2024-2025 QMES Final Year Project Handbook Issue Date: 8th October 2024

Queen Mary University of London

Engineering School and
Northwestern Polytechnical
University

Handbook for Final Year Project

(Dissertation)

QXU6021 and QXU6035

2024-2025

Please check the module on QMPlus for

the latest announcements and updates to these instructions.
 Contents
(Dissertation) ........................................................................................................................ 1
Contents ............................................................................................................................... 2
0. General Provisions........................................................................................................... 3
1. Learning Objectives of the Project................................................................................... 4
2. Deadlines ......................................................................................................................... 5
3. Library Resources ............................................................................................................ 5
4. Getting started.................................................................................................................. 6
5. Engineering Logbook ....................................................................................................... 7
6. Feedback.......................................................................................................................... 7
7. Written Submissions ........................................................................................................ 7
8. Queen Mary Logo ............................................................................................................ 8
9. Plagiarism and Other Types of Misconduct..................................................................... 8
10. Viva ................................................................................................................................ 9
11. The Roles of the NPU Supervisor and QMUL Advisor ................................................. 9
12. Assessment.................................................................................................................. 11
13. Health and Safety ........................................................................................................ 12
APPENDIX 1 Guidelines for Project Reports .................................................................... 13
A.1 Preparation and Submission of Project Reports ........................................... 13
A.2 Notes on Contents of the Final Dissertation’s Sections ...................................... 13
APA Style References Guideline ........................................................................ 14
Important Notes: .................................................................................................. 16
APPENDIX 2 Provisional Guideline for Assessment Criteria for QMES Final Dissertation
............................................................................................................................................ 17
APPENDIX 3 ...................................................................................................................... 20
Laboratory Safety Regulations ................................................................................... 20
APPENDIX 4 Table of Abbreviations................................................................................. 23

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0. General Provisions
Overview of how the project will work:

The purpose of the final project is to provide in-depth knowledge of a particular research
area in Materials Science or Polymer Materials, allowing students to demonstrate their
research, analysis, and writing skills. The specific choice of research topic within the JEI
and JRI areas will depend on the student's degree program and personal interests. A
critical analysis of the literature will be a significant component of every project. The project
may also involve experimentation in an associated subject area approved by the NPU
supervisor and QMUL advisor. The co-mentorship will oversee the practical work of your
project, guide you in presenting the work in English, assist with writing the dissertation
report, and explain the assessment process of your project.

Table 1: Important dates.

NPU
Semester w/c Deadline Flow
Week
Students select up to 5
1-5 02-Sept-2024 13-Oct-2024
projects in the QMUL system
Publication of the final project
5-6 07-Oct-2024 15-Oct-2024 allocation list with NPU
A
supervisors and QM advisors
Submission of the “Rationale
13 25-Nov-2024 29-Nov-2024 aims and objectives (RAO)”
report. This is for NPU only.
Submission of the mid-term
3 03-Mar-2025 07-Mar-2025
report. This is for NPU only.
Opening date:
11-Apr-2025 Plagiarism checking using
07-
8 at 15.59 Turnitin and Zhi Wang
Apr-2025
(BST)/ 23.59 software.*
B (CST)
07-May-2025
at 15.59
12 05-May-2025 Final report submission**
(BST)/ 23.59
(CST)
13 12-May- 2025 18-May-2025 Vivas

* Plagiarism checking window will be open three weeks before the submission deadline.
Please check for plagiarism during this time to allow for any necessary revisions before
the final submission.
** It is mandatory to include the Risk Assessment in the appendix of the final report.

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1. Learning Objectives of the Project
Most students find their final year project to be one of the most rewarding parts of their
entire degree program. It is a chance to explore and focus on areas that interest them and
to learn about a career in research and development.
The main objectives of the project module are:

• To help students develop a critical approach to numerical analysis, produce and

use experimental data and/or published material.
• To gain insight into the process of conducting academic research and
development.
• To provide students with the opportunity to think independently, use their own
initiative, and demonstrate technical judgment.

The project modules also aim to align with the following graduate attributes:
1.4 Engineering knowledge: Students will have the ability in comparing and
synthesising engineering fundamentals and professional knowledge with
mathematical modelling methods for solutions to complex engineering problems in
materials science/polymer materials and engineering field.
2.2 Problem analysis: Students will have the ability in refining and modelling
complex engineering problems in the synthesis, modification, moulding and
processing, performance testing and engineering applications of materials
science/polymer materials, clarifying key stages and parameters.
3.4 Design/development of solutions: Students will have the ability in taking
safety, health, legal, cultural and environmental constraints into consideration
during the design, development and solving of complex engineering problems in
materials science/polymer materials.
4.3 Research: Students will have the ability to build an experimental set-up or
experimental platform, carrying out experiments safely, and collecting experimental
data correctly according to the research program and methods.
5.1 Use of modern tools: Students will understand the working principles and
methods of modern instruments, engineering tools, IT tools and simulation
software commonly used in materials science/polymer materials and engineering
fields, understanding their application areas.
10.2 Communication: Possess strong language expression abilities and foreign
language listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities, capable of basic
communication, exchange, and cooperation on the research, development, design,
and application of materials science/polymer materials in a cross-cultural context,
understanding domestic and international development trends, research hotspots
in the field, understanding and respecting the differences and diversity of cultures
around the world.

