TU 415_Stage 2&3_Research Only
Stage 2 and 3 (Research only) Assessment etc.
Students who successfully complete stage 1 of the programme are eligible to transfer to the MSc in aBIMM (Research) subject to satisfactory performance in the Research Skills module.
When students choose the research stream, both stage 2 and 3 modules are fully graded and the award is classified (i.e. 1st/2.1/2.2/Pass) on the basis of the following calculation.
((Research Skills*5)+(Capstone Experience*55))/60
Research Skills
The Research Skills module is typically delivered during the second semester of Stage 1 with submission of the Capstone Experience (Major) proposal on the approved template in early June.
Students who wish to undertake the Capstone Experience including Agile Project Management (Major) module are required to take part in a number of additional Major Capstone Experience Workshops (MCEW) to ensure that the additional requirements of a major capstone are fully understood and to support the students in identifying a research question/hypothesis, methodology, and potential solution that are of sufficient merit.
Students will be provided with a list of journal papers that are typical of the outputs expected from the Major CE and conference papers representing typical outputs from a Minor CE. At the end of the workshop period, students can present a draft Major Research Proposal for appraisal by members of the Programme Team or they can revert to submitting a research proposal for the Capstone Experience with Agile Project Management (Minor) module. If the latter option is chosen, the minor CE can only be undertaken after successful completion of the standard Stage 2 modules.
In the case of the draft submission for the Capstone Experience with Agile Project Management (Major) module, the learner is given a Green, Amber or Red decision.
o A Green outcome indicates that the calibre and scale of the intended work meets with the requirements of a major Capstone Experience. The student then improves the proposal, based on feedback, and formally submits it for grading according to the requirements of the Research Methods module.
o An Amber outcome indicates that the team considers that the intended work could, with improvement, meet with the requirements of the major Capstone Experience. The student will then receive individual feedback and will have the opportunity to continue to discuss their intended project with members of the Programme Team. The student may choose to submit a 2nd (final) draft of the major Research Proposal. If the proposal is deemed sufficient, the student proceeds as per the Green instructions above. If this proposal is deemed insufficient, the process is as per the Red outcome detailed below.
o A Red outcome indicates that there is significant concern that the scale and calibre of the project is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the Capstone Experience with Agile Project Management (Major) and identifies that the learner must fundamentally rewrite the proposal. The student will then receive individual feedback and will have the opportunity to continue to discuss their intended project with members of the Programme Team. At this point, if the Programme Team judge that a small amount of correction to the proposal is sufficient to meet the requirements of the Capstone Experience with Agile Project Management (Minor), the student will be advised of the option to switch to that stream of the programme. If the student does not wish to undertake the minor CE and wants instead to make another attempt at preparing a major research proposal, they will be required to retake the MCEW again at the next opportunity. The assessment of the Research Methods module will be deferred until completion of the 2nd round of MCEW interaction. Failure to obtain a Green outcome at the end of a 2nd round of MCEW interaction means that student is only permitted to undertake the Capstone Experience with Agile Project Management (Minor) module. The student also has the option of exiting the programme with the award of Postgraduate Certificate in BIM Technologies, subject to successful completion of 30 credits of approved modules.
A maximum of 4 drafts of research proposal submission of the major CE is permitted for any student. After 4 drafts without obtaining a Green outcome students must either switch to the Capstone Experience with Agile Project Management (Minor) module or exit the programme with one of the lower awards.
Students who have successfully passed the Research Skills module at their first attempt will be given priority allocation of places for supervision.
Capstone Experience
The Major Capstone Experience handbook details all of the requirements of that 55-ECTS credit module.
Penalties for Late Submission
Late submissions are handled through TU Dublin's Personal Circumstances progress detailed here.
The implications of late submission without valid reason (i.e. because of reasons detailed as not acceptable on the institute's Personal Circumstance 1 form linked above) are both academic and financial.
Academic
The result of the module will be recorded as Refer in the standard academic session. This will be permanently recorded on your Student Transcript.
When your results are issued by the Examinations Office in June / July, you will receive a Supplemental Exam Form and you are required to follow the instructions for registering as detailed at: https://www.tudublinsu.ie/advice/exams/supplementalexams/
Although our programme has no examinations, the repeat assessments are handled under DIT's Supplemental Examination process.
Financial
When registering for supplemental assessment, an appropriate fee must be paid as detailed at:
Reassessment
If you fail to reach the required standard for passing a module, you can repeat that module at the next available sitting (typically the supplemental period in Autumn).
Reassessment after Supplementals
In any module, if a student has not reached the required standard after reassessment during the supplementals, the module must be repeated as an External or Internal repeat as detailed at the "Student Services Forms" Link HERE
Internal repeats require the approval of the School because of the resource implications (i.e. is sufficient space available in the class).
If you register to repeat externally, you must record that registration with smdt.adm@tudublin.ie and contact the associated module lecturer as soon as possible to ensure that sufficient time is available to successfully complete the assessment, which may be different from the assessment that was set at the original sitting and/or supplemental).