ASP5001 - Advanced astrophysics research project A - 2019

12 points, SCA Band 2, 0.250 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Science

Organisational Unit

School of Physics and Astronomy

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Michael J Morgan

Coordinator(s)

Professor Michael J Morgan

Not offered in 2019

Prerequisites

Enrolment in the Master of Science

Notes

This unit will be offered from Semester 2, 2021

Synopsis

Students undertake a research project involving original work on a topic chosen in consultation with an academic supervisor. The topic may be a continuation of research completed in ASP4002Not offered in 2019, enabling a deeper insight into a larger research problem. In this case, it is expected that the research outcomes will also be suitable for submission for publication in a peer-reviewed international journal.

Alternatively, the project may be a separate topic to ASP4002Not offered in 2019, but the student must display a more mature research methodology than was required for ASP4002Not offered in 2019.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

  1. Understand, use and explain the basic concepts and principles of the research literature which underpin the chosen area of astrophysics research.
  2. Synthesise and interpret the knowledge gained in the study of the underpinning research literature. This leads to the ability to identify a niche topic or topics within this existing body of literature, which represents a gap in current knowledge. This problem should be suitable for original research.
  3. Solve an outstanding problem or problems in the chosen area for original research.
  4. Present the results of the original research in written form as an interim thesis, and also present key thesis results in oral form as an interim seminar.

Assessment

Interim seminar 25%

Interim thesis 75%

Workload requirements

24 hours per week which includes 18 hours of independent research; 4 hours of literature review, interim seminar and interim thesis preparation (averaged over the semester); attendance at group meetings, seminars colloquia equivalent to 1 hour per week; specialist training and consultation with a supervisor, 1 hour each per fortnight.

See also Unit timetable information

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Master of Science in Astrophysics