These objectives should be considered when managing your project and writing the final
dissertation. You will need to interact with other people, including technical staff,
postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and your supervisor at NPU and advisor at
QMUL, among others. You have been taught team skills, communication skills, and time
and project management in previous courses. During your studies in Years 1–3 at QMES,
you have had many opportunities to practice these and other transferable skills. Now, it is
your chance to apply them in a real project!
You will need to plan and manage your project; therefore, the time and project
management skills you have learned in your Personal Development Planning (PDP)
modules will be essential. You will need to critically review the available literature and
collect and appropriately cite relevant references. Additionally, you should sort, analyse,

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and review data, carry out any necessary calculations, and present your interpretation and
arguments to support your conclusions. Moreover, you need to conduct a risk assessment.
All these skills, combined with the ability to carry out an individual project, will be highly
valued by your future employers. You will need to present your project in a written
dissertation and in a public oral defence (viva) to an academic panel.
Your final year project offers an opportunity to bring together your knowledge, skills,
imagination, creativity, inventiveness, style, and adventurousness. It provides an
opportunity for you to express yourself in your subject and to explore the strategic and
stylistic implications of commitment to a research area. It allows you to make a real and
lasting contribution to the body of knowledge in your field.

2. Deadlines
The final project process has a very strict timeline, leaving no room for extensions. Failure
to submit work by the set deadlines will result in ZERO MARKS for that component of the
assessment. Excuses such as, "my hard drive crashed," "the photocopier jammed,"
"QMPlus was slow," or "I did not check my email" will NOT be accepted. It is your
responsibility to allow enough time before each deadline and to practice effective recording
and production of written material.
Ensure that you back up your drafts regularly (in at least two locations). One option is to
email the draft to yourself, as the email system will save a copy. The other is to use
OneDrive.

Table 2: Assessment deadlines and formats

Assessment deadlines Submission format
Marking criteria in appendix Table 2

29th November RAO (Rationale, aims and 1000-1300 words

2024 objectives report) (excluding references)
th
7 March 2025 Mid-term progress report 1000-1300 words
(excluding references)

7th May 2025 Final dissertation 7000±10% words

(excluding references)
12th-18th May Vivas 10-12 minutes talk plus 5-8 minutes for
2025 questions

The dates for the submission of the dissertation and the vivas are confirmed. Please
use the NPU Aoxiang system for RAO and mid-term report submission according to
the deadlines indicated in Table 2.

3. Library Resources
Besides the NPU Library, you can also access the QMUL Library from the Library
homepage at www.library.qmul.ac.uk. Through this portal, you have access to a wide
range of electronic materials and help resources. The QMUL Library introduced a new
Library Services Platform earlier in 2021. Some of the library pages are publicly accessible,

5
but due to copyright agreements, accessing certain restricted pages may require you to
log in using your barcode and PIN (password). At this point, you will use your QM
username and password.
To ensure access to journals and other resources, it is best to check their availability
through the electronic database. If you do not know your barcode and password, check
Mysis. When you log in to Mysis, your Library Number, which is your barcode (username)
for accessing the online library, will be displayed on the profile page. To reset your
password, follow the instructions here: https://sierra.library.qmul.ac.uk/pinreset.

4. Getting started
At the start of the 7th semester, you will be given a chance to select 5 projects. Each project
should have 3 keywords and a brief description of main aim and applications to help you
with the right choice. You will normally get your first choice. If two students chose the same
project preference, priority will be given to the student with the highest grades (GPA). Once
your choice is confirmed, you are free to start carrying out background research. You will
be assigned a project and mentorship team from NPU and QMUL. Your NPU supervisor
and QMUL advisor will arrange and schedule meetings. It is your responsibility to
check and respond to their emails and confirm the meetings. Your first official meeting
with your NPU supervisor and QMUL advisor is the essential first step to getting started.
Please contact them as soon as possible by email. Introduce yourself and your project and
keep regular contact with your mentorship team.

NOTE: Only a few QMUL advisors have WeChat accounts, so QMUL e-mails must be
used. Only a few read Chinese so please:
a) use your QMUL e-mail account, and
b) your name in English (Pinyin).

You should regularly meet with your NPU supervisor and hold at least 5 meetings
with your QMUL advisor. It is advisable to record meeting minutes as a record of your
discussion and add them to the Final Year Project section of your engineering logbook
(please see section 5 for further information). You can download the meeting minutes form
and project management form on QMPlus.

You must reach an agreement with your NPU supervisor on the details of your project,
including the specifics of the investigation, research question, research methodology,
aims, and objectives. Occasionally, high interest in a particular field may result in several
students working in similar areas, either from QMES or other schools. However, all topics
should remain within the JEI and JRI research areas. In such cases, it is crucial that each
investigation has an element of independence, ensuring that you deliver a unique piece of
work.

