Heriot-Watt University
School of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Undergraduate Programme Handbook for
Physics – Year 1
2013 - 14
PART A – SCHOOL INFORMATION
1 Summary of Key Information
2 Welcome and Introduction
3 General Information about the School/Institute
4 Key staff and office locations
5 Programme Overview
6 Programme Structure and Delivery
PART B – UNIVERSITY INFORMATION
B1 ordinances and regulations
B2 quick finder GuiDe to academic support services
B3 quick finder guide to student ADMINISTRATION AND support services
PART A – SCHOOL INFORMATION
1 Summary of Key Information
KEY CONTACTS IN PHYSICS
Room No
Head of Teaching
Dr J G Crowder DB153
1st year Director of Studies
Dr K A Prior DB245
Secretary:
Mrs. Sheila Young EPS Student Support Centre, JN1.07
SIGNIFICANT DATES IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR
Session 1 : 16th September to 20th December 2013
Session 2 : 13th January to 4th April 2014
Session 3 : 28th April to 23rd May 2014
LINKS TO FURTHER INFORMATION/SERVICES
University Website : hw.ac.uk
You can also access much of the material of this handbook on the internet at the Department Web site:
The Year 1 Director of Studies in Physics is Dr K A Prior, but enquiries should first be directed to your mentor or to Sheila Young located in the EPS Student Support Office, JN1.07, telephone number 0131 451 3025. General enquiries to 0131 451 4011, email address enquiries@eps.hw.ac.uk.
2 Welcome and Introduction
2.1 Welcome from the Principal of Heriot-Watt University
I am delighted to welcome you as a student of Heriot-Watt University!
Heriot-Watt University has a well earned reputation as Scotland's most international and outward-looking University. With three campuses in Scotland (attended by a high percentage of students from across the world), a new Campus in Dubai, a new Campus in Malaysia and Learning Partner institutions across the world, we have a vibrant and diverse learning culture which is unique and unmatched by other universities in the United Kingdom. We are keen to give our students the opportunity to develop an international dimension to their studies which will enhance their opportunities for future growth.
Students at all our campus locations are an important part of our global community and I very much hope you enjoy your time with us.
Professor Steve Chapman
Principal and Vice-Chancellor
3 General Information about the School
The aim of this part of the programme handbook is to provide a “user friendly” summary of University and Departmental regulations as well as general information and advice. Whilst this is written in the spirit of the regulations you should note that the University regulations in the official University publications take precedence over this guide.
The various subject disciplines of the University are grouped into “Schools”. Physics is part of the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences along with Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Combined Studies.
THE COURSE SYSTEM AND PHYSICS DEGREES
Courses
A credit-based course system is the common structure for all undergraduate degree programmes offered by this University. This system has a number of advantages for students.
Each course is designed to be of equal length in terms of student effort. Although there will be some unavoidable variation from one student to another, the “average” student is expected to put in a total effort of 150 hours for each course. These 150 hours include lectures, tutorials, writing up notes, revision and any examination. Each semester, you take 4 courses. There are two semesters in the year and so you will take 8 courses. This corresponds approximately to a 40 hour week during the semester, which should give you adequate time to take part in the many extra-curricular activities available to you and which are an important part of university life.
In each year, most of your courses will be assessed at the end of each semester by a combination of coursework taken during the course and written examination. This enables a check on your progress to be made throughout the year and avoids a large set of examinations at the end of the year. Exceptions to assessment at the end of the semester are the project courses in years 4 and 5 and some courses delivered by other disciplines.
You should make sure you know how the assessment of course will be carried out and what is expected of students taking the course. This information will usually be given to you by the lecturer at the start of a course.
The contributions of coursework and examination to the course mark vary from course to course. Full details are given in the course syllabuses.
Course Codes
It is helpful to understand the way course codes are devised. The first letter identifies the School (e.g. B for Engineering and Physical Sciences, F for Maths and Computing, D for Built Environment, etc.) The digit following the letter identifies the subject discipline. (e.g. B2 for Physics, B1 for Chemistry 1, F1 for Maths, etc). The next digit is the last digit of the SCQF level of the course. (SCQF stands for the Scottish Credits and Qualifications Framework). The following two letters identify the topic and the last digit (sometimes omitted) represents the semester, e.g. B27MW1 is a Physics course at level 7 and is given in the first semester. SCQF levels 7 to 11 correspond to years 1 to 5 respectively. Thus, as another example, course B20PS1 is a Physics course at level 10 given in semester 1.
Assessment
Courses are usually assessed at the end of each semester. Assessment may be by exam, coursework, or more usually, a combination of the two. Details are given in the course syllabuses. The number of courses required for various degrees and the various rules for progression from one year to the next are given in the publication “General Information for First Degree Students”. A brief summary is given in section 5 of this handbook.
If you do not gain a pass in a course, then you have one resit opportunity except in years 4 and 5. The resit is taken in the August diet of exams. If the course counts towards your degree, the mark from your first attempt will be used unless there are special circumstances (e.g. medical reasons for a missed or poor first attempt).
Recommended Textbook
The recommended textbooks for all first and second year courses are as follows:
“Mathematics for Engineers: A Modern Interactive Approach” (3rd edition) by A. Croft and R. Davison, (published by Pearson)
“Physics”, Volumes 1 & 2, by Resnick, Halliday and Krane, (published by Wiley)
In addition the recommended textbook for experimental work in the first two years is:
'Experimental Methods’, L Kirkup (Wiley).
.
