Module Information

Module Identifier
PHM5920
Module Title
Minor Project
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Pre-Requisite
Co-Requisite
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Formal report to include literature review and project plan  (approx. 2500 words)  85%
Semester Assessment Progression  15%
Supplementary Assessment Re-submission of failed components  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Investigate a specific physics-related scientific problem.

2. Evaluate recent developments in the research field of interest as documented in the refereed literature.

3. Organise and co-ordinate their work in order to plan and implement a research project.

4. Interpret and discuss their results in terms of the current knowledge of the topic.

5. Present their work in a formal written account.

Brief description

The project includes literature research and a planning phase followed by main project work. The student normally carries out the project under the supervision of an academic member of staff within one of the research groups in the department. The results are interpreted and discussed in terms of the current knowledge of the research topic gained through the refereed literature, and the entire project-work including a literature review presented in a formal written report.

Aims

The module is aimed at developing the research and practical project skills essential for a professional physicist.

Content

The research topic will be different for each project but it will usually be within the expertise of the Solar Systems Physics research group.
The module runs throughout the semester and is supported by weekly tutorials with the supervisor.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Application of number is central in the analysis of experimental data, including error propagation.
Communication Communication of the literature survey and project findings in a formal written report.
Improving own Learning and Performance Students improve their own learning and performance by reflecting on the outcomes of their laboratory work and planning further work.
Information Technology Use of instrumentation and computers to analyse and present data is a fundamental requirement of a Physics project.
Personal Development and Career planning Professional presentation of results is expected and is essential in the training to become a professional Physicist.
Problem solving Problem solving is essential to respond to initial results and adapt experimental strategies accordingly.
Research skills Research skills and information literacy are required as background for devising experiments to test hypotheses.
Subject Specific Skills Yes, but detail will depend on the specific topic.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7