You cannot change the NPU supervisor and QMUL advisor without re-allocation by the
project Module Organisers (Dr Giuseppe Viola and Dr Shafique Ahmed at QMES-
[email protected]). Projects have been carefully assigned to ensure an even
distribution of staff workload and equitable supervision of all students. If you have any
issues with your mentorship team, please contact the Module Organisers for advice.

6
5. Engineering Logbook
You have already completed your engineering logbook for years 1-3 in PDP on OneNote
and it is essential that you also record your project work as well. The logbook is where you
will take notes of any meetings, record any data and compile information. You will also
include any concepts, sketches, equation developments, calculations, graphs, and
summaries of papers you have read including their full source details. You can use the
logbook forms already available to you for lab work and meeting minutes or create your
own. You are highly encouraged to keep this as it will help develop good practices and
prevents you from mislaying valuable information. It can also act as a source of evidence
if something goes wrong in your project (e.g., you lost your hard drive or get injured) or if
you discover something amazing and want to file a patent. You should create a new
section in your logbook and label it ‘Final Year Project’. You should then create new pages
for each step of your final year project journey.

6. Feedback
Your NPU supervisor and QMUL advisor will provide feedback and evaluation on your
performance. You will receive feedback and guidance during your regular meetings with
them. Make sure you show them your progress and ask questions during project meetings.
They can give you immediate feedback that will have a positive impact on your progress.
You will receive written feedback on your dissertation and viva at the end of the project
through the NPU Aoxiang system and QMPlus.

7. Written Submissions
You are required to produce three different written submissions during your final year
project: the Rationale, Aims and Objectives (RAO), the Mid-Term Report and the Final
Dissertation.

The RAO is the initial concept of your project and is considered a proposal and planning
document. In this document, you must explain your research questions, outline your
research objectives, and describe how you plan to execute your project. You should
include relevant references to show that you have begun reviewing the relevant literature.
It should be 1000-1300 words, excluding references, contents list, and cover sheet.

The Mid-Term Report is an opportunity to demonstrate the progress you have made in
your project. You will be required to present a summary of your achievements at mid-term,
discuss any issues or deviations from the original plans, and demonstrate that you have a
plan to complete your project on time. It should be 1000-1300 words, excluding references,
contents list, and cover sheet.

The Final Dissertation will contain all the aspects of the research you completed in the final
year. It is the most comprehensive version of your research and will carry the higher
contribution of the mark to the module. It should be 7000 words ±10%, excluding
references, contents list, and cover sheet.

The RAO and the Mid-Term Report should be submitted electronically in PDF format via
the NPU Aoxiang system. The Final Dissertation must be submitted on both NPU Aoxiang

7
system and QMPlus in PDF format. Please make sure you mark the document filename
using the following format: “QMUL and NPU student ID numbers and Project Title”.

For archiving the final dissertations at NPU, one printed copy should be submitted to the
QMES office and two electronic copies to the NPU Aoxiang system after you successfully
pass this final project module. The requirements for archiving at NPU will be provided by
email. Please check the latest announcements sent by email or placed in the module’s
forum on QM+.

8. Queen Mary Logo

The Queen Mary University logo is copyrighted and MUST NOT be reproduced by students.
Its presence on the official project covers indicates that these were produced by the
University. The presence of the logo on headers to report would indicate that the contents
of these pages were produced and verified by the University which is clearly not the case.

9. Plagiarism and Other Types of Misconduct

Any photocopied, scanned, downloaded or copied figures and text must be clearly
acknowledged and referenced. The project must not consist of cut and pasted material
from another author’s work. Even a literature survey project, which draws on existing
material, must be paraphrased. It must contain a significant contribution by the student,
i.e., comparing, contrasting, and critically discussing the published material. The
plagiarism software—Turnitin – will be used to check all projects. The projects that have
even small amounts of direct or indirect plagiarism (e.g., copying the structure of the
original source) as well as any other forms of misconduct (e.g., fake or AI generated
references) will be investigated under the Academic Integrity and Misconduct Policy. In
the past, students have lost significant amounts of marks for plagiarism and academic
misconduct investigation will likely prevent you from graduating that year.

Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s work as one’s own irrespective of

intention. Close paraphrasing; copying from the work of another person, including
another student; using the ideas of another person without proper acknowledgement;
and repeating work that you have previously submitted – at QM or at another institution
- without properly referencing yourself (known as ‘self-plagiarism’) shall also constitute
plagiarism.

Plagiarism in written reports is a serious examination offence, and when found guilty, you
will incur a severe penalty. This includes receiving zero in your project and consequently
not graduating, or in extreme cases, being expelled from the University.

Besides plagiarism, the Academic Regulations also specify the following fraudulent
behaviour that attracts the same severe penalties:
• fraudulent reporting of source material;
• fraudulent reporting of experimental results, research, or other investigative work
• collusion in the preparation or production of submitted work, unless such joint or
group work is explicitly permitted;
• use, or attempted use, of ghost-writing services for any part of assessment –
please note that having a third party proofread and change grammar and spelling
may fall into this category as well.