General Information
Your personal Mentor:
This is a member of the permanent Academic Staff, and is assigned to you when you begin each academic year. Your mentor is the first link between you and the University and will be able to get to know you on a personal level as each mentor has no more than ten students assigned to them.
You are required to have one formal meeting with your mentor at the start of each semester and they will discuss your progress and give general support on any matter of concern to you. All the staff are here to help you ( if you are having any difficulty with a particular course you should discuss this with the lecturer for the course, or ask for help in a tutorial. In a university context it is important for you to be aware that the onus is on you to seek help.
For the Department to contact you:
Our main method of contacting you will be by the student notice boards, the student mail boxes and e-mail for class messages. You will be shown the location of the mail boxes on your introductory tour of the department. The first and second year location is on the first floor of the Physics spur, outside the first and second year laboratories, and the third, fourth and fifth year location is outside the third year laboratory. All internal and incoming mail will be put in your mailbox, which you should check frequently.
All students in the Physics department have an e-mail address which should be checked on a daily basis.
If there is a very urgent need for a telephone message to reach you we will make every effort to contact you immediately. The departmental telephones must not be used for non-urgent personal messages for undergraduate students.
Student Staff Committee
Although much of the flow of information between students and staff in this Department is on an informal or individual basis, there is also a formally constituted committee.
This committee consists of two student representatives from each of the undergraduate years together with postgraduate representatives and two staff. Meetings are held at least once every semester. All matters are open for discussion and this committee provides a valuable exchange of views and information for both staff and students. Discussion points could include: organisational problems, e.g. more tutorials needed in a programme or perhaps too much tutorial work; discussion of proposed changes in programme structures; the need for a drinks machine for students in the department, etc..
Lectures, Laboratories and Tutorials
Lectures start at 15 minutes past the hour and last for 50 minutes so that students can change rooms if necessary for the start of the next lecture. Lectures consist mainly of listening and making notes on the subject being taught. In many cases lecturers will provide teaching materials and notes which you will need to study and annotate during lectures. Lecturers welcome questions. You may be reluctant to ask a question in a large class but, if you are and you need to clarify some point, see the lecturer at the end of the lecture and/or make an appointment for a mutually convenient time. In the first year you will have specific tutorials arranged in a small group with a tutorial assistant, and in these you will work out examples and discuss general topics relating to your course.
Laboratory work, both experimental and computing, is a very important part of your course. In the laboratory you will develop practical skills which are an important part of the training of a physicist. You will also learn the art of scientific report writing ( you must be able to communicate your experimental methods and your results effectively. Experimental work is time consuming, and the skills needed also take time to develop, but it is these skills which make well-trained physicists such useful employees!
Absences from Classes
If you are absent from classes for any reason the Department must be notified. Absences for up to four working days (this excludes Saturday and Sunday) are notified on a self-certification form available from the Undergraduate Office. Absences over four working days require a medical certificate.
If you miss an examination your absence must be supported by a medical certificate even if you are only absent for one day.
It is important to notify the department of all absences or of any special circumstances which may affect your studies at the time they occur. In this case, due consideration can be given to you when the Departmental Examiners meet to consider your results. Do not wait until you have done badly in an examination before telling us you have been ill or have had some special problem affecting your work as it may then be too late for us to help you. If you do have a problem you should see your Mentor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
The Department is required to inform the University Registration Office of extended absences from classes and it is in your interest to document all such absences.
Virtual Learning Environment - Vision
Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) are systems that support a range of learning contexts, ranging from conventional, classroom implementation to off-line, distance learning and online learning. The University’s VLE is called Vision and is based on a commercial software package called Blackboard. All courses are required to have a minimum presence on the VLE and you may be required to access information or complete and submit on-line assignments for courses on the VLE.
You are automatically registered for a VLE course based on the courses that you registered for at the start of the year (or any changes made after registration). The VLE can be accessed from any computer with internet access although not all browsers will support the functionality of Vision. It is best to access Vision from on-campus PC Caledonia machines. The VLE can be accessed from the web page
Personal belongings
There are small metal lockers throughout the department in which you may keep personal belongings. You should supply your own padlock for your locker, and the locker must be cleared at the end of each session i.e. at the end of the academic year (i.e. end of semester 2). As in other Universities, the University cannot accept any responsibility for your personal belongings although the locker should give a good measure of security.
Students with Special Needs
If you require any special help in order to study effectively, discuss this with one of the Directors of Undergraduate Studies. In addition the Student Welfare Service is able to provide help ( the contact person is Lorraine Vallance in the Hugh Nisbet Building.
Normally, students with dyslexia are registered with the University so that this is taken into account at exam time and special provision can be made.
Race Equality Policy
The University is committed to the elimination of unlawful racial discrimination; and the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups.
No religious, racial or political test shall be imposed by the University on any person in order to entitle him or her to be admitted as a Member, Professor, Teacher or Student of the University, or to hold office therein, or to graduate thereat, or to hold any advantage of privilege thereof.
Equal Opportunities Policy
Heriot Watt University is committed to equal opportunities for all, irrespective of sex, colour ethnic origin, disability, marital status, religious or political beliefs, trade union membership, sexual orientation or other irrelevant distinction.
COMPUTER FACILITIES
The computer facilities within the School are multi-faceted. There are a number of computer labs which form part of the university desktop service. In addition the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences has its own network of computers. However these are mostly restricted to staff and PhD students and will not be discussed further here. Finally there is a wireless network provision which allows students to connect their own laptops and gain internet access.
Further detaila on Computing Facilities can be found in part B of this handbook.
