IC305: Research Project

Module code: IC305

Module provider: ICMA Centre; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Charles Sutcliffe, email: c.sutcliffe@icmacentre.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: na

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim of the Research Project is to allow students to define and execute a piece of research in finance on a topic of their choice, with direction from an academic supervisor. 

Students choose a finance question that is of interest to them, and produce a Research Project which addresses their question.

The Research Project almost always involves the analysis of data. At the start, each student is allocated an academic supervisor who offers advice on their Research Project.

Student assessment is based solely on the quality of their Research Project, which is submitted at the end of the Semester 2 Assessment Window.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

• demonstrate report-writing skills, structure their study, and place their findings in the wider context. 
• draw conclusions from a data set. 
• be resourceful in their search for relevant literature and data, and to manage the various stages involved effectively, leading to timely submission of the finished piece. 
• develop a deep knowledge and expertise in their chosen area of finance, which can help when applying for jobs, or form the basis for further research.

Module content

At the start of Semester 2, students select a research question in finance, and are then allocated an academic supervisor. The supervision continues until the end of the Semester 2, and the Research Project is handed in at the end of the Semester 2 Assessment Window. The examiners will assess Research Projects according to the following learning outcomes: 

• Topic/Objective: Is the topic adequately introduced and motivated? What is its practical relevance? 
• Organization/Structure:  Is the Research Project well-structured in an orderly and logical fashion? Are the empirical results sufficiently interpreted?
• Flow: Is the Research Project well written? Are the various sections well connected?
• Understanding/Independence: Does the student have a good understanding of the topic? Is there evidence of independent research?
• Novelty: How original is the Research Project? 
• Sophistication/Technical Level: What is the level of the methodology used in the Research Project? Is it understood and clearly expressed?
• Effort: What level of effort was demonstrated by the student?
• Presentation: Does the Research Project use clear English with no spelling, grammatical or typographical mistakes, and are the graphs and tables easily comprehensible.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

An initial lecture will be held at the beginning of Semester 2 to explain the objectives and required format of the Research Project.

Students will then be asked to submit a formal proposal soon after, early in Semester 2, and be allocated an academic supervisor who will offer feedback and constructive comment on the proposal.

Work will then commence on the Research Project.

Study hours

At least 3 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

40%

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Meetings with supervisor to discuss progress and provide feedback on the preliminary proposal, draft outline and interim report.

Reassessment

Additional costs