8
Your final dissertation should be submitted onto two systems for plagiarism checking
(Turnitin in QMplus for QMUL and Zhi Wang for NPU) before you submit the final version.

10. Viva
An Oral Viva (Viva Voce, meaning ‘with live voice’) will be scheduled during Week 13 of
Semester B. The presentation will be to your project mentorship team, a group of your
peers, possibly academic staff and outside visitors, face to face or online.

It is your responsibility to carefully check the viva arrangements and attend at the time
specified. An absence has the same consequences as an absence from any other
examination, i.e., the award of ZERO MARKS for this component. Only in exceptional
circumstances, where your absence is justified by acceptable independent evidence
(Extenuating Circumstances), will a substitute time be arranged at short notice, through
the rapid submission of a coursework extension.

Each Viva will be allocated 20 minutes. You will have 10-12 minutes to deliver your
presentation and will be stopped if you exceed this time limit. Since twelve minutes is a
very short time, so it is important that you concentrate on the key points of your report.
You should pay particular attention to:
• the clarity of your illustrations when viewed from the back of the room;
• the duration of your presentation;
• maintaining eye contact with the audience.

After the presentation there will be 5-8 minutes time for questions.

The Viva presentation must be delivered without reliance on pre-written notes. Past
experience has shown that reading from notes significantly diminishes audience
engagement and often results in unclear communication of key messages. To ensure
effective delivery, presenters are expected to speak naturally and confidently. Failure to
adhere to this requirement will lead to a mark reduction for this assessment.

11. The Roles of the NPU Supervisor and QMUL Advisor

Each Final Year Project is supported by the NPU supervisor and QMUL advisor.

The mentorship team is there to provide advice. You should arrange regular meetings and
provide draft written material for inspection in advance to receive feedback. Your QMUL
advisors will contact you by email to arrange the meeting. It is your responsibility to check
for and reply to those emails. If you have problems contacting either the NPU supervisor
or QMUL advisor, you should contact the QM module organisers Dr G. Viola and Dr S.
Ahmed at [email protected], and NPU Academic Office staff Ms Yufei Yang
([email protected]) and Ms Jiayu Zhang ([email protected]). Approach your NPU
supervisor to test out ideas and suggestions, to explore possible experiments and to gain
formative feedback on your own progress. It is not the role of the supervisor to
prescribe what you should do.
For NPU supervisors:
1. Ideological and political education shall be taught throughout the process of the Final
Year Project by NPU supervisors, together with the collaborative and innovative ability,
adherence to regulations and safety education.
2. Emphasise health and safety procedures and risk assessment, especially for the
experimental sessions in specific labs.

9
3. Communicate with QMUL advisor and co-guide students to make plans on the Final
Year Project;
4. Instruct students regularly (no less than once a week);
5. Supervise students to prepare themselves well before the viva; provide comments and
feedback related to working attitude, ability, quality and practical value of the students’
Final Year Project to the Viva Committee; offer suggestions about whether the student is
eligible for the viva;
6. In consultation with QMUL advisor evaluate students’ attitude and final dissertation
completion to make sure it meets the two universities’ criteria. Guide the students in the
preparation of RAO, mid-term report, final dissertation and viva.

For QMUL advisors:

1. Guide students with presenting and communicating the work in English including RAO,
literature review, mid-term report, final dissertation, presentation for the viva, etc;
2. Provide mentoring based on five workshops delivered in person or online to the whole
cohort of students. The workshops are followed by five group tutorials with advisors as
described in table below.

Table 3: list of workshops and relative information.

Date (NPU-
Session Title Session Topic Student Prerequisite Time
week)
Project TBD
Workshop 1 None W6, Sem A
Introduction [1 hour]
Tutorial Summary of project title W7-W9, Sem A Flexible
Tutorial 1
Introduction and research aims [Flexible] [1 hour]

Plagiarism TBD
Workshop 2 None W8, Sem A
Prevention [1 hour]

Examples of good and W9-W10, Sem A Flexible

Tutorial 2 Plagiarism Q&A*
bad practice (plagiarism) [Flexible] [1 hour]

TBD
Workshop 3 Health and Safety None W11, Sem A
[1 hour]
Health and Safety Summary of H&S risks for W12-W13, Sem Flexible
Tutorial 3
Q&A research projects A [Flexible] [1 hour]
TBD
Workshop 4 Scientific Writing None W1, Sem B
[1 hour]
Queries for final
Scientific Writing W2-W3, Sem B Flexible
Tutorial 4 dissertation structuring
Q&A [Flexible] [1 hour]
advice
TBD
Workshop 5 Scientific Talks None W4, Sem B
[1 hour]
Scientific Talks Queries for viva W5-6, SEM B Flexible
Tutorial 5
Q&A presentation advice [Flexible] [1 hour]
*Students will be required to undertake an online course on plagiarism as well and get
the plagiarism certificate as a mandatory requirement before submitting the final
dissertation. The link to the course and further instructions will be provided during the
workshop.