University Desktop Service
There are a number of University Desktop Service labs across the school, ranging in size from about 10 to 80 PCs. These labs are centrally timetabled and can be used by all students subject to availability. Depending on the layout of the lab, and at the discretion of the academic in charge, it may be possible for students to use these labs even if there is another class on.
Wireless Network
Wireless connectivity is available at many points across the campus and is continually expanding. Details of the networks are online with further infomration in part B of this handbook.
Rules for Use
IT is the acronym for the Information Technology services, Their website has a comprehensive set of information describing services and rules of use. We strongly recommend that you familiarise yourself with the rules set out there.
Sources of Information
Fuller information is available in the following: all of which are available at the Departmental Office.
General Information for First Degree Students, a copy of which is issued by the University to all students at the time of Registration at the beginning of each academic year.
Undergraduate Programme Structures, which gives information on the formal structures of all the Departmental Programmes which have been approved by Senate.
A copy of the University Ordinances and Regulations is also available for consultation.
Studying
During a Programme
Physics and Mathematics need a steady effort on your part to achieve a good understanding. Studying is a discipline for which each individual has to find what is right for them and so the comments here are guidelines to help you formulate your own scheme which suits you, but the emphasis is on steady work throughout the semester.
Make a plan of the times you will need to eat, to relax, to go over your notes and consolidate your most recent lectures, and to do any continuous assessment exercises. Be realistic in your plan ( set a realistic schedule and try to keep to it.
Above all remember you are an individual. We all have different patterns of working and we all have different patterns and needs of sleep or rest. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that just because your friend can spend every night in the Sports Hall, visit the Student Union until late and apparently sail through their studies that you can do exactly the same. Your friend may be one of the few amongst us who genuinely need only five hours sleep a night. This is something that you personally will have to decide for yourself.
If you are ill, or have fallen behind with your work for some other reason, it is important for you to discuss the problem with your mentor, the class lecturer, or a Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Discussion of a problem will often help you to see the solution, and we will try to advise and help you to catch up with your work. One thing you should never do is to fool yourself that a massive effort on your part over a few evenings burning the midnight oil will see everything all right ( it just does not work that way. A regular work pattern throughout the semester is the best way to proceed.
At exam time
There will always be a revision period of at least a week before the exam. If you make full use of these periods, they can be most useful ( do not use them as “free” weeks. If you have specific difficulties and questions do not hesitate to ask the relevant lecturer for help.
It is usually best to form a strategy for dealing with exams. Go back over your notes ( make summary headings and decide which topics seem the most important. Go over these topics and write down the outline of the points you think are important: writing down points or using some sort of flowchart arrangement is essential. Do not just try to read through your notes.
A very useful way to revise is to do the tutorial questions again ( without looking at the solutions. Also it is very important to try past examination papers ( making sure however that there has not been a change in syllabus or emphasis since a previous year. You should not assume that exam questions will necessarily be similar to those set in previous years.
The exam timetable is always published in advance on the University website and is also displayed in the department. Make sure you write down the time and place of each of your exams ( don’t rely on your memory or what someone else tells you. Find out where the exam room is before the day of the exam.
If by mistake you miss an exam ( or cannot arrive on time due to some mishap ( it is imperative to contact the Undergraduate Office IMMEDIATELY.
Make sure you get to the exam in the right frame of mind. Some people find the excited chatter of the crowd waiting to go into the examination room or hall makes them nervous ( you do not have to be there ( wait a little away from the main crowd. On the other hand make sure you are in time and do not have a frantic rush to get there.
In the exam room sit down, get yourself settled and take time to read through the exam paper. It can be useful to mark the questions you think you can attempt. Go back over these questions and read the questions carefully so that you are sure you understand what is being asked for. Never rush in and start writing an answer to a question you think you know ( very often you will misread the question under the pressure you are putting on yourself.
Make sure you know the format of the exam beforehand and so know the time available for each question. Do not exceed this time, but you can go over the question again if there is time when you have done the other questions. Do not make the mistake of trying to spend a long time on one question just to get good marks on that question.
Outline answers or sketch notes may be given marks even if you did not have time to complete your full answer.
Every year one or two students find themselves in a situation where they have special needs at exam time. This can be for many reasons, for example, a sprained wrist can make writing difficult so you will need extra time, or you could have a bad attack of hay-fever and do not want to disrupt the other students. In any such case contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies or the Undergraduate Office and suitable arrangements can usually be made for you to take the exam in a separate room.
4 Key staff and office locations
Dr E Abraham DB208
Dr E Andersson DB126
Dr D Beddard DB132
Dr F Biancalana DB205
Professor G S Buller DB154
Dr S Chen DB131
Dr J G Crowder DB153
Professor R Duncan DB151A
Dr P Dalgarno DB111
Professor D Faccio DB112
Professor I Galbraith DB209
Professor B Gerardot DB211 Professor A H Greenaway DB216 Professor D P Hand DB307
Professor M Jonson DB206
Professor A K Kar DB213
Dr J Leach DB129
Dr Weiping Lu DB212
Dr W N MacPherson EMG05
Dr S Maniscalco DBG04
Dr P Ohberg DB204
Dr K Prior DB245
Dr L Paterson DB132
Professor D T Reid DB134
Dr V Sboros JN214
Professor M R Taghizadeh DB128
Dr R R Thomson DB133
Dr D Townsend DB127
The EPS Support Office is located in JN1.07
This is probably the best place to come for advice on timetables, exams, course structures etc. Please also feel free to call in and discuss any difficulties you are having with the courses etc ( or if your personal mentor is not available.
|Head of Teaching |Dr J Graham Crowder |
|Director of Studies (Physics year 1) |Dr K A Prior |
|Undergraduate Secretary |Mrs Sheila Young, EPS Student Support |
| |Centre, JN 1.07 |
5 Programme Overview
Heriot-Watt University reserves the right to update materials from time to time and will ensure that advance notification concerning changes to materials is provided to students on the relevant section of the University website. It is the responsibility of students to check the website, particularly if they are returning to studies after a period during which their studies have been in abeyance.
