Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit you must achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%.

Training & Inductions

It is essential that all students are prepared to undertake their research projects in compliance with the prevailing ethical, professional and health and safety standards. Training and induction components are, to some extent, discipline-specific; please check with the unit convener or your mentor. In all cases, students must undertake the relevant discipline-specific training and induction, and provide evidence of this to the unit convener. If students do not meet this requirement, they may not be allowed to proceed with their research project.

Engagement – please read, as this is very important!

As a BPhil / Graduate Diploma / MRes Year 1 student you are becoming part of our community of researchers. You need to be an active participant in the unit's activities. You will be expected to be an active particpant in discussions, ask questions and engage with your cohort, and proactively work to find your place in our diverse research community. 

Academic Honesty

Presenting the work of another person as one’s own is a serious breach of the University’s rules and carries significant penalties. In this unit, we will be checking written work for plagiarism using TurnItIn. Penalties for plagiarism may include a zero mark for the assignment or, in more extreme cases, failure of the unit. Plagiarism will be noted on your academic record. (link: Academic Integrity Policy)

Due dates and assessement topics

This unit is flexible by design. Each student will be undertaking a unique project with different academic mentors. See iLearn for more information about placement plans, but your placement plan will specify the due date and the content for each of your unit deliverables. It will also need to identify 2 or 3 suitable assessors from within your School who could be asked to second-mark your final written report. These assessors cannot be involved in your research or the research group you will be part of for the duration of your project.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark of the task) will be applied for each day a written report or presentation assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. The submission time for all uploaded assessments is 11:55 pm. A one-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical issue. For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, please apply for Special Consideration, and notify the unit convenor to let them know a Special Consideration application has been lodged. 

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted 

In this unit, late submissions will accepted for written work, but: 

• All training and inductions MUST be completed prior to starting work. 
• See marking guidance on iLearn or consult the convenor(s) for additional information. 

Special Consideration

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through https://connect.mq.edu.au.

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Hurdle	Due
Placement plan	15%	No	Week 2
Oral presentation	20%	No	Weeks 11 or 12 (pending scheduling)
Professional reflection	15%	No	Week 13
Placement deliverable	50%	No	Week 13

Training and Inductions

Assessment Type ¹: Portfolio Indicative Time on Task ²: 3 hours Due: Prior to commencing project work Weighting: 0%

This is essential for commencing your research project.

Complete required WHS, ethics and other required training and induction prior to starting research work.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of your WHS, ethical and other legal obligations to create a risk assessment and management plan for your research.
• Identify, apply and evaluate research methods.
• Work professionally with a research mentor, and other research collaborators as required, to plan and undertake research.

Placement plan

Assessment Type ¹: Plan Indicative Time on Task ²: 12 hours Due: Week 2 Weighting: 15%

Complete a placement plan outlining the research to be done and outlining any required WHS, ethics or other required training or inductions that need to be completed prior to starting your research placement.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of your WHS, ethical and other legal obligations to create a risk assessment and management plan for your research.
• Identify, apply, evaluate and communicate your research activities and findings in oral and written form.
• Maintain appropriate records of your research activities and utilise these records to reflect on your initial project plan.
• Work professionally with a research mentor, and other research collaborators as required, to plan and undertake research.

Oral presentation

Assessment Type ¹: Presentation Indicative Time on Task ²: 10 hours Due: Weeks 11 or 12 (pending scheduling) Weighting: 20%

Oral presentation in relation to your research placement. On successful completion you will be able to:

• Identify, apply, evaluate and communicate your research activities and findings in oral and written form.
• Demonstrate competence in the skills and techniques required to undertake your research.
• Maintain appropriate records of your research activities and utilise these records to reflect on your initial project plan.
• Work professionally with a research mentor, and other research collaborators as required, to plan and undertake research.

Professional reflection

Assessment Type ¹: Reflective Writing Indicative Time on Task ²: 10 hours Due: Week 13 Weighting: 15%

A reflection on your research placement in the context of your:

1. project plan: including the proposed activities and timeline.
2. research and career goals.  

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Identify, apply, evaluate and communicate your research activities and findings in oral and written form.
• Demonstrate competence in the skills and techniques required to undertake your research.
• Maintain appropriate records of your research activities and utilise these records to reflect on your initial project plan.
• Work professionally with a research mentor, and other research collaborators as required, to plan and undertake research.

Placement deliverable

Assessment Type ¹: Report Indicative Time on Task ²: 23 hours Due: Week 13 Weighting: 50%

A report on your research placement. The content and format of this report should be as presented in your placement plan. On successful completion you will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of your WHS, ethical and other legal obligations to create a risk assessment and management plan for your research.
• Identify, apply, evaluate and communicate your research activities and findings in oral and written form.
• Demonstrate competence in the skills and techniques required to undertake your research.
• Maintain appropriate records of your research activities and utilise these records to reflect on your initial project plan.
• Work professionally with a research mentor, and other research collaborators as required, to plan and undertake research.

¹ If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

• the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
• the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

² Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Finding research mentors:

You are encouraged to be proactive in seeking potential mentors, but school advisor and the unit convenor are here to help. Prior to or at the start of Week 1, and if necessary, the unit convenor will distribute a limited list of potential projects. In addition there are a some resources that are worth looking at:

• Macquarie University Research Portal 
• Macquarie University Supervsor Database (note this links the above)
• Previous / current students

We specifically use the term "mentor" rather than "supervisor" to make a clear distinction between a year 2 supervisor, and the year 1 mentors who you will work with in this unit. Working with a particular mentor during a year 1 placement does not obligate you (or your mentor) to supervise you in a year 2 project. We want you to use this opportunity to help find the best possible supervisor / topic match for you.

Most of this unit will take place in consultation with your mentor / outside of time-tabled locations and times. The unit convenor is available to help you navigate the transition to an active participant in your research group, but the goal is to let you and your mentor opperate as independently as possible!

In principle, students are expected to work one day a week throughout the semester on their projects. Most often this will be the Friday, but this can be negotiated individually with your mentor. Students will additionally be expected to spend one full week during the mid-semester break on their projects.

Formal class sessions will be held every second week, some in conjunction with the FOSE7901 cohort. Please see the unit's iLearn pages for practical details.