CSMM118 | 2025/6 | University of Exeter

MODULE TITLE	Project and Dissertation	CREDIT VALUE	60
MODULE CODE	CSMM118	MODULE CONVENER	Neill Wood (Coordinator), Dr Benedikt Steiner (Coordinator)

DURATION: TERM	1	2	3
DURATION: WEEKS		10

Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated)	55

DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

This module gives you the chance to showcase the skills you have developed in previous modules by carrying out an independent research project.

You will collect, analyse (using previously acquired data and/or data collected as part of the project), interpret and discuss geological, exploration, mining or related environmental data, and come up with conclusions and recommendations.

The project must be of research value within an industrial or academic setting. The dissertation must also show an in-depth understanding of the background to the research topic.

AIMS - intentions of the module

The project will require you to put in at least 10 weeks of individual work, followed by a writing up period to compile a dissertation.

We will provide you with a handbook on planning and executing the research project and writing the dissertation. You must prepare a dissertation for submission by the end of August. You should aim to report in no more than 80 pages (for core text/diagrams from Introduction to Conclusions, i.e. excluding contents page, references etc.) and 20 pages additional appendices.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1. Use a range of academic and practical skills to investigate and report on a problem, issue or range of problems related to geotechnical, surveying, civil, environmental or related industries;

2. Show experience of working in a commercial and/or research environment;

3. Appraise and assess engineering design in the context of the geotechnical and related industries;

4. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the capabilities of specialist equipment or computer design software.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

5. Evaluate and apply knowledge to specific design tasks;

6. Choose appropriate design from critical evaluation of available data;

7. Undertake synthesis of information and create responses in terms of advanced knowledge.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

8. Exhibit personal data-handling skills through critical evaluation of a design problem and produce, to a strict deadline, detailed recommendations/reasoned arguments for an appropriate solution;

9. Utilise a full range of computer-based learning resources as an autonomous learner.

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

General timeline of the research project:

November/ January: Subject chairs/ programme directors provide each cohort with an introduction to the research project, outline the general timeline, and offer advice on finding suitable research topics and collaborations with industry.

March: Students submit a research proposal by late March which will be evaluated by programme directors with feedback provided in early-mid April.

April/ May: Depending on overseas study field trips, students commence work on research projects

End of May: Submission of literature review to project supervisor(s).

Last Thursday of August: Submission of final project report.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities	4	Guided Independent Study	596	Placement / Study Abroad	0

DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities	4	2 x information sessions (2 hours in T1 and 2 hours in T2)
Guided independent study	596	Private study with some guidance from supervisor

ASSESSMENT

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade

Form of Assessment	Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length)	ILOs Assessed	Feedback Method
Not applicable

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)

Coursework	100	Written Exams	0	Practical Exams	0

DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Form of Assessment	% of Credit	Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length)	ILOs Assessed	Feedback Method
Dissertation	100	80 pages (Introduction to Conclusions)	1-9	Comments on relevant assessment forms

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)

Original Form of Assessment	Form of Re-assessment	ILOs Re-assessed	Time Scale for Re-assessment
Dissertation	Dissertation	1-9	Referral/deferral period

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

RESOURCES

INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

Basic reading:

Books / journals and/or other published and unpublished reports required in the execution of the project will vary with the nature and topic of the research.

Reading list for this module:

There are currently no reading list entries found for this module.

CREDIT VALUE	60	ECTS VALUE	30

PRE-REQUISITE MODULES	None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES	None

NQF LEVEL (FHEQ)	7	AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING	No
ORIGIN DATE	Thursday 6th July 2017	LAST REVISION DATE	Wednesday 19th March 2025

KEY WORDS SEARCH	Research project

Project and Dissertation - 2025 entry