Degrees Awarded by the Department
The types of undergraduate degrees offered by the Department are: the Degree of MPhys with Honours, the Degree of BSc with Honours, and the Ordinary Degree of BSc. The honours degrees can be awarded as first, upper second, lower second and third class.
MPhys honours degrees are offered in the following programmes:
Physics
Engineering Physics
Nanoscience
Mathematical Physics
Physics with Energy Science and Technology
Chemical Physics
BSc honours degrees are offered by the Department in all of the above.
There are also MPhys degrees, for final year direct entry students, in:
Physical Science
Optoelectronics and Lasers
An Ordinary degree is offered by the department in:
BSc Physics
Typically students entering the University with good Highers will complete an MPhys in 5 years, a BSc Honours in 4 years and an Ordinary degree in 3 years. Students with good Advanced Highers/A levels in Physics and Maths can enter at second level and can expect to complete the degree in one year less than the corresponding figure given above.
The detailed programme structures are shown in section 6 of this handbook.
The classification of the BSc honours degree (i.e. 1st, 2.1, etc..) is based on the marks obtained for the courses in the third and fourth years and, for the MPhys degree, on marks obtained in the third, fourth and fifth years.
Heriot-Watt University reserves the right to update materials from time to time and will ensure that advance notification concerning changes to materials is provided to students on the relevant section of the University website. It is the responsibility of students to check the website, particularly if they are returning to studies after a period during which their studies have been in abeyance.
Which programme?
We provide a range of programmes, allowing some specialisation in areas such as photonics, engineering physics etc. In many cases, you do not need to make your final choice of degree programme until the end of the third year, by which time you may have a better idea of your interests and aptitudes.
The following table summarises to what extent the courses are common to each programme. Many students change their perception of what they want to do and you can discuss this, at any time, with the Directors of Studies, your personal Mentor or any member of Academic Staff.
|Programme |Commonality |
| | |
|Physics |Years 1 to 3 are common. |
|Engineering Physics |(Year 3 difference for Engineering Physics) |
|Nanoscience | |
|Mathematical Physics | |
|Physics with Energy Science and Technology |Specialist courses from year 1 onward |
|Chemical Physics | |
MPhys degrees have a more rigorous and mathematical approach and are particularly suited for those intending to undertake research in a physics related area. You can change between BSc and MPhys degrees at least until the end of year 3 though the change to MPhys is conditional on satisfactory prior performance.
All Physics degrees give you a good broad scientific background and this can mean a much better chance of employment in a changing job market than many more specialist degrees. A wide range of specialist postgraduate programmes will also be available to you (depending on your honours classification).
In some cases, students transfer to Combined Studies programmes and take a combination of courses from several Departments. Other students may wish to change their named degree to another discipline at the end of the first year.
Programme Directors
Each of our degree programmes has a Programme Director who is responsible for all aspects of the programme including curriculum design.
|UCAS code |Programme title |Programme director |
|(BSc/MPhys) | | |
| | | |
|F300/F302 |Physics |Professor M R Taghizadeh |
| | | |
|F314/F311 |Engineering Physics |Dr J G Crowder |
| | | |
|F390/391 |Physics with Energy Science & Technology |Dr W N MacPherson |
| | | |
|CF10/FC01 |Nanoscience |Professor D T Reid |
| | | |
|F344/F340 |Mathematical Physics |Dr P Ohberg |
| | | |
|F320/F322 |Chemical Physics |Dr D Townsend |
Common Assessment & Progression System (CAPS)
The University issues all students with documentation about the way grades are assigned to courses and about the rules for progression from one year to another. The following is a brief guide to some of the main points.
Grades:
You will receive one of the following grades for each course: A, B, C, D, E or F. The normal minimum grade for a pass in a continuing subject is D. A grade of E means you receive the full 15 credit points for the course and so are deemed to have passed ( however, you cannot study other courses for which that course is a pre-requisite. You may be required to resit this course by the Department to meet the progression rules. F is a fail, A to D represent levels of pass.
In the Investigative Techniques course, each course comprises two distinct parts, similarly weighted in terms of marks. These parts are the exam/coursework and the experimental work. If your performance falls below 40% in either part of the course, your course grade will be limited to an E grade at best and you will be required to resit all or part of the course.
Resitting a course:
If you do not pass a course at the first attempt, you are normally entitled to one further attempt, which is usually taken in August in the resit diet of assessment. If it is a pre-requisite for later courses or needed for progression to the next year of the programme, it will certainly be necessary to resit in August.
You may normally only resit one laboratory-based course at a time. This is due to the time needed to carry out experimental work, since each resit will take several days.
Progressing to the next year:
To progress from year 1 to year 2 normally requires:
a) Grade D or above in all courses of the year, except electives.
b) A minimum of 90 credit points:
c) For BSc, an average mark across all courses, except electives, of at least 45%
For MPhys, an average mark across all courses, except electives, of at least 60%
Degree modular requirements
It should be noted that in order to gain an Ordinary Degree you need to accumulate 360 credits, i.e. pass all 24 courses in years 1, 2 and 3.
