Prelims course handbook

Prelims course handbookCONTENTS WELCOME 8 1. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK 8 2. IMPORTANT SOURCES OF INFORMATION 10 3. KEY CONTACTS IN THE DEPARTMENT 10 4. DATES TO NOTE 11 5. FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND 11 5.1 Location of the Department of Engineering Science 5.2 The Thom Building 11 13 Floor plan 13 Opening hours 13 8th Floor Study Area 14 5.3 Radcliffe Science Library 14 6. GENERAL INFORMATION 15 6.1 Communications 15 6.2 Student opportunities 16 6.3 Room bookings 16 6.4 Computing facilities in the Department 16 6.5 We want your feedback! 17 6.7 Student societies 18 6.8 Other useful websites 18 7. THE COURSE 19 7.1 Overview 19 7.2 Accreditation by the Engineering Institutions 19 7.3 Course aims 20 7.4 Learning outcomes 20 7.5 Course structure 22 7.6 Course syllabus 22 7.7 Looking ahead to the second year 22 8. TEACHING AND LEARNING 23 8.1 Overview 23 8.2 Timetable 23 8.3 The first year & Preliminary Examinations – teaching methods 24 8.4 Access to worked solutions 25 9. ASSESSMENT 25 9.1 Overview 25 9.2 Preparing for exams 25 9.3 Examination Regulations 26 9.4 Sitting your Examination 26 A++ 3 9.5 Examination Conventions 9.6 Calculators in Engineering Examinations 9.7 Plagiarism 9.8 Referencing Guide 9.9 Prizes 26 27 27 28 28 10. PRACTICAL COURSEWORK 29 10.1 Introduction 29 10.2 Safety 29 10.3 Log-books 30 10.4 Timetabling and attendance 31 10.5 Record forms and instruction sheets 31 10.6 Assessment of practical coursework 31 10.6.1 General Protocols for Assessment in Engineering Laboratories 32 10.7 Reports on Laboratory Exercises 33 10.8 Project work 34 11. SKILLS AND LEARNING DEVELOPMENT 35 11.1 Academic progress 35 11.2 Learning development and skills 35 11.3 Induction 35 11.4 Opportunities for skills training and development 35 11.5 Careers information and advice 35 12. STUDENT LIFE AND SUPPORT 36 12.1 Help and advice 36 12.2 Complaints and appeals 37 12.3 Policies and Regulations 38 13. APPENDIX A Health and Safety 39 APPENDIX B Department of Engineering Science – Access and Lone Working 41 APPENDIX C Access to Departmental Buildings 42 APPENDIX D Guidance in the event of an attack by an armed person or persons 43 APPENDIX E Expanded Syllabus for Prelims 2020 44 APPENDIX F Jargon Buster 49 A++ 4 FOREWORD Statement of Coverage This handbook applies to students starting the MEng in Engineering Science in Michaelmas Term 2020. The information in this handbook may be different for students starting in other years. DISCLAIMER The Examination Regulations relating to the MEng course in Engineering Science are available at Examination Regulations, then you should follow the Examination Regulations. If you have any concerns, please contact the Student Administration Office at . The information in this handbook is accurate as of 5th October 2020 however it may be necessary for changes to be made in certain circumstances, as explained at department will publish a new version of this handbook together with a list of the changes and students will be informed. The up-to-date version may always be found on Canvas. Please note that the opening information and availability listed in this handbook assume normal operating circumstances. Opening times during periods of lockdown or semi-lockdown may vary. Please check opening times before you make plans to visit. A++ 5 Additional Foreword (Covid-19) Dear student, This will be an academic year like no other in the department's history. As the person in charge of undergraduate teaching in the department, my twin priorities this year will be to ensure that we deliver the best course that we can to you all and that we keep you all safe and well. Every academic in the department has been working hard on this over the summer vacation in order to prepare us for this new year. We know in particular that those of you coming here for the first time have had very heavily interrupted final years at school and that it may take you longer than usual to settle down. Those of you returning to Oxford also had a heavily disrupted final term last year. We understand that this is not easy for any of you and will be doing our very best to help you all as much as possible in your time here. There are a number of ways in which you can also help us. The new rules about social interaction have meant a great deal of planning for alternative teaching methods, so do please help us by providing as much feedback as you can on the teaching that you receive this year (so that we can do it better next year). We are also relying on you all to stick to the rules about personal safety; each one of you can help us enormously by following the rules and keeping up to date with any changes in these. Finally, you can help us all by supporting your fellow students; by keeping in contact with each other and helping each other, not just with work, but also with encouragement and kindness. There are many support structures within the colleges and the university for you to draw upon: please do so at any time if you need to. Finally, I wish you all a happy and productive term. If you do have concerns about any aspect of the course, do please let me know and I will be happy to address them. Best wishes, Stephen Payne Associate Head of Department (Teaching) A++ 6 WELCOME Head of Department’s Welcome The Department of Engineering Science was established in 1908 and we have grown to become a world leading academic unit with a portfolio that that incorporates most engineering disciplines. Our "General Course" is inherently interdisciplinary and is delivered via a combination of classroom instruction, laboratory and project activity, and small group tutorials, the latter of which are based in our Colleges. We maintain exceptional reputations in multiple aspects of engineering, lead in the training of young minds, and excel at the generation of new knowledge -- all the while working closely with companies such as Google, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar Land Rover and Dyson to name but a few. Our professors work at the vanguard of new technology development, innovation, and implementation. Their work impacts government policy, industry, healthcare, infrastructure, communications, transport and security -- with the ultimate goal of making