the
module leader.
Assessment
- The project will be
assessed by a report (80%), an oral presentation (10%) and a poster (10%).
- The report must be handed
in to the Mathematics & Statistics General Office by 4.00 pm on
Thursday, April 30, 2009 (Week 10 of Semester 2). A receipt will be given
to you confirming its submission. The length of the report may vary
somewhat between projects but it should be about 35 to 45 pages long (12
point type). It will normally include sections such as introduction,
methods, results, conclusions and references. At the beginning there
should be a short summary (no more than 150 words) and a list of contents.
Excessive numbers of tables and figures should be avoided. Books and
scientific articles should be fully referenced. It must be word-processed
and spiral bound. Two copies must be submitted; these copies will be
retained by the School.
- Each report will be marked
by the supervisor and a second member of staff. In marking the project,
staff will consider: amount of work done, quality of work done, level of
understanding, critical insight, initiative and flair shown, structure and
clarity. The weight to be given to each component will vary somewhat from
project to project.
- The oral presentation
should be around 15 minutes long. It will take place in Week 11 of
Semester 1, on the afternoons of Wednesday December 10. (Exact schedules
will be circulated nearer the time.) The audience will consist of 4th year
MMath/MMathStat students and members of staff.
These will be assessed by a small group of members of staff.
- The poster will be produced
for a poster session in Week 11 of Semester 2, on the Friday, May 8, 2009,
to be attended by 3rd and 4th year MMath/MMathStat
students and members of staff. These will be assessed by a small group of
members of staff.
- General advice will be
given to assist students in preparing their project reports, oral
presentations and posters. The best posters will be used for display
around the School.
- A copy of the project will
be sent to the relevant External Examiner in advance of the Board of
Examiners.
For additional information, please contact David Toms.
Last modified: Wednesday, 24 September 2008