To gain a BSc Honours degree you require 480 credits and, for an MPhys Honours degree, you require 600 credits. The department may, at its discretion, award discretionary credits for up to two courses.
6 Programme Structure and Delivery
Year 1 Course Structure
FIRST SEMESTER
| |B27MW1 |Physics 1 - Mechanics and Waves |Professor D T Reid, Dr V Sboros |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| |B27TA1 |Investigative Techniques 1 |Dr K A Prior, Dr W Lu, |
| | | |Dr D Townsend/Dr D Beddard |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| |F17XA1 |Maths for Engineers & Scientists 1 |Maths Department |
| | | | |
| |* |Choice of Option |See below or Electives list |
| | | | |
| |
| |
|SECOND SEMESTER |
| |B27FF2 |Physics 2 - Fields and Forces |Dr E Andersson, Dr P Dalgarno |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| |B27TB2 |Investigative Techniques 2 |Dr D Beddard, Dr A Bell |
| | | |Dr W Lu |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| |F17XB2 |Maths for Engineers & Scientists 2 |Maths Department |
| | | | |
| |* |Choice of Option |See below or Electives list |
| |
* Optional courses, and others, are replaced as described below for the programmes noted:
Nanoscience:
Optional courses are replaced by chemistry courses B17CA1 and B17CB2.
Mathematical Physics:
Courses F17XA1 and F17XB2 are replaced by F17CC1 and F17CB2.
Also, the optional course of semester 1 is replaced by F17CA1.
Physics with Energy Science & Technology
Optional courses are replaced by mechanical engineering courses B57EA1 and B57EB2.
Chemical Physics
Courses B27TA1 and B27TB2 are replaced by B27TC1 and B27TD2.
Also the optional courses are replaced by chemistry courses B17CA1 and B17CB2.
Elective options
On Physics programmes, students study four streams of courses: Physics courses, practical courses, Mathematics courses and a fourth stream that will be mandatory, optional or elective depending on the particular programme.
The fourth stream, when elective, provides a wide choice as shown in th elist below. Be aware that some choices may not be feasible due to timetabling limitations or a limited number of places so it's useful to have an alternative in mind.
You can subsequently change your electives, or even your programme, if you contact us early enough. That generally means the first week of the semester for a change of elective in that semester.
The number on the end of the course code indicates the semester in which the course is taught. Your programme structure, shown previously, tells you whether need to choose an elective course in each semester.
Note that B37EA1 is a useful preparation for the mandatory Electronics course (B38EB) in year 2.
Note that B37VB2 is a useful preparation for the mandatory programming course (B28MP) in year 2 but is limited in numbers.
Electrical Engineering
B37EA1 – Introduction to EE and Circuits
B37DA2 – Digital Design and Project
B37VB2 – Praxis Programming for Engineers [subject to timetabling constraints & numbers]
Mechanical Engineering
B57EA1 – Mechanical Engineering Science 1
B57EB2 – Mechanical Engineering Science 2
Chemistry (Important: these have a pre-requisite of SCE Higher (grade C) or GCE A-level (grade E) or equivalent).
B17CA1 – Principles of Chemistry
B17CB2 – Chemical Reactivity
Also:
A17IB1 – Introductory Biology 1
A17IO2 – Introductory Biology 2
A17EB2 – Environmental Biology
C17EB1 – Enterprise and its Business Environment 1
C17EC2 – Enterprise and its Business Environment 2
C27OA1 – Introductory Economics
For the following language courses, the course in semester 1 is a pre-requisite for the course in semester 2. So, this only suits students on the “Physics” and “Engineering Physics” programmes. If you wish to take the Beginner’s course and have any previous experience in the language, please contact the Languages department to check whether you are eligible.
C47AX1, C47AY2 Arabic (Beginners)
C47AP1, C47AQ2 Arabic (Post-Beginners)
C47FX1, C47FY2 French Post-Beginners Elective 1 and 2
C47FI1, C47FJ2 French Intermediate Elective 1 and 2
C47GP1, C47GQ2 German Post-Beginners Elective 1 and 2
C47GX1, C47GY2 German Beginners Elective 1 and 2
C47SX1, C47SY2 Spanish Beginners Elective 1 and 2
C47SP1, C47SQ2 Spanish Post-Beginners Elective 1 and 2
C47CE1, C47CF2 Chinese Beginners Elective 1 and 2
Physics and Mathematics courses
B27MW1 and B27FF2
This set of two courses provides the fundamentals of physics. Essentially these cover the same topics as Advanced Higher or A level Physics. Even if you have qualifications at these levels it is important to take this opportunity to review and consolidate your knowledge – the topics covered form the foundation for your future studies in Physics. The courses are designed for students with previous Physics knowledge equivalent to at least C at Higher or equivalent. The aim is to provide a useful background in fundamental physics concepts as a basis for future studies in physics, chemistry or engineering. The courses are supported by on-line learning materials as well as printed notes. Assessment is by examination and continuous assessment.