the world a better place to live. Notable contributions include advanced prosthetic limb joints, apps for smartphones, better batteries, advanced materials, more efficient aircraft engines, better ways to deliver drugs, smarter machines, and driverless cars. Indeed, you may find yourself using a product developed by the very same professor who delivered your morning lecture. I have 44 years of academic experience derived from study and work at six different universities on two continents. I can tell you with certainty that the quality of our professors and staff, the richness of the Oxford collegiate environment, and the personal attention that comes from the tutorial system make the study of engineering at Oxford a completely unique experience. We are pleased to welcome you, and look forward to helping you develop your engineering skills during the next four years. Prof. Ronald Roy, Head of Department A++ 7 Associate Head of Department (Teaching)’s Welcome: Congratulations on coming to Oxford to study for the MEng degree in Engineering Science. As you progress through the next 3 or 4 years as an undergraduate here, you will be able to take advantage of a very wide range of openings and opportunities. During this period, there will be times when you do need to know the detailed syllabus, when to select optional courses, when to submit project work, as well as a host of other information. This information is all available to you in this handbook and in other sections of Canvas (the Department’s web resource for course material). You are strongly advised to read the Handbook through at the start of your course so that you understand where to find the information that you will need. The MEng course has been designed to cover the key disciplines of Engineering Science: the first and second year lay the broad foundations on which later specialisation will develop in the third and fourth years. You will discover that it is not possible to understand the engineered world without mathematics or experimental observations on how physical things behave; there is a dual emphasis on developing your skills in mathematics and attending laboratories. The course has been carefully designed to balance theory, which is covered in lectures and reinforced in tutorials in your college, with practical work completed in laboratory exercises. In the third and fourth years you will select your course options and engage in project work on a well-defined research topic; the decisions you make in your course selection will then help to define the type of engineer that you will qualify as after graduation. In addition to the academic staff, who you will see in lectures and laboratories, there are many other people working in the department as support staff, both technical and non-technical. The Student Administration Office is where the course is organised and you will receive regular communications from the Student Administration Office staff about events and course-related deadlines. They should be your first point of contact with concerns about any aspect of the course, as they are very likely to have the information that you need and will be able to help you to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead. If you are prepared to work hard, you will find your time here both rewarding and enjoyable. Prof. Stephen Payne, Associate Head (Teaching) A++ 8 1. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK This handbook is a guide for you throughout your first (preliminary) year on the Engineering Science course at Oxford. It is designed to provide you with information regarding departmental processes and procedures, the staff and facilities available to you. In addition, it will give you details around your assessment, course structure, and what to expect during your first year. It is your responsibility to read through the handbook and familiarise yourself with the course requirements and procedures. A new handbook will be issued to you for the final three years of your course – known as the Final Honour School. Your course handbook should be your first port of call for any minor queries concerning the course. For other issues or questions then please contact the Student Administration Office. Course handbooks are published on Canvas. 2. IMPORTANT SOURCES OF INFORMATION Things you’ll need to look at Engineering Science Canvas site The most comprehensive source of information for your studies is the Engineering Science Canvas site at . On this site you can find details of the syllabus, lecture notes, example sheets, solutions, details of student representatives, and many other useful pieces of information. Examination Regulations The Examination Regulations is the authoritative document on University examinations. It is available online at Honour School examinations for the MEng degree in Engineering Science. These regulations define the format of each component of the examination process, including conditions on course progression, options and deadlines for submitting coursework. The dates of the Preliminary examinations and September resits will be published on the following website Proctors and Assessor’s Memorandum A reference document entitled The University Student Handbook is produced by the Proctors and Assessor and is available online for new students at the start of Michaelmas Term. The document explains the role of the Proctors and Assessor and provides useful information about welfare, support, recreation, examinations and University regulations. It is available to download at Important reference documents The student portal at resources for students. Please ensure that you are familiar with the following University policies: o Equal Opportunities Statement for Students o Disability A++ 9 o Harassment o Safety for Students o Proctors’ and Assessors Memorandum (The University Student Handbook) o Computer Usage Rules and Etiquette During the course of your studies you might also need to consult other policy documents such as those on: o Intellectual Property Rights which is set out in the University Statues and Regulations at o Data Protection at You will also find the Extended Syllabus for the Engineering courses a useful source of information on the expected outcomes of your course. These documents are available on Canvas.