10
12. Assessment
The projects will be marked using the marking criteria available on QMPlus. Grade Related
Assessment Criteria shown in Appendix 2is given for guidance.

The mentorship team will be responsible for evaluating your RAO, mid-term report,
presentation, literature review, your progress and attitudes. Together with the academic
panel they will play a role in defining the mark for your viva. They will assign the marks for
your final dissertation, together with an independent second marker.

Table 4: Assessment instructions

Deadlines Submissions Guidelines QM marking NPU marking Comments
scale scale

29th Nov RAO 1000-1300 No submission No grades Feedback will

2024 (Rationale, words required. are given. be provided by
Aims and (excluding However, However, NPU supervisor
Objectives) references) it is a pre- it is a pre-
report requirement to requirement
submit the final to submit the
dissertation. final
dissertation.
7th Mid-term 1000-1300 No submission No grades Feedback will
March progress words required. are given. be provided by
2025 report (excluding However, However, NPU supervisor
references) it is a pre- it is a pre-
requirement to requirement
submit the final to submit the
dissertation. final
dissertation.
7th May Final 7000±10% 60% 60% Examined by
2025 dissertation words QMUL advisor,
(excluding NPU supervisor
references) and
Independent
Examiners
(NPU and
QMUL
members of
academic staff)
12th-18th Viva 10-12 40% 40% Determined by
May 2025 minutes talk the viva panel
plus 5-8
minutes for
questions

11
13. Health and Safety
All projects must be conducted in accordance with the current School Safety Regulations,
which all project students are required to follow. It is compulsory for all students whose
projects will involve experimental work to attend the Health & Safety workshop. A current
risk assessment for the project must be completed, signed by you, and included in the
appendix of your report. Students will not be allowed to begin any experimental work
until all necessary forms have been completed.
It should be noted that different schools within NPU may have additional safety
requirements, as may certain laboratories. It is your responsibility to ensure you are
familiar with these requirements before carrying out any laboratory work.

Please remember that even if you are doing a purely computer-based project you still need
to complete a Risk Assessment. Factors to be considered include inability to access
campus; possibility to sit properly in good light so that you do not develop a bad back or
eye strain; undertake an eyesight check before starting to ensure you have the required
glasses; Etc….

NOTE: It is mandatory to include the Risk Assessment in the appendix of the final
dissertation.

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 APPENDIX 1 Guidelines for Project Reports

A.1 Preparation and Submission of Project Reports

The templates for proposal report (RAO), mid-term progress report and final dissertation
(with the standard front cover) are attached to QMPlus module pages and QQ group.
Please be noted that there are also four covers named “for NPU ONLY” to be used for
NPU archiving.

Rationale, Aims and Objectives (RAO). 1000 – 1,300 words excluding

references

Note that ALL word limits do not include figures, tables, references, etc.
*Rationale means the background and motivation to your project, in brief “why?”.

One electronic copy should be prepared and submitted on NPU Aoxiang system. The file
name should be “QMUL & NPU student ID numbers Project Title”. One printed copy should
be submitted to the QMES office.

Mid-term progress report. 1,000 – 1,300 words excluding references

This is a compulsory report for NPU degree and requirement. Please find the template on
QMPlus and consult your NPU supervisor for the appropriate content. One electronic copy
should be prepared and submitted on NPU Aoxiang system. The file name should be
“QMUL & NPU student ID numbers Project Title”. One printed copy should be submitted
to the QMES office.

Final Dissertation. 7,000 ±10% words excluding references

One electronic copy should be prepared and submitted on QMPlus and NPU Aoxiang
system at the required time. The file name should be “QMUL & NPU student ID numbers
Project Title”. For archiving the final dissertations at NPU, one printed copy should be
submitted to the QMES office and two electronic copies to the NPU Aoxiang system after
you successfully pass this final project module.

Note that ALL word limits do not include figures, tables, references, etc.

A.2 Notes on Contents of the Final Dissertation’s Sections

The template of the final dissertation is attached on QMPlus and QQ group. You can also
find more notes as below.

Acknowledgements
Give brief acknowledgements of the assistance of any individuals who have supported in
the work – technicians, computer staff, persons that you have consulted and (hopefully!)
your mentorship team.

13
Abstract

This is a one- or two-paragraph summary of the dissertation. It should provide a brief and
factual account of the contents, including a statement of the major conclusions reached.
This is likely the most important part of the dissertation, as it will be read by more people
than any other section. The abstract should concisely state the purpose of the project, the
methods or procedures used, the principal findings, and the conclusions. It should be self-
contained and free of abbreviations. The reader should gain enough information from the
abstract to determine whether to read the entire dissertation.

Main Body of the Dissertation

Your main work such as theory, experiments, results, discussions, etc. with appropriate
headings and sub-headings should be presented here. The nature of the project will dictate
the format and content of this part of the dissertation. Where appropriate, a section should
provide a description of the modelling techniques used (experimental, analytical or
numerical). It is also important to include estimates about the accuracy of results of
computations, experimental errors, etc.

