This module will allow you to apply the knowledge learned in other modules in a significant data science project. You have two options for the selection of your project report:

Option 1. A research project carried out in the employer’s workplace as part of the apprentice’s day to day activities.

Option 2. If your employer does not support this activity as part of the Degree Apprenticeship, then you are free to complete another data science project on a topic of your choice. It may still be related to your organisation, or alternatively, it may be based on any other case study which allows you to collect data and complete theoretical analysis and/or practical software design and implementation. It may be based on your own idea or area of interest, or it could be on a topic proposed and defined by an Academic at the Computer Science Department of the University.

The module will develop your project planning, management and implementation skills as well as those in independent learning, presentation and writing. This will also be an opportunity to gain experience in the implementation of a data science project within your organisation or elsewhere, and to develop your understanding of the business requirements of such projects if you choose Option 1. The module further aims to build on the knowledge and skills you have acquired in the taught modules of the programme to allow you to investigate an area of particular interest to you. It aims to give you experience of many aspects of research work, including problem formulation, literature review, planning, tool development, experimentation, analysis and presentation of results.

Pre-requisites: Work-based project

Corequisites: None

This module is a part of the dual-qualification MSc Data Science (Professional) / Level 7 Research Scientist Apprenticeship programme. It cannot be taken as an elective by students on other programmes.

The apprenticeship standard and other documentation relating to the Level 7 Research Scientist Apprenticeship can be found here: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/research-scientist-v1-0.

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

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge 

1. Demonstrate knowledge of a research topic of relevance to your MSc programme, acquired through a deep and self-motivated exploration of that topic. 

2. Design and follow systematically the phases of research project development. 

3. Apply sophisticated and appropriate analysis and development techniques at each stage of a project. 

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge 

4. Show familiarity with the background and context of a new application area. 

5. Produce full documentation as appropriate to the system and research. 

6. Work in an interdisciplinary area. 
 

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge 

7. Conduct independent study, including library and web-based research. 

8. Reflect critically on processes and products. 

9. Plan an extended project and manage time effectively. 

10. Present work to a non-specialist audience. 

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. 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 required to re-take some or all parts of the assessment, as decided by the Module Convenor. The final mark given for a module where re-assessment was taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.