Research Paper

This course will introduce you to the experience of working with an academic supervisor. You will also develop skills in assimilating academic peer review of your work. You will communicate your research findings in an essay, report, or other format agreed upon by the supervisor in conjunction with the course leader.

Admission requirements

For your enrolment to be approved:

• you must have successfully completed at least 60 credits at Level 6.
• you also need to get your research topic approved by the Programme Leader.

Research topic approval

To get your research topic approved you need to discuss your plans with the Programme Leader. When it is approved they will appoint an academic supervisor. This will be a lecturer or academic staff member from your major subject area. 

This process must be completed four weeks before the start of the trimester.

If you have any questions, please get in touch.

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What you will learn

When you successfully complete this  course you will be able to:

• identify key issues within the area of the major subject, and formulate research questions capable of addressing those issues
• select and justify appropriate and ethically sound methodologies for undertaking research
• analyse and evaluate relevant literature and data
• demonstrate personal reflection on and evaluation of the learning process.

You will also present research findings in an appropriate format that demonstrates:

• critical thinking
• logical development of argument
• independent judgement
• clear conclusions
• mastery of referencing and bibliographic conventions appropriate to their research material.

The course encompasses:

• identifying an area of interest for investigation
• ethical, methodological and theoretical issues relating to research
• formulating a research question and hypothesis
• research planning and writing to a timeline
• searching the literature for relevant materials
• gathering, analysing and evaluating data
• using appropriate methodologies
• presenting findings, analysis and conclusions
• reflecting on the research experience.

The course materials will give you instruction in research skills and methods to help guide you through the research process.  

Assessment

This course is 100% internally assessed.

Textbooks

No textbooks are needed for this course.

Computer and internet requirements

This course is delivered online, so you will access the course and do your study online, which generally includes reading and doing activities, watching videos, downloading content, and writing and submitting assessments online.

For online learning you need:

• Access to a laptop or desktop computer
• Reliable broadband internet and a data plan

Find out more about online learning

If you are unsure if your current computer or internet access will allow you to study online please contact us.