MSc guided research

Course goals

• preparing and initiating a research project;
• analysing and processing data;
• writing a research report. 

 

Content

Choosing the right course code
GEO4-1521 - default - 15 / 22,5 / 30EC
GEO4-4437 or GEO4-1523 - advanced course - 7,5EC
GEO4-4416 - extra guided research/internship- 15 / 22,5 / 30 EC
(for 2nd internship max 15 EC)

Procedure and content
The topic of the Guided Research has to fit within, or has strong links with, one of the Earth Sciences programmes. The methodology can be based on literature studies but can also include practical activities such as: fieldwork, lab-work or computer-based simulation/modelling. In any case, a permanent member of the scientific staff of the department of Earth Sciences or Physical Geography is responsible for the supervision and research assessment. Postdocs and PhD-students may be involved in the daily supervision. It is possible that the Guided Research project is performed at another academic or non-academic institution. In this case, a staff member at the host institution will be in charge of the daily supervision who is typically then also the second supervisor. If the project does not involve a second supervisor, a second reviewer has to be assigned to the project. Typically, the second reviewer is only involved in the assessment of the report. However, the second reviewer takes over the responsibilities of the first supervisor if necessary.
 
As part of the project prepares an individual report written in English. This report is a stand-alone document and it is inadmissible that it text overlaps with any other report/thesis, including those produced by the student himself/herself.
 
The credit load of a Guided Research can vary between 15 and 30 ECTS credits in steps of 7.5 ECTS credits.
 
Before starting a Guided Research project, the project must be agreed by the first supervisor and approved by the Teaching Institute Earth Sciences.
If the student and supervisor agree upon the Guided Research project, the student must enroll for the Guided Research course with the appropriate course code (see above) using the regular course registration procedure in Osiris Student (see https://students.uu.nl/en/geo →programme →Practical Matters →Enrolment/Registration ).
Subsequently, the project needs to be registered and submitted for approval to the Teaching Institute, before the project is started. A Guided Research project agreement form needs to be filled out, signed and submitted in Osiris Case. A template of the agreement form can be found in the Brightspace environment.

• Log in to Osiris Student
• Go to Zaken / Cases
• Start a new case
• Read the instructions carefully

The agreement form contains the following information:

• Name and student number
• Title of the project
• Name of the first supervisor
• The name and affiliation of a second reviewer 
• Host institution and contact person if applicable.
• Number of ECTS
• Project description          
• Time planning of the project including start and finish date and calculation of the total number of working hours.        

In case that the Guided Research project involves fieldwork, the proposal also includes the signed Declaration regarding safety and behavior during excursions and fieldwork. The form and the related safety regulations and guidelines can be obtained/downloaded from the Master Earth Sciences Guided Research community on Brightspace (https://uu.brightspace.com/). Note that assessing the risks of the planned  fieldwork and discussing these risks with the student is the task of the supervisor and part of the safety procedure.
 
The proposal has to be signed by the student and the first supervisor 
 
During the project, it is expected that the student does all in his/her power to fulfill the commitments agreed on in the Guided Research proposal and to ensure that the progress of the project is as planned. A delay in finalizing the project of more than four weeks after the intended end date has to be reported and justified by the student to the Teaching Institute. A request of postponing the date of completion has to be supported by the supervisor and has to include an updated time planning. Delayed completion of the Guided Research project without approval by the supervisor can lead to its rejection.

At the end of the Guided Research project, after sufficient feedback and discussion of the the first draft of the report by the first and/or second supervisor/examiner, the examiners grade the research project with a pass/fail. The assessment of the Guided research project will be based on the Guided research Rubric Earth Sciences. 

Further information including the required forms can be found in the Guided Research community on Brightspace (https://uu.brightspace.com).