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Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• Provide a solid grounding in knowledge, understanding and research methods of the interdisciplinary field of energy demand reduction in the built environment.
• Establish understanding of the UK energy landscape and how energy and climate change challenges are interlinked through technical, environmental and behavioural factors.
• Provide the skills necessary to support research practice, critical assessment, and the use of evidence on technical, environmental, social and economic factors influencing energy demand in buildings and building stocks.
• To develop students’ transferable skills enabling them to successfully manage, communicate, and lead complex research projects.
• Provide real experience of research through the generation, development and implementation of a significant research-based dissertation.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

The following are pertinent:

• QAA Benchmark statements for engineering.
• Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.
• 天堂视频 Learning and Teaching Strategy
• EPSRC Energy Programme objectives of expanding research capacity in energy-related areas and to address perceived weakness in postdoctoral training in energy demand (EPSRC, Energy Landscape documentation, January 2009)
• University definition of MRes, Learning and Teaching Committee, PDQ Team, Nov. 2005.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the following areas:

• Energy demand and its historical, technical, social, economic and policy context.
• Future energy pathways.
• The UK energy supply system, including fossil fuels, electricity, renewables and nuclear.
• Methods for building energy modelling.
• Energy services systems in buildings and low energy building design.
• Quantitative and qualitative measurement and survey methods.
• Calibration, data gathering and sampling.
• Data analysis and representation.
• The social environment and its effects on energy demand attitudes and behaviours.
• Energy economics and energy policy.
• The design of a research project to explore a defined research question.
• The energy and buildings research landscape and the state of the art of the chosen field of research.
• The principles of project management.
• Presentation of research findings in diverse ways appropriate to different audiences.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should have the ability to:

• Critically review literature and place research in context.
• Demonstrate critical thinking and critically the ability to define and address complex problems.
• Analyse and interpret evidence and data.
• Critically discuss energy policy and its links to science and engineering.
• Develop a method to collect data and produce results relevant to the solution of a defined problem.
• Evaluate results, draw conclusions and make recommendations.
• Construct research questions and formulate hypotheses, aims and objectives.
• Employ appropriate data analysis and presentation tools to convey meaning clearly.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

Students acquire subject-specific skills in a number of areas but in the context of this MRes, students will be challenged to go beyond the analysis of a set problem and be required to apply the computer methods and laboratory and field monitoring skills to more open ended problems.  As researchers they will be expected to have an ability to clarify the research question, to plan their ‘experimental’ approach and to implement that plan effectively to solve more open ended problems.

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Develop a research strategy.
• Use a range of modelling and analysis techniques.
• Communicate complex information in oral and written forms using appropriate tools.
• Develop a research dissertation proposal and plan and execute a research project.
• Conduct a literature review.
• Collect data through laboratory experiments, field work or desk-based studies and perform appropriate analysis.
• Select and use quantitative and qualitative research methods.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Understand research methodologies and their application to specific research problems.
• Interact professionally with others to achieve a common goal.
• Understand organisational structures and frameworks.
• Manage personal time.
• Plan personal professional development.
• Demonstrate awareness of research ethics, issues of confidentiality and data protection, intellectual property and copyright.

4. Programme structure

All students will study 6 modules of 15 credits and undertake a research project leading to a dissertation. There will be a compulsory intensive block week module at  the start of Semester 1 and thereafter a further three modules will be taken in Semester 1 and a further two compulsory modules in Semester 2.  All modules are compulsory. 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Not applicable.