Advanced Research Literature Review (PHYS6500)

Course overview

Advanced literature review of an area of experimental or theoretical physics or another field recommended by supervisor/s and approved by Head of Discipline. You will explore in-depth the cutting-edge literature of the area and write a review style article. The review article topic should be close to, but different from your thesis topic that is taken concurrently, and should ideally be on a topic where no such review article exists.

Experimental, theoretical, or computational review article on topic approved by the Honours Co-ordinator. The major assessment item is a review article submitted after one semester of work.ﾠ

Course requirements

Assumed background

This is part of the 4th year of the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) degree in the field of Physics. PHYS6500 is a semester-long research project to produce a review article. It is intended that this be done under the supervision of the same supervisor as your PHYS6600/PHYS6601 project. It can be undertaken either in the first or second semester of PHYS6600/PHYS6601.ﾠ

Before enrolling in PHYS6600/PHYS6601 and PHYS6500 your task is to choose your researchﾠtopic. Start by looking at our list: https://smp.uq.edu.au/research/projects

Find a topic you are interested in, discuss it, and get it (or another one of mutual interest) agreed to by your supervisor. If you want to undertake an interdisciplinary research project then your plan must be approved by the Head of Physics, after discussion with the Physics Honours Co-ordinator.

The enrolling procedure for this course can be found from the School of Mathematics and Physics webpage: https://smp.uq.edu.au/study/honours-programs

Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) students approaching their fourth year of the program can only enrol in PHYS6500 (and PHYS6600/PHYS6601) by sending an email from their student email account to smp.student@uq.edu.au ﾠwith the following information:

1. Full Name as in UQ system
2. Student number
3. Field of study in the BAdvSc(Hons)
4. Supervisor/s name (you must have discussed a project/review article topic and have verbal agreement to proceed)
5. Research Project title and project course code (PHYS6600 or PHYS6601)
6. (For Physics majors) Which semester will you undertake PHYS6500?

This should be done as soon as possible (ie. after the previous semester finishes).

For advice - contact the Physics Honours Co-ordinator:

https://smp.uq.edu.au/current-students/academic-advisers

Companion or co-requisite courses

You'll need to complete the following courses at the same time:

PHYS6600 or PHYS6601

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

PHYS6501, PHYS6502, PHYS6503, PHYS6504

Restrictions

BAdvSc(Honours) and BSc(Hons) students only, must be taken concurrently with PHYS6600 or PHYS6601 (in either of their two semesters)

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

Additional timetable information

There is a one-hour weekly `Research Training' class time, scheduled via PHYS6600/6601, to introduce and discuss the various research milestones as the semester proceeds.ﾠ A timetable of topics will be posted on the Blackboard course website. This schedule takes into account public holidays for this semester. Note that not all of these lecture times will be devoted to the PHYS6500 course.

Classes will be conducted on campus.

Important: if you are ill, then do not attend any classes in person.ﾠ Alternative arrangements can be organised – consult Blackboard for details.

You should have regular meetings as agreed with your supervisor.ﾠ Typically this is an additional half an hour a week on top of your regular meeting about your thesis project.

You should map out a program of work with your supervisor in the first weeks of the semester, as background to your review article plan, and discuss updates of the article at regular intervals.

Overall, as per UQ policy, you should be working 10 hours per week on PHYS6500 over the 13-week teaching semester.

Aims and outcomes

The aim of the Advanced Research Literature Review is to develop the research skills of the student by carrying out a semester-long review of a cutting-edge specialised area of physics research.ﾠ It will prepare the student for a future research career, or entry into postgraduate study such as an MPhil or PhD research higher degree.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Review Article Plan

• Hurdle

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

Pass/Fail

Due date

17/03/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Submit pdf file to the Physics Honours Assessment website (or, as backup method, email to Physics Honours Co-ordinator).
Use the file-naming convention Review_Plan_surname.pdf.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for further extension / deferral information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

You are required to complete assessment tasks on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item in PHYS6500 then 10% of the maximum mark for the Review Article will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.

Review Article

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

100%

Due date

28/05/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L02, L03, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit pdf file to the Physics Honours Assessment website (or, as backup method, email to Physics Honours Co-ordinator).
Use the file-naming convention Review_surname.pdf.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for further extension / deferral information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

You are required to complete assessment tasks on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item in PHYS6500 then 10% of the maximum mark for the Review Article will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.

Review Article Interview

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified

Mode

Oral

Category

Examination

Weight

Pass/Fail

Due date

9/06/2025 - 20/06/2025

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for further extension / deferral information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

You are required to complete assessment tasks on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item in PHYS6500 then 10% of the maximum mark for the Review Article will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

To achieve a passing grade in this course, you must obtain a Pass for the Review Plan AND a Pass for the Review Article Interview.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply. 

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.  

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.  

Supplementary assessment for this course will be resubmission of the Review Article, incorporating feedback from assessors, within 2 weeks of notification of the failing grade. If granted supplementary assessment, a student must pass the supplementary assessment to pass the course.

Additional assessment information

Artificial Intelligence

Assessment tasks in this course evaluate students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates

Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
• Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
• If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
• If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
• If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
• For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum date applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for details. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
• Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
• If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
• There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.

Applications to defer an exam

In certain circumstances you can apply to take a deferred examination for in-semester and end-of-semester exams. You'll need to demonstrate through supporting documentation how unavoidable circumstances prevented you from sitting your exam. If you can’t, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam.

Deferred Exam requests are submitted online via mySi-net. Requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with deferred examinations, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Applications can be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original exam.
• There are no provisions to defer a deferred exam. You need to be available to sit your deferred examination.
• Your deferred examination request(s) must have a status of "submitted" in mySI-net to be assessed.
• All applications for deferred in-semester examinations are assessed by the relevant school. Applications for deferred end-of-semester examinations are assessed by the Academic Services Division.
• You’ll receive an email to your student email account when the status of your application is updated.
• If you have a medical condition, mental health condition or disability and require alternative arrangements for your deferred exam you’ll need to complete the online alternative exam arrangements through my.UQ. This is in addition to your deferred examinations request. You need to submit this request on the same day as your request for a deferred exam or supplementary assessment. Contact Student Services if you need assistance completing your alternative exam arrangements request.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Guides will be distributed as part of the weekly Research Training Sessions.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.