This part of the dissertation will also give experimental methods, and the research
techniques used; results and observations of the study; and a discussion of the analysis
and interpretation of data generated.

Make sure you include all possible information about the techniques and/or equipment
used, sample dimensions, the value of non-dimensional parameters used, etc. to such a
level that your assistance is not required to reproduce the work at a later date.

Large banks of results can be better reported in a structured way in Appendices, with only
selected data and/or statistical trends being reported in detail here in the main body.
Developments of a standard nature, reference calibration or control experiment, which the
author feels important to include should also be put in Appendices, as should any computer
code listings.

References

You may use any reference format, but consistency throughout the report is essential. It is
recommended that you use American Psychological Association (APA) style, as it is widely
accepted. The guidelines for APA style are provided below:

APA Style References Guideline

The APA style is widely used for citing sources within the social sciences. Here is a brief
guide on how to create references in APA style, along with some examples.

General Guidelines:

• Author(s): List the last name first, followed by the first and middle initials (e.g.,
Smith, J. A.).
• Publication Date: Place the publication year in parentheses, followed by a
period (e.g., (2023).).

14
 • Title of the Work: For books and articles, only capitalize the first word of the
title, the first word after a colon or dash, and proper nouns. Italicize the title of
books and reports, and do not italicize or use quotation marks for article titles.
• Source Information: For books, include the publisher. For journal articles,
include the journal title (italicized), volume number (italicized), and issue
number (if applicable), followed by the page range. For websites, include the
URL

Examples:

1. Books

Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book. Publisher.
Example:
Smith, J. A. (2020). The theory of everything. Penguin Books.

2. Book Chapters

Format:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the chapter. In A. Editor & B. Editor (Eds.),
Title of the book (pp. xx-xx). Publisher.
Example:
Doe, J. R., & Roe, M. S. (2018). Understanding behaviour. In P. N. Johnson (Ed.),
Psychology in practice (pp. 101-120). Springer.

3. Journal Articles

Format:
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the
Journal, Volume (Issue), pages. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy
Example:
Brown, T. J., & Green, K. L. (2021). Environmental impacts of urbanization. Journal of
Urban Studies, 45(3), 245-267. https://doi.org/10.1234/jus.2021.56789

4. Online Articles

Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of the article. Website Name. URL
Example:
Johnson, L. B. (2022, May 15). The future of renewable energy. Renewable Energy
Today. https://www.renewabletoday.com/future-energy

5. Webpages on Websites

Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of the webpage. Website Name. URL
Example:
National Institute of Mental Health. (2019, March 15). Anxiety disorders. National
Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders

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 6. Reports

Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the report (Report No. xxx). Publisher. URL
Example:
World Health Organization. (2021). Global report on health (Report No.
WHO/HTM/2021.11). WHO. https://www.who.int/reports/global-health-report-2021

7. Conference Papers

Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month). Title of the paper. In A. Editor (Ed.), Proceedings of the
conference (pp. xx-xx). Publisher. DOI/URL
Example:
Nguyen, P. T. (2019, July). Machine learning for data mining. In M. L. Smith (Ed.),
Proceedings of the International Conference on Data Science (pp. 54-60). IEEE.
https://doi.org/10.1109/DSC.2019.12345

8. Thesis/Dissertations

Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the dissertation/thesis (Doctoral dissertation/Master’s
thesis). University Name. URL
Example:
Carter, S. L. (2017). The impact of social media on consumer behaviour (Doctoral
dissertation). Harvard University. https://www.harvard.edu/thesis/carter

Important Notes:

• DOIs and URLs: Always include a DOI if available. If there is no DOI, include the
direct URL to the source.
• Multiple Authors: For works with two authors, list both. For three to twenty
authors, list all authors, separated by commas, and an ampersand (&) before the
last author. For more than twenty authors, list the first nineteen followed by an
ellipsis (...) and the last author’s name.
• Hanging Indent: Each reference should have a hanging indent, meaning that the
first line is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented by 0.5 inches.

Appendices

◼ Risk assessment form should be attached in Appendices of the Dissertation.

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APPENDIX 2 Provisional Guideline for Assessment Criteria for QMES Final Dissertation
Note that this still represents a provisional guideline for the assessment criteria. The finalized marking scheme will be uploaded on QMPlus in due course. Note also that
it is not expected that students must meet every criterion in each grade. Within the generic criteria, shortfall in one or two areas may be made up by better performance
in others. For example, a dissertation which meets all of the criteria for a B grade, but which lacks structure may well still be eligible for that grade.

