The School is committed to fostering a dynamic research environment by providing expert supervision for both undergraduate and postgraduate final projects. The Research Supervision Code of Conduct outlines the expectations for supervisors and students, ensuring effective guidance, regular meetings, and robust support. This policy aims to maximise student success and uphold the highest standards in research supervision.
This Policy has been developed in line with the applicable laws, regulations, regulatory advice, and sector best practices, including the following:
The School mandates Final Project Modules for specific qualifications. These core modules allow students to demonstrate autonomy by exploring and testing questions through suitable methods. The Final Project Modules are required for:
Award
Level
Module
Taught masters’ degrees e.g. MSc
7
Final Project Module (60 credits at Level 7)
Bachelors’ degrees with honours e.g. BSc Hons
6
Final Project Module (30 credits at Level 6)
This rule ensures that students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills independently, reflecting their capability to handle complex projects and contributing to their overall academic assessment.
Students must adhere to the following timelines for registering for Final Project Modules:
Postgraduate
Students can register for the Masters Final Project module after having completed at least 60 credits in other modules on their programme.
Undergraduate
The Final Project Module is available at Level 6.
These timelines ensure that students have acquired sufficient foundational knowledge and skills before undertaking their final projects, thus maximising their potential for success and maintaining academic standards.
The School ensures that all final project students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, are assigned a primary supervisor with research supervision experience and relevant subject expertise. A secondary supervisor may also be appointed to assist when the primary supervisor is unavailable. Regular supervision meetings are mandatory, during which students present progress, receive feedback, and discuss challenges. A log system tracks these interactions to support the student throughout their research.
This approach guarantees that students receive expert guidance and comprehensive support, fostering a high-quality research environment and enhancing their chances of success. Regular meetings and a tracking system ensure continuous oversight and feedback, helping students address challenges effectively and advance their research work.
Students must review and adhere to the relevant policies and regulations, including those outlined in the Student Charter. This includes preparing thoroughly, attending all scheduled meetings, and complying with assessment regulations, including integrity standards. Students should document and log all meetings with their supervisors, keep the final log updated, and stay in regular contact with their supervisor. They should also apply insights gained from weekly training seminars. If issues arise with supervision, students may contact the final project module leader or Director of Education, or use the School’s complaint procedure.
Adhering to these guidelines ensures that students maintain a productive supervisory relationship, comply with academic standards, and effectively progress with their research projects. Regular documentation and communication facilitate continuous support and address any issues promptly, while applying seminar insights enriches the research process.
Supervisors must meet with students at least three times during full-time final project modules, with adjustments for other study modes. They are responsible, alongside the final project module leader, for ensuring adherence to the School’s academic regulations, including research integrity, ethics, and the Intellectual Property Policy. Supervisors should:
Supervisors will receive training through the School’s Staff Induction and Training Plan and may apply for further professional development opportunities relevant to supervision.
This rule ensures that supervisors provide structured, expert guidance and maintain compliance with academic standards and regulations. Regular meetings and documentation track student progress and support, while comprehensive advice and resources help students meet learning outcomes and assessment criteria. The collaborative approach to pastoral and employability support enhances the student experience and ensures well-rounded development.
Final assessments for the final project module are detailed in the Academic Regulations:
Artefact: Students must submit an artefact that addresses the problem statement from their final report. A workshop will cover ideation and design of practical solutions using an implementation lifecycle. Formative assessments throughout the programme will provide actionable feedback from self, peers, and staff to guide improvement and foster constructive feedback skills.
Presentation: Students are required to deliver a presentation on their artefact, demonstrating their ability to communicate research findings, methodologies, and implications effectively to a varied audience. This presentation will stem from the problem statement in the project proposal and will reflect the practical application of programme tools and techniques. Workshops and additional support will be provided for effective presentation skills, with opportunities for peer and tutor feedback during programme modules.
Final Report: Students must submit a final report that evaluates their independent research, critical thinking, and systematic understanding in producing their artefact. The report should showcase originality, proficiency in research methods, and the ability to communicate findings to both specialist and general audiences. Workshops will guide students on preparing, structuring, and submitting their report, with examples of successful and unsuccessful reports provided. Ongoing formative assessments and feedback will be available throughout the programme to support continuous improvement.
These assessments ensure that students demonstrate their research, presentation, and reporting skills effectively. Workshops and feedback mechanisms support students in developing practical solutions, communicating their work, and showcasing their research capabilities. This structured approach aims to enhance students' abilities and provide them with the tools needed for successful final project outcomes.
Students and supervisors must regularly discuss learning outcomes, project milestones, and actions, documenting these in the logs. Students may also seek additional support from their Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) and module leaders for their projects and assessments. For more details, refer to the Final Masters Project guidelines.
Regular discussions and documentation ensure that students stay on track with their project milestones and learning outcomes. Accessing additional support from PATs and module leaders provides further assistance, contributing to successful project completion and assessment.
The Final Project Module Leader oversees the module and allocates supervisors. They must brief supervisors on their responsibilities and ensure effective supervision. They organise and deliver workshops, manage the module in accordance with academic regulations, and handle summative assessments, including extensions, extenuating circumstances, marking, and external examiner reviews. They present marks to the Module Examination Board and produce the annual module evaluation report. Students can direct any module-related queries to the Final Project Module Leader.
This rule ensures that the Final Project Module Leader effectively manages all aspects of the module, including supervisor coordination, workshop delivery, and assessment processes. Clear oversight and communication maintain the quality and integrity of the final project module while providing students with a designated point of contact for any queries.
The School is dedicated to fostering a robust research environment for students. Resources and support provided include:
These measures ensure that students are supported through comprehensive resources, expert guidance, and ample opportunities to develop and showcase their research. By integrating advanced tools, providing extensive training, and fostering collaboration, the School aims to enhance the quality and impact of students' research experiences.
If an undergraduate or postgraduate student fails a summative assessment on their final project module, they are allowed only one further attempt. This may involve either a resit or a full module retake, depending on the nature of the failure.
This policy ensures that students have a clear and structured opportunity to address their shortcomings and improve their work, while also managing resources and maintaining academic standards.
The following metrics will be measured and regularly reviewed as performance indicators for the School to ensure the effectiveness of this policy and associated operations.