This course offers the opportunity to pursue an independent research project supported by expert supervision. It will appeal to graduates as well as those in professional practice and will provide students with an opportunity to research an area of interest in some detail. Candidates are encouraged to discuss their research ideas with potential supervisors before they start so that they have a clearly-defined project at the stage of enrolment.
Duration: 12 - 15 months full-time, 24 - 30 months part-time
Attendance: As negotiated with supervisors
Start date: September 2013
You will be required to prepare a research proposal, approximately three pages long that sets out your research aims context and intended methods. You will then be interviewed by two members of staff and, if successful in your application, be assigned two supervisors.
Candidates’ research proposals will be discussed during their entry interview. Each student will be assigned two supervisors whom they will meet with on a regular basis, at least twice per month for full-time students and once per month for part-time students. Students submit a research thesis (max 20,000 for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects and 30,000 words for other subjects) and have a viva conducted by an internal and external examiner.
There are no taught course modules. However, the university offers a generic research training programme which includes courses on Intellectual Property Rights and Ethics, Planning and Managing Research and Preparing for Your Viva. There are also faculty-based research sessions including Literature Searching and Reference Management, Health and Safety in Laboratories (for those students who are lab-based) and Presentation of Research Data and Participation in Analytical Discussion.
We benefit from a wide range of expertise in a number of specialist areas in order to help guide and support you in your research project. Most of our academic staff are actively involved in research or consultancy activity and there are also more than 150 dedicated postgraduate researchers. The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise identified 'world-leading' research within each of the faculty's four schools of study.
The course will help to develop and enhance the skills and knowledge required to conduct research in an area of interest to you. It will provide an opportunity for those who are thinking about doing a PhD to explore whether they enjoy independent study. The research can be tailored to your chosen career path and if you are in employment it may act as an opportunity to gain a better understanding of a topic related to your work place.
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UKPASS is the postgraduate equivalent of UCAS and gives you a simple and efficient way to apply online. It allows you to search for a course and guides you through the application process. Using UKPASS you can apply for up to ten courses for free.
You can create your application in your own time, so you can consider, research and complete each section at your own speed. You can track your applications as they progress, and can also receive and reply to offers online. Apply online with UKPASS|
You will need to attach qualification transcripts, references and evidence of English language (if you are an overseas student) with your UKPass application. If these documents are not attached to your original application, this will delay the process of your application.
For more information please contact: T: +44 (0)116 257 7700 E: hls@dmu.ac.uk|
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