STATS 7300D - Statistics Masters Project D

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025

Students undertake a detailed study under the guidance of a supervisor and document their work in the form of a thesis. The topic of the project is decided by the supervisor in conjunction with the student. Students not only increase their discipline knowledge, but develop critical analysis and technical writing skills that are highly useful for many occupations and essential for postgraduate research degrees.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code STATS 7300D
    Course Statistics Masters Project D
    Coordinating Unit Mathematical Sciences
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 12
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions MMaSc students only
    Assessment Thesis and seminar presentation
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Trent Mattner

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will have:
    1. Demonstrated familiarity with research in an area of mathematics and/or statistics. 
    2. Demonstrated skills in interpreting and critically evaluating literature related to a current area of research in mathematics and/or statistics.  
    3. Demonstrated skills in communicating mathematical and/or statistical research to an audience, both in written form and orally.  
    4. Demonstrated an understanding of research methods in mathematics and/or statistics.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1,2

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1,2,4

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    2,3,4
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The research project provides an introduction to research in mathematics in an area chosen by the student from a range of projects offered by staff in the Discipline of Mathematical Sciences. Students learn by a combination of reading research papers and monographs, discussing aspects of the research project with their supervisor and presenting their work both in oral form through a seminar presentation and in written form through a thesis.

    The thesis can take the form of:
    1. a critical review of a topic,
    2. an analysis of data, a problem or application using existing techniques,
    3. a detailed exposition of results from the literature,
    4. extensions or generalizations of existing work.




    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Activity Quantity Workload hours
    Research Methodologies workshop 12
    Weekly supervisory meetings 1 hour/week 12
    Weekly project work 11 hours/week 132
    TOTALS 156
    Learning Activities Summary
    The Masters Project involves several stages:
    1. Initial literature review and topic proposal. An outline of the research project must be submitted to MyUni at the beginning of Week 7 of the student's first semester. Attendance at non-assessed Research Methodologies workshop.
    2. Ongoing literature review and research. Planning of thesis and drafting of initial chapters. Students are expected to commence writing their thesis no later than the beginning of their second semester.
    3. Research seminar held in the mid-semester break of the student's final semester.
    4. Completion of thesis writing: students are expected to provide a complete thesis draft to their supervisor at the beginning of Week 9 of the student's final semester. The thesis is due on Friday of Week 12 of the student's final semester. It is lodged on MyUni.
    The specifics of each of these stages is highly dependent on the nature of the project; they should be discussed with the project supervisor.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment
    Task Type Weighting Learning Outcomes
    Research Proposal Summative 10 % All
    Research Seminar Summative 20 % All
    Thesis Summative 70 % All

    Assessment Related Requirements
    An aggregate score of at least 50% is required to pass Part D of the project.
    Assessment Detail
    The Masters Project is assessed on the basis of the Research Proposal, Research Seminar and the Thesis, according to the assessment weightings listed in the Assessment Summary above. The Research Seminar is assessed by a small committee comprising of academic staff. The Thesis is assessed by two examiners appointed by the School of Mathematical Sciences.
    Submission
    The research proposal and thesis must be submitted according to the policies and procedures published on the Masters Project MyUni site.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

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