Research Project

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Students should discuss this with their supervisor but as a guide, a student enrolled in a 50 point research project subject would be expected to be engaged in their research for an average of forty hours per week or 800 hours for the semester. Students enrolled in a 37.5, 25 or 12.5 point research subject would be expected to be engaged in their research on a pro-rata basis.

Students must satisfy the requirements for entry into the Master of Science (Mathematics and Statistics program).

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It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this with the subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

In this subject, students undertake a substantial research program in the area of Mathematics and Statistics. The research will be conducted under the supervision of a member of the Department's academic staff. A list of the research interests of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics is outlined on the website of the Department. The results will be reported in the form of a thesis and an oral presentation.

After completing this subject students should have:

• discovered the challenge of research in Mathematics and Statistics;
• a deeper knowledge of Mathematics and Statistics;
• completed a substantial piece of research; and
• a sound preparation for future research in Mathematics or Statistics.

The assessment requirements below are applicable to the entire 50 point Research Project.

• A preliminary literature survey and research plan (of 2 pages) is due at the end of week eight of the first research project enrolment semester (hurdle; pass/fail ).
• A thesis (90% of assessment) is the main requirement due after the full 50 points of enrolment in the research project component, Theses are expected to be 60-80 pages in length, excluding references, appendices, figures and tables. Two bound hard copies of the thesis are to be submitted two weeks prior to the end of the teaching period in the final semester of Research project enrolment;
• students will have to give 30 minute presentations (10% of assessment) on their research projects in the last week of that teaching period, on a date to be announced by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the beginning of semester.

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This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Upon completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:

• problem-solving skills including the ability to engage with unfamiliar problems, identify relevant solution strategies and conduct research;
• analytical skills through the ability to construct and express logical arguments and to work in abstract or general terms to increase the clarity and efficiency of analysis;
• presentation skills, both written and oral; and
• time management skills: the ability to meet regular deadlines while balancing competing commitments.

Students will need to use a document preparation program such as LaTeX.