The Research project is one of the
high-lights of the Honours year. It
aims to foster an appreciation of scientific research methodology and to provide
an opportunity for you to gain first-hand experience of the practical,
organisational, intellectual, communication and attitudinal skills associated
with scientific research. This can
take place in a laboratory, in the field, in the library, in an industrial or
clinical setting, using computers or with the general public.
The School is able to offer a very wide range of projects to suit
individual interests and ambitions within its very different Honours Schools.
All Honours Schools will offer a mixture of laboratory or fieldwork projects and dry projects. Projects involving Work-Based Learning for Academic Credit (WBLC) are available in some Honours Schools. The way in which you choose your project will depend on the Honours School you intend to enter.
In Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology and Molecular Biology you will be given summaries of the projects available at the start of the Honours Year. You will need to rank a number of projects in order of preference, based on these summaries, brief presentations or talking to the project supervisors during the first week of the autumn term. You may also suggest your own project, provided the topic can be accommodated and supervised. You will be allocated a project by the end of the first week, using your Year 2 average mark to decide between students choosing the same project. Some projects are available in local hospitals or research institutes and students may be selected by aptitude for these.
In Environmental Biology, Geography and Biology, Plant Science and Zoology you will be given a list of projects during the second semester of Year 2. You may also suggest your own project, provided the topic can be accommodated and supervised. Some WBLC projects will be available. You will need to rank projects in order of preference from the project summary or after talking to project supervisors, and return your selection form by the end of the spring term. You will then be allocated a project. Your Year 2 average mark will be used to decide between students choosing the same project. In addition, you should realise that project supervisors can only supervise a limited number of projects, and this may also affect your project allocation. Some students will be asked to make a second series of project selections in the summer term. Project allocations will be available at the end of the summer term.
In Marine Biology, you will be given a provisional list of projects during the second semester of Year 2 and a definite list at the start of the Honours Year. Some WBLC projects will be available. You must hand in your project preferences by the end of the first week of the autumn term, and you will receive your allocation at the start of the second week.
Combined Science students should consult with Dr. Hill about project selection.
Geography and Biology students should select projects from those offered by Geography, Environmental Biology, Plant Science or Zoology.
In all Honours Schools, students can consult their Honours Director if they are very dissatisfied with the project they have been allocated.
If significant changes are made to the procedures outlined above, you will be notified through notices in the School’s buildings, or at the start of the Honours Year.