The Research Project is the major activity of the Honours year. Students will carry out experimental work in their supervisor's laboratory over a eight month period and then write their project up in the form of a thesis. The second project might have different hypotheses, methods or experimental requirements. It is a back-up in case the primary project breaks down or otherwise proves to be unsatisfactory.
Students present two research seminars during the year.
The Introductory Seminar is a brief survey of the literature and an outline of the proposed project including the hypotheses being tested and the experimental strategy being employed. The Final Seminar is presented about 6 weeks before the thesis is due and allows the student to tell the School what they have achieved during the year and to receive feedback before thesis writing is complete. Each seminar lasts 15 minutes with 5 minutes for questions. Seminars are not formally assessed but supervisors will provide feedback on their students' performance - content, organization, presentation, style, etc. This will be read and commented upon by the supervisor.