B27MW1 Mechanics and Waves
Professor D T Reid, Dr V Sboros
Syllabus
Kinematic relationships
Relativistic motion
Angular velocity and acceleration
Centripetal force
Rotational dynamics
Simple Harmonic motion
Introduction to Waves
The principle of superposition and the Doppler effect
Interference by division of amplitude
Interference by division of wavefront
Polarisation
B27FF2 Fields and Forces
Dr E Andersson, Dr P Dalgarno
Syllabus
Gravitational force and field
Gravitational potential and satellite motion
Electric force and field
Electric potential
Motion in an electric field
Magnetic fields and forces
Magnetic forces on conductors
Charges moving in a magnetic field
Motion in a magnetic field
Inductors and inductance
Inductors in circuits
Force of nature
Wave-particle duality
Introduction to quantum mechanics
Investigative Techniques
B27TA1, B27TB2
Dr K A Prior, Dr D Townsend, Dr A Bell
Dr W Lu, Dr D Beddard
The Investigative Techniques courses aim to develop a range of skills and tools that are required to explore physics at university. These include the development of hands-on skills during the investigation of selected topics in mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and optics and waves. The experiments will closely relate to the content of other lecture-based courses undertaken concurrently in each semester of the 1st year. The Investigative Techniques courses also aim to develop important analytical and mathematical skills through computer based laboratory work and lectures.
Practical Laboratory
You will undertake experimental investigations in mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and waves and optics. Students will be split into two groups and will do practical labs (three-hour session) on one day and computer labs (three-hour session) on another day. For most students, the choice will be determined by the laboratory organisers in order to balance the numbers in each class. However, certain electives may clash on the timetable and students are required to attend the practical laboratory session that does not clash with the elective they have chosen. You should inform Dr Prior or Dr Townsend of your choice of elective on the first laboratory session of the semester, and also ensure that you inform them if you change your elective after the start of the semester.
Computer Laboratory: Error Analysis & Mathematical Modelling
Through computer-based investigations you will learn data analysis and statistical methods that will complement your experimental work in the practical lab. You will also acquire skills required to model and predict physical phenomena. This will be supported by one lecture of taught material each week.
Recommended Texts:
‘Experimental Methods: An Introduction to the Analysis and Presentation of Data’ by L Kirkup (John Wiley & Sons)
‘An Introduction to Error Analysis’ by J R Taylor (Oxford University Press)
Assessment: Continuous Assessment
All marks awarded for B27TA and B27TB take the form of continuous assessment. The practical lab and computer lab aspects of each course are each weighted 50%. If your performance falls below 40% in either part of the course, your grade will be capped at grade E, which means that reassessment willl normally be required in order to progress to the next year of your programme.
Investigative Techniques
B27TC1, B27TD2
Dr K A Prior, Dr D Townsend, Dr A Bell
Dr W Lu, Dr D Beddard
The Investigative Techniques courses aim to develop a range of skills and tools that are required to explore physics and chemistry at university. These include the development of hands-on skills during the investigation of selected topics in mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and optics and waves as well as the core organic, inorganic and physical chemistry disciplines. The experiments will closely relate to the content of other lecture-based courses undertaken concurrently in each semester of the 1st year. The Investigative Techniques courses also aim to develop important analytical and mathematical skills through computer-based laboratory work and lectures.
Practical Laboratory
Students will take practical lab classes in physics and chemistry, in the David Brewster and William Perkin buildings respectively.
Students will do a three-hour practical lab on one day and a three-hour computer lab on another day.
Computer Laboratory: Error Analysis & Mathematical Modelling
Through computer-based investigations you will learn data analysis and statistical methods that will complement your experimental work in the practical lab. You will also acquire skills required to model and predict physical phenomena. This will be supported by one lecture of taught material each week.
Recommended Texts:
‘Experimental Methods: An introduction to the analysis and presentation of data’ by L Kirkup (John Wiley & Sons)
‘An Introduction to Error Analysis’ by J R Taylor (Oxford University Press)
Assessment: Continuous Assessment
All marks awarded B27TC and B27TD take the form of continuous assessment. The practical lab and computer lab aspects of each course are each weighted 50%. If your performance falls below 40% in either part of the course, your grade will be capped at grade E, which means that reassessment willl normally be required in order to progress to the next year of your programme.
Mathematics
F17XA1 Maths for Engineers & Scientists 1
Syllabus
All of the mathematical topics considered in this course are presented in the context of applications in either engineering or science. The topics covered are:
Functions, manipulation, simplification and solution
Logarithms and exponential functions – properties and rules of manipulation
Data handling and representation – statistical theory relating to error analysis including probability and different types of sample distributions
Introduction to calculus – physical meaning of derivatives and integrals and simple applications
Vectors – notation, the physical interpretation of vector quantities, basic operations such as addition and more advanced operations such as scalar product and vector product.
Assessment: Examination and Computer Assessment.
F17XB2 Maths for Engineers & Scientists 2
Syllabus
All of the mathematical topics considered in this course are presented in the context of applications in either engineering or science. The topics covered are:
Advanced differentiation – differentiation of simple and composite functions using a variet of different techniques
Advanced integration – integration of simple and composite functions using a variety of different techniques
Applications of differentiation and integration taken from science and engineering
Introduce the concept of differential equations
Solution of 1st order ordinary differential equations by separation
Complex numbers – Different ways of representing complex numbers, arithmetic operations on complex numbers
Matrices – Notation, matrix addition and subtraction, 2x2 and 3x3 matrix multiplication, inverse matrices, determinants, 2x2 linear system solution by Gaussian elimination
Assessment: Examination and Computer Assessment.
PART B – UNIVERSITY INFORMATION
The Academic Registry is responsible for producing Part B of the handbook to provide information and assistance on University policies and support services. Kathy Patterson is the Academic Registrar and Deputy Secretary.
Students should contact the appropriate School/Institute in the first instance for any academic query or assistance.
Please note that the following sections are standard sources of information provided to all students. However, certain aspects are programme-specific and students should refer to Part A where directed.
