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Research Project and Thesis

Each student will carry out a research project in an area of Microbiology, Immunology or Virology.  At the end of the year each project is written up as a thesis using a form similar to that required for publication of research data.

Students should expect significant help from their supervisor in all aspects of scientific research including experimental design, interpretation of results, literature assessment, scientific writing, and career advice.  However, the final draft of the thesis should be the student's own work, for which the student takes responsibility.

Students are advised to look at a representative set of theses from past Honours students to help them understand that style of thesis writing, but should be aware that the guidelines for thesis preparation have changed from past years.

(a)   The Thesis (65%)

The thesis should be essentially the work of the student.  However, preparation of the thesis in a professional fashion is an essential component of the Honours educational experience.  In particular, it is common for students to require extensive help in learning how to write accurate, unambiguous and grammatical English.  Supervisors should help the student to obtain the standard of written communication that is expected of a trained scientist, particularly in early drafts of the thesis, but should refrain from detailed review or introducing new content and new ideas at later stages. Supervisors should not do more than offer general comments about the Discussion chapter, which should appear in the thesis as the students' own work.

The thesis will be assessed by three individuals - the supervisor and two others familiar with the general area of the project.  The three assessments will contribute a total of 45% of the final mark for Honours.

(b)   Final seminar (12.5%)

Shortly before the viva, each student will give a final seminar (20 minutes + 5 minutes questions) on the final outcome of their work and its implications. This is intended to highlight and inform other students and staff of the breadth and success of work carried out in the Discipline this year, but also carries a small assessment weighting.

(c) The viva (22.5%)

The vivas will be conducted by members of academic staff, chosen so that the panel covers Microbiology, Immunology and Virology.  This can be varied to include other disciplines as required.  Each student is interviewed for 20 minutes and questioned about various aspects of the thesis, and also about their general understanding of scientific issues within their discipline; students are also given the opportunity to draw to the examiners’ attention any particular issues or problems associated with their work.   Each member of the panel has read all of the theses and each student is assigned a member of the panel as a spokesperson.  Thesis examiners are invited to submit questions to be asked by the panel.  Experience indicates that the viva is a very discriminating modality of assessment.

Late submission of thesis

Late submissions will attract the following penalties:

1 day    :           1 mark deducted from total mark for the “thesis” component of the course

2 days  :           3 marks deducted

3 days  :           6 marks deducted