Project A (PHYS7712)

Course overview

This course provides a short introduction to research in physics. Students choose a topic and a supervisor, and submit a written report by the end of semester.

Course requirements

Incompatible

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

PHYS6710 or PHYS6711

Restrictions

Permission of Head of School

Course contact

Timetable

Additional timetable information

This is a research project course, and as such there are no regularly scheduled contact hours. As a #2-unit subject, you are expected to contribute 12 hrs per week (respective of the shorter semester time frame) towards your research project.

You should have regular meetings as agreed with your supervisor. Typically this is one hour a week. You may find the provided document "ResearchProjectExpectations.pdf" on Blackboard useful in setting the expectations for roles in these regular meetings.

You need to map out a program of work with your supervisor in the early weeks of your project, as background to your project plan (due end of 2nd week), and discuss updates of the program at regular intervals.

Aims and outcomes

The aim of the research project is to develop the research skills of the student by carrying out a small project at the cutting edge of a specialised area of physics.ﾠ

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

Outline of research

• Hurdle

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

pass/resubmit/fail (100% penalty for fail/non-completion)

Due date

7/03/2025 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L03

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Submit via email to the course coordinator.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

A timely submission of the research outline is required in order to receive feedback and to ensure that the project can be successfully completed during semester. Hence an extension beyond 7 days is not possible.

 See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. Failure to submit by the due date will result in a fail for this item and a 100% penalty for the course, unless an extension has been approved.

Research report

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

100%

Due date

Exam week 1, Mon 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit via email to course coordinator.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item a penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item, or one grade per day if graded on the basis of 1-7, 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.

Interview

• Hurdle

Mode

Oral

Category

Examination

Weight

Helps examiners determine thesis grade (100% penalty for fail/non-submission)

Due date

Exam week 1 Mon - Exam week 2 Fri

The interview should occur during the exam period. Failure to attend the interview will result in a 100% penalty and failure for the course. If you have circumstances (documented), please email the course coordinator within 5 days to seek rescheduling the interview.

Learning outcomes

L02, L04

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

The interview should occur during the exam period. Failure to attend the interview will result in a 100% penalty and failure for the course. If you have circumstances (documented), please email the course coordinator within 5 days to seek rescheduling the interview.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Course grading

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

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 in this course will be a resubmission of the research report after revision. To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment. 

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.

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

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

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

Additional learning activity information

Students will be required to carry out an independent project on a topic agreed between the supervisor and the student.  The project is largely self-directed but students should meet regularly with their supervisor to discuss progress, problems and direction of their research.

The Research Report will be written in the style of an Industry Technical Report, with details on report formatting and marking criteria provided on Blackboard.

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.