ADMASR: Animal Science Research Project
Module code: ADMASR
Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Credits: 60
ECTS credits: 30
Level: 7
When you’ll be taught: Full year
Module convenor: Dr Caroline Rymer, email: c.rymer@reading.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: 2026/7
Available to visiting students: No
Talis reading list: No
Last updated: 25 March 2026
Overview
Module aims and purpose
As part of the MSc by Research in Animal Science, you’ll undertake a research project, analyse the findings and prepare a scientific paper to report your project. Your project may either be done here at the University of Reading using our research facilities, or you may complete it at a distance, based at your place of work.
The aims of this module are:
- To develop students’ research skills to enable them to conduct research projects successfully and independently.
- To analyse data using appropriate statistical techniques
- To reflect and report on the project’s findings
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:
- Undertake a complex research project in animal science
- Collate and analyse data using appropriate statistical techniques
- Critically review the data and relate them to the published literature
- Report research outcomes in a manner suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal
Module content
Having agreed the research plan, the student will undertake the programme of work necessary to test the researchable hypothesis. If the student is based at Reading and undertaking the project at the University, then any training and supervision required to undertake the necessary animal and laboratory work will be given. If the project is being done at the student’s place of work, then supervision will be by online discussion, with a supervisory visit at an appropriate point in the project’s life.
Structure
Teaching and learning methods
Online discussions with supervisor. Training and supervision of necessary animal and laboratory techniques (if based at University of Reading).
Study hours
| Scheduled teaching and learning activities | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | |||
| Seminars | |||
| Tutorials | |||
| Project Supervision | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Demonstrations | |||
| Practical classes and workshops | |||
| Supervised time in studio / workshop | |||
| Scheduled revision sessions | |||
| Feedback meetings with staff | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Fieldwork | |||
| External visits | |||
| Work-based learning | |||
| Self-scheduled teaching and learning activities | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Directed viewing of video materials/screencasts | |||
| Participation in discussion boards/other discussions | |||
| Feedback meetings with staff | |||
| Other | |||
| Other (details) | |||
| Placement and study abroad | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placement | |||
| Study abroad | |||
| Independent study hours | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent study hours | 156 | 156 | 156 |
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
Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.
Summative assessment
| Type of assessment | Detail of assessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of assessment | Submission date | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written coursework assignment | Scientific paper manuscript | 100 | 10,000 words | Summer, Dissertation Week 1 |
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 a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
- where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), 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 calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
- where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.
Assessments marked Pass/Fail
- where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
- where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.
Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.
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.
Formative feedback is provided on the statistical analysis of data and on drafts of the paper when in preparation.
Reassessment
| Type of reassessment | Detail of reassessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of reassessment | Submission date | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written coursework assignment | Scientific paper manuscript | 100 | 10,000 words |
Additional costs
| Item | Additional information | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Computers and devices with a particular specification | ||
| Printing and binding | ||
| Required textbooks | ||
| Specialist clothing, footwear, or headgear | ||
| Specialist equipment or materials | ||
| Travel, accommodation, and subsistence |
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT’S CONTRACT.