Four months of full-time experimental work on an analytical topic within the chosen option area, with a dissertation submitted by 1 st September. A first draft of the dissertation should be submitted to the project supervision in Mid-August. In cases where intending MSc students fail to achieve a satisfactory standard in the course assessment in April, they may be allowed to submit a short project for the award of the Diploma. Any students who follow the MSc route, but do not reach a satisfactory standard in their aggregate performance, after completion of the project, for the award of the MSc degree may be awarded the Diploma at the discretion of the examination committee. The papers are marked by a team of examiners including the external examiner.
All marking is anonymous.
Each question is first marked by the lecturer setting the question and then marked independently by a second marker. The two markers will then agree on a final mark. In the event of an unresolved difference of opinion between the two examiners the external examiner is the final arbiter. The marks for each candidate are totalled, grades assigned and borderline cases identified. Each student's final grade is considered individually at an examiners' meeting and by the external examiner.