Grade Degree Generic criteria Paper-based project Computational project Experimental project Design-based project criteria
Class criteria criteria criteria
A 1 • Displays a critical approach to an • Moves beyond a • Successfully • Has taken • Presents an analytical and
extensive range of literature with comprehensive deploys a suitable appropriate steps to detailed understanding of the
clear and logical presentation literature review computer assemble suitable benefits and limitations of the
• Uses the structure of the report to to draw novel programme and apparatus and to design using a range of
enhance the presentation of conclusions or to shows critical obtain data, displays presentational devices
argument rather than simply as a present insight into the way analytical insight in • Presents a well-argued
framework from guidelines comparative data in which the the presentation of conclusion with discussions
• Uses taught modules as a starting in an innovative programme works data and draws about the implications and
point for development of advanced way and draws valid conclusions from relevance of the design
comprehension of complex issues conclusions from valid and well- • Develops and tests a prototype
and shows originality in either outputs developed results for the proposed design through
approach or analysis experimentation, design
• Conclusions drawn are relevant, modelling or design simulation
valid, appropriate and critically methods
evaluated. • Demonstrate a realisation of
• The report is appropriately and design concepts by means of a
clearly written. scaled representation in an
• The student has developed the appropriate format
project independently, using the • Proposes a manufacturing and
mentor for advice and regular business plan for the production,
reporting of progress. sales and marketing of the new
design.

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B 2.1 • Includes an appropriate range of • Adequately • Successfully • Has taken • Presents high quality 2D and 3D
well-selected literature with clear reviews most of deploys a suitable appropriate steps to drawings and assembly diagrams
and logical presentation the relevant computer assemble suitable for the proposed design
• Adheres to guidelines on structure literature, programme and apparatus and to • Presents characteristics of the
and internal structure is clear and showing ability to shows obtain data. design such as material,
well- thought-out apply data in understanding of Displays some proposed manufacturing process,
• Shows some development of modelled or ‘real the ways in which analytical insight in life span, energy produced and
understanding beyond that world’ situations, the chosen the presentation of viability.
covered in taught modules. or is able to programme works these data. • Presents some information
• Report is clearly written. compare and and of the critical towards the business viability
• Some independence in project contrast inputs. such as cost of the prototype and
design is shown, following conflicting data. mass produced product
guidance and prompting from the • Performs further assessment on
mentors. the design such as Product
Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
(FMEA) or Finite Element
Analysis (FEA)
C 2.2 • Includes an appropriate range of • Does not develop • Successfully • Has taken • Presents 4 or 5 ideas for a new
literature for the type of project, but past the stage of deploys a suitable appropriate steps to design and studies the
presentation is uncritical or lacks simply reviewing computer assemble suitable advantages and disadvantages
logic the literature to programme as a apparatus and to of each of them.
• Adheres to the general guidelines application of ‘black box’, but obtain data, but • Identifies best designs by means
on structure, but internal structure data in modelled shows little or no presentation of data of decision matrix
is weak or lacks coherence or ‘real world’ understanding or lacks analytical • Redefines and develops ideas
• Demonstrates comprehension of situations. appreciation of insight. further and identification of an
subject matter of taught modules, critical inputs. optimal design
but displays little or no • Presents fair 2D and 3D
development of this drawings and assembly
understanding.
• Report lacks some clarity in
writing.

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 • Little independence is shown, the
direction of the project has been
directed by the mentor.
D/E 3/Pass • Attempt made to survey the • Only presents • Deploys computer • Has only partially • Only presents undigested
literature but there is inadequate undigested programme without taken steps to literature found with little or no
choice or range of literature for the literature found understanding its assemble suitable attempt to structure or apply it
type of project. with little or no operation and apparatus and has • Attempt to present a new design
• Presentation and structure lack attempt to without relevant no significant data. without supporting it with any
logic. structure or apply results. justification or theoretical
• Subject matter of taught modules it. assessment
is under used. • Student identifies a potential new
• Report is inappropriately or product or improvement of an
unclearly written. existing one but does not pursue
• Little contribution of value that is its development
independent of the mentor.
F Fail • Little or no relevant literature cited. • Fails to review • Fails to deploy • Fails to take steps to • Fails to review sufficient relevant
• Presentation and structure are sufficient relevant computer program. assemble suitable literature
illogical literature. apparatus. • Does not present any new idea
• Subject matter of taught modules for design
is misused.
• Report is inappropriately and
unclearly written.
• No contribution of value that is
independent of the mentor
Plagiarism

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APPENDIX 3

Laboratory Safety Regulations

There are hazards and risks associated with work in the Queen Mary Engineering
School.

The following regulations are a summary of Laboratory Management Rules and

Regulations of QMES (the complete file attached to QMES website) and must be
observed by all students using the facilities of the QMES for their own safety and for
the safety of others. These regulations are in addition to the general University Safety
Regulations. If you do not observe the regulations, you may be penalised by the
University, but you will also be breaking the law, and you could be fined or even
imprisoned.

You will not be allowed to work in QMES Laboratories until you have signed and
returned a declaration. You should have already completed this in your 1 st year
of entry to the School.

GENERAL

1. It is the duty of each individual working in the School, in the University or on a

Departmental Field course to behave responsibly and to take reasonable care for
the safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts
or omissions.
.

2. Undergraduate students are not permitted to work in any room or laboratory at any
time outside scheduled classes unless the responsible technician or academic staff
member is present.

