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Module Overview

Nutraceutical Final Year Project / Dissertation

Under the supervision of an academic staff member, students carry out a final year research project that addresses a central question or issue in depth, allowing independent or team investigations into a relevant area followed by individual compilation of a written dissertation based on critical evaluation and reflection.
Project research and associated assessments on project management, writing and presentation skills are normally completed within one semester.
A range of final year project types are possible to ensure students have the opportunity to address interdisciplinary issues, to facilitate different types of learners and to promote engagement with community, industry and international partners.
If the project is performed in an external host institution or industrial setting, the student(s) will have an external supervisor as well as a nominated DIT supervisor to support assessment.
Each of the project types may be carried out nationally or internationally through an Erasmus stage.
The following final year project types are offered:

  1. Individual Research led laboratory projects: Students undertake an individual program of research in the laboratory of their project supervisor, often contributing to ongoing research projects within that laboratory. 

  2. Group laboratory projects: students work collaboratively in a team of up to 4, to undertake a program of research, based in either their supervisors research laboratory or the teaching laboratories. 

  3. Critical Review Projects (with linked grant proposal aligned with IRC template): students undertake a hypothesis driven critical review of the literature in a specific area/topic aligned with the research interests of the student and the research supervisor. The grant proposal is then defended. 

  4. Survey project: Students undertake a public survey project on a relevant topical, policy or regulatory issue. 

  5. Industry based research project: students may undertake their research project in a pre-approved commercial or industry setting, often following on from the work placement stage. This is differentiated from a work placement stage as the student performs a company relevant research project which is not a continuation of the day to day functions of the work placement role. 

  6. Science and Society Project: students create, deliver and evaluate an interactive curriculum enhancing teaching resource for either local primary or secondary schools. 

  7. Science alive in the Community: students engage with new suitable community partners or with existing initiatives to develop, investigate or evaluate a scientific aspect of public or community concern or relevance. 

  8. Educational development project: students develop and evaluate new teaching methods or learning resources for use in undergraduate teaching, 
either individually or in a small teams to support ongoing teaching activities.
  9. Inherited Research project: students inherit a project from a previous year and build on this project through making improvements and additions to produce a publishable report or journal article. The improvements /additions made to the inherited work are then defended. 

Module Code

TFPJ 4002

ECTS Credits

20

*Curricular information is subject to change

Choice of research topic and contacting supervisor and external party where applicable. Appraisal of research ethics and risk assessment for project of choice. Approval to commence project.
Introduction to research laboratory/product development facilities and protocols where applicable.

Introduction to research methodology.
Introduction to the preparation of an undergraduate dissertation. Searching literature, accessing information and using it correctly Familiarisation with DIT Library Services.
Drafting a literature review.
Planning research approach and methodology.
Collection and recording of results.
Compilation and submission of Mid Project progress report. Drafting of methodology and results chapters.
Finalising literature review, methodology and results chapters. Drafting of discussion and recommendations chapters. Finalising discussion and recommendations chapters. Completion of dissertation. Oral presentation where applicable.

Projects are offered and allocated on a preference and ranking basis in the Semester preceding the research semester.
Students are expected to submit their ethics and risk assessment by Week 1 to school office
Students are expected to commence projects on Week 1 of the research semester.

Each student or group of students is allocated a supervisor to support their individual or group based project research project.
Supervisors will guide the students on a one to one or group basis.
Students are expected to communicate regularly with their supervisor in order to progress the research project and complete assessments in a timely manner within the research Semester.

Students are also required to attend the research support module (TFPJ4000) either in person or online, which complements the role of the individual supervisor.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown %
Other Assessment(s)100