B1. ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS
Heriot-Watt University has a detailed set of rules which governs the operation and management of University business. These are referred to as Ordinances and these Ordinances are set by the Court, which is the governing body of the University. The University Ordinances are also supported by University Regulations which detail the rules, policies and practices which Staff and Students must adhere to for all academic matters.
The following section on Academic Support Services often refers to Ordinances and Regulations. These links will provide you with information and guidance on all matters relating to your academic life.
A full list of Ordinances and Regulations are available at the following:
B2. QUICK FINDER GUIDE TO ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES
| |
|1. Academic Support |
|1.1 | Mentoring | |
| | |and |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on |
| | |Mentoring. |
|1.2 | Professional | |
| |Development | |
| |Planning |Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on |
| | |Professional Development Planning. |
|1.3 |Student Feedback | |
| | |and |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on |
| | |Student Feedback. |
| |
|2. Enrolment, Attendance and Periods of Study |
|2.1 |Attendance/ Absence from the |Policy on Student Attendance: |
| |University | |
| | | |
| | |Withdrawal from University: |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |Regulation 1 – General Regulation, paragraph 6 |
| | |Regulation 3 – Modular First Degrees, paragraph 10 |
|2.2 |Accreditation of | |
| |Prior | |
| |Learning |Regulation 46 – Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) |
|2.3 |Amendment to |Application Form: |
| |Registration | |
|2.4 |Change of Address |Please login to Student Self |
|2.5 |Enrolment | |
| | | |
| | |Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on |
| | |enrolment. |
|2.6 |Periods of Study | |
| | | |
| | |Regulation 3 – Modular First Degrees, paragraph 6 |
|2.7 |Student Personal |hw.ac.uk/students/data_protection_policy.pdf |
| |Information (Data | |
| |Protection) | |
|2.8 |Suspension of |Students are advised to consult with their mentor /Year Co-ordinator/Director of Studies in the first|
| |Studies |instance |
| | | |
| | |Application forms are available on the Registry website – Find a Form, |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |Under the heading of Student Records: |
| | |Amendment to Registration (Approval by School/Institute) (Undergraduate) |
| | |Amendment to Registration Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught (Approval By Studies Committees) |
|2.9 |Teaching | |
| |Timetables |hw.ac.uk/timetabling |
| |
|3. Guidance on Assessment |
|3.1 | Assessment | |
| | | |
| | |Regulation 3 – Modular First Degrees, paragraphs 13 -19 |
|3.2 |Common | |
| |Assessment | |
| |and Progression | |
| |System (CAPS) | |
|3.3 |Extension to | |
| |Assessment |Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on |
| |Deadlines |extensions to assessment deadlines. |
|3.4 |Ill Health and | |
| |Extenuating | |
| |Circumstances - | |
| |Assessment |Regulation 1 – General Regulation, paragraph 6 |
| | |Regulation 3 – Modular First Degrees, paragraph 10, 16, 25 |
|3.5 |Special Circumstances in |Policy: |
| |Assessment | |
| | | |
| | |Application Form: |
| | | |
|3.6 |Non-Submission of |Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on |
| |Assessment |non-submission of assessments. |
|3.7 |Submission of |Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on |
| |Assessment |submission of assessment. |
| |
|4. Examination and Re-assessment Procedures |
|4.1 |Assessment | |
| |Results | |
| | |Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on |
| | |assessment results. |
|4.2 |Discretionary | |
| |Credits | |
| | |Regulation 3 – Modular First Degrees, paragraph 22 |
|4.3 |Examinations | |
| | | |
| | |Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on |
| | |examinations. |
|4.4 |Examination Diets | |
| | | |
| | |Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on |
| | |examinations diets. |
|4.5 |Examination | |
| |Timetables | |
| | |Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on |
| | |examination timetables . |
|4.6 |Ill Health and | |
| |Extenuating | |
| |Circumstances – |Regulation 1 – General Regulation, paragraph 6 |
| |Examinations |Regulation 9 – Assessments and Examinations, paragraphs 9 and 12 |
| | | |
| | |Students should refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for related |
| | |procedures in Schools. |
|4.7 |Special Circumstances in |Policy: |
| |Assessment and Examinations | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |Application Form: |
| | | |
|4.8 |Examination in Different Time |Policy: |
| |Zones | |
|4.9 |Information on Student |Information on student fees and charges |
| |Fees and Charges | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |Ordinance 2 – Fees, Charges, Fines and Debts |
|4.10 |Re-assessment | |
| | | |
| | |Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on |
| | |re-assessment. |
|4.11 |Use of Calculators |Policy on the Use of Calculators: |
| |in | |
| |Examinations | |
| | |Regulation 9 – Assessments and Examinations, paragraph 8 |
| |
|5. Grading, Awards and Qualifications |
|5.1 |Honours | |
| |Classification and | |
| |Grading |For information regarding the qualifying courses used to determine honours classifications, please |
| | |refer to: |
| | |Regulation 3 – Modular First Degrees, paragraphs 14, 20, 23 |
| | | |
| | |For information on credit levels relating to degree awards can be found at: |
| | |Regulation 3 – Modular First Degrees, paragraphs 14, 20 |
|5.2 |Intermediate Award | |
| |
|6. Graduation |
|6.1 |Graduation | |
| |Information and | |
| |Application Forms | |
| |
|7. Conduct, Discipline and Appeals |
|7.1 |Academic Conduct |Further Information is available from: |
| |(including copying, | |
| |plagiarism and |Ordinance 9 – Student Discipline |
| |collusion) |Regulation 9 – Assessment and Examinations, Paragraph 8 |
| | |Regulation 50 – Student Discipline |