3. Nobody is permitted to work alone where any potentially dangerous situation

exists, such as electrical hazard, explosion or implosion hazard, chemical hazard,
or mechanical or structural hazard. Exceptionally, working alone in laboratories
may be authorised by written permission only by an advisor or head of School after
appropriate risk assessment. As a guide, hazards are deemed to exist in any
situation not normally found in domestic households.

4. The QMES Laboratory Administrator must be informed in advance of any proposed

work which may involve unusual or severe hazard whether in or outside the
University. Risk assessments must be carried out for all laboratory or workshop
procedures.

5. It is the duty of every individual to know the procedure for calling emergency
services (Laboratory Security Risks and Solutions) if the University exchange fails),
and to be familiar with the University instructions “What to do in an Emergency”
and “Fire Precautions” displayed in the main entrances of all buildings. If the Fire
Alarm sirens sound evacuate the QMES Building via the nearest Fire Exit. Do not
re-enter the building until a Fire brigade or QMES laboratory Administrator has
given all clear to do so.

20
6. First aid boxes, fire extinguishers, fire alarms and telephones are installed
throughout the School. Everybody should be familiar with the installations nearest
to their work locations.

7. Nobody shall carelessly or intentionally interfere with or misuse anything that is

provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare.

8. Any accident involving personal injury, which requires medical attention, must be
reported to the QMES laboratory Administrator. Staff members must also know the
procedure for reporting dangerous occurrences and serious personal injury
accidents.

WORKING IN LABORATORIES

1. You should provide yourself with protective clothing, such as overalls or a

laboratory coat, and to wear them at all times when working in the laboratories.
The School cannot take any responsibility for soiled or damaged clothes resulting
from not wearing protective clothing.
You must wear stout, sturdy boots or shoes; shoes made from textile material,
open heal or open toes, high heeled shoes and sandals are not allowed.
You will be asked to leave the laboratory if you do not wear suitable footwear.
2. Chemicals are particularly hazardous. You should not handle or use any chemicals
until you have been given the proper safety precautions and read the appropriate
SDS (Safety Data Sheets) and completed a risk assessment. The following
precautions must always be observed when handling chemicals:
2.1 Protective clothing, gloves and goggles must be worn.
2.2 No parts of the body should be touched whilst wearing gloves.
2.3 Gloves should be washed before removal.
2.4 Hands should be washed before eating, drinking or touching other parts of
the body.
3. No machine, engine or equipment is to be used until you have been fully instructed
in its use, as incorrect operation may be dangerous. If in doubt, ask a member of
staff.
4. You are only allowed in the laboratories during scheduled classes, unless prior
permission has been obtained from a member of staff of QMES. Project students
must arrange laboratory working times with the QMES laboratory Administrator in
charge of that laboratory.
5. Under no circumstances may anyone use equipment in a laboratory unless at least
one other person is present. This is to ensure that aid will be readily available in
the event of an accident.
6. Smoking, eating and drinking are not permitted in any laboratory area.
7. Orderly behaviour is essential, e.g. no running and messing around in laboratories.
8. All injuries, even minor ones such as cut fingers, must be reported to the QMES
Laboratory Administrator (dial 119 on any internal phone and ask for a First Aider
to be contacted).

21
 9. Lifting must not be carried out if injury is likely to result, if in doubt ask for advice.
10. Care must be taken when using compressed air: IT CAN KILL!
11. Fume cupboards and fume extractors must be used to clear fumes from work
areas.
12. Ear protection (i.e. ear plugs or ear defenders) must be worn in areas of high noise
(>85 dbA).
13. Students with long hair must have it tied back.
14. Loose clothing (e.g. ties) and jewellery (e.g. watches, rings, necklaces, armbands)
should not be worn in areas where rotating machinery is used. Laboratory coats
should be buttoned up.
15. Safety glasses or goggles must be worn for all laboratory classes except computer-
based classes and experiments where no loose particles could be airborne.
16. Spillage of fuel, lubricating oil, coolant, water etc., should be cleaned up
immediately.
17. All guards must be in place before an engine or machine is started. Guards are
NOT to be removed.
18. Wear heat-resistant gloves when using ovens and furnaces. Do not touch
equipment or objects in hot areas without first checking that they are cool. Hot
items should be clearly marked and kept in safe areas.
19. If you are doubtful about the safety of anything you are asked to do, you have
a DUTY to refuse to do it until you have been properly instructed. If you come
across a situation you think is unsafe, you have a DUTY to report it to a
member of staff.

RISK ASSESSMENT

All students must complete a risk assessment before commencing any laboratory work.

Complete the risk assessment template on the QMPlus for the project module and submit
via the link on QMPlus.

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APPENDIX 4 Table of Abbreviations

APA: American Psychological Association

JEI: Joint Education Institute
JRI: Joint Research Institute
QMES: Queen Mary University of London Engineering School, Northwestern Polytechnic
University
RAO: Rationale, Aims and Objectives
SEMS: School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London
Sem A: Semester A
Sem B: Semester B
TBC: to be confirmed
w/c: week commencing

23