| | | |
|7.2 |Appeals |Further Information is available from: |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |Regulation 36 – Student Appeals |
|7.3 |Detection of | |
| |Plagiarism | |
| | | |
|7.4 |Guidelines for | |
| |Students and Staff | |
| |on Student | |
| |Discipline | |
| |Procedures | |
|7.5 |Plagiarism |Further Information is available from: |
| | | |
| | |Plagiarism Guide: |
| | |For an English language version, please refer to |
| | | |
| | |(this document is attached in Appendix A)For the Chinese language version, please refer to |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |For the Arabic language version, please refer to |
| | | |
|7.6 |Use of Mobile | |
| |Telephones | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |Regulation 9 – Assessment and Examinations, paragraph 8 |
| | |Regulation 50 – Student Discipline |
| |
|8. Suspension, Withdrawal and Exit Award |
|8.1 |Suspension |Students are advised to consult with their mentor /Year Co-ordinator/Director of Studies in the first|
| | |instance |
| | | |
| | |Application forms are available on the Registry website – Find a Form, |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |Under the heading of Student Records: |
| | |Amendment to Registration (Approval by School/Institute) (Undergraduate) |
| | |Amendment to Registration Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught (Approval By Studies Committees) |
| | | |
| | |Further Information is available from: |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |Regulation 1 – General Regulation, paragraph 6 |
| | |Regulation 3 Modular First Degrees, paragraph 19 |
|8.2 |Withdrawal |Application Form to withdraw from studies is available form: |
| | | |
|8.3 |Exit Awards | |
| |
|9. Student Fees and Charges |
|9.1 |Charges for |Follow the link for Additional Notes on Fees at: |
| |Transcripts, | |
| |Certifications, Late | |
| |Enrolment and | |
| |Student Identity | |
| |Cards | |
|9.2 |Fees Status | |
| |Enquiry | |
| |Form | |
|9.3 |Information on Student Fees |Information on Tuition Fees: |
| |and charges |hw.ac.uk/student-life/scholarships/tuition-fees.htm |
| | | |
| | |Information on Additional Fees and Charges: |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |Further information available from: |
| | | |
| | |Ordinance 2 – Fees, Charges, Fines and Debts |
|9.4 |Re-assessment | |
| |Fees | |
| |and Procedures | |
B3. QUICK FINDER GUIDE TO STUDENT ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT
SERVICES
Much of the detail this handbook provides guidance and links for the academic operations of a complex institution like Heriot-Watt University. However, as well as helping to inform students, the University also hopes to ensure that students are happy members of a vibrant community.
This section outlines the range of services available for students to help them get the most out of their time here and to assist with any problems they may experience along the way.
| |
|Student Administration and Support Service |
|1 |Academic Counselling | |
| |and Skills Coaching | |
|2 |Academic Registry | |
|3 |Careers Advisory | |
| |Service | |
|4 |Centre for Sport and |Edinburgh Campus: |
| |Exercise | |
|5 |Chaplaincy | |
|6 |Computing Services |Regulation 29 ‘Use of Computing Facilities’: |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |General IT information: |
| | | |
| | |or contact IT Help on +44 (0)130 451 4045 |
| | | |
| | |Freewire: |
|7 |Development and | |
| |Alumni Office | |
|8 |Equality and | |
| |Diversity | |
| |Service | |
|9 |Finance Office | |
| | | |
| | |or contact studentcentre@hw.ac.uk |
|10 |Guide to Student Life | |
|11 |Health Service | |
|12 |Heriot Watt | |
| |University | |
| |Students’ |or contact hwusa@hw.ac.uk |
| |Association | |
|13 |Information Security |To find out more please contact foi@hw.ac.uk |
| |(Data Protection) | |
|14 |International Student | |
| |Advice | |
|15 |Library | |
|16 |Sports Union | |
|17 |Student Service | |
| |Centre | |
|18 |Student Support and |Student Support: |
| |Accommodation | |
| | | |
| | |Accommodation: |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |or contact - studentsupport@hw.ac.uk |
|19 |Religious Services |In addition to the multi-denominational Chaplaincy, a Muslim Prayer Room is provided for |
| | |students at the main University campus Edinburgh. There is also a prayer room for students |
| | |within the Dubai Campus. |
|20 |Wider Access Unit |Further information on Wider Access can be found at: |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |or contact Fiona Watt, Wider Access Assistant - F.Watt@hw.ac.uk |
University Policy and Guidance
The University publishes many policies and reference information on its website that may be of use and of interest to students throughout their programme of studies at Heriot-Watt University
Wherever practicable, University policies are designed to include all members of the University’s community, both in and outwith the main campus environments.
Policies of specific interest and relevance to students can be accessed via:
Appendix A
STUDENT GUIDE TO PLAGIARISM [1]
Plagiarism is intellectual theft and is a major offence which the University takes seriously in all cases. Students must therefore avoid committing acts of plagiarism by following these guidelines and speaking to academic staff if they are uncertain about what plagiarism means. Those who are found to have plagiarised will be subject to the University’s disciplinary procedures, which may result in penalties ranging from the deduction of credits and modules already achieved by students to compulsory termination of studies. Students are advised to refer to Regulation 50 at and to the Guidelines for Staff and Students on Discipline at for further details of how the University deals with all acts of plagiarism.
Introduction
1. This guide is intended to provide students at Heriot-Watt University with a clear definition of plagiarism and examples of how to avoid it.
2. The guide may also be of use to members of staff who seek to advise students on the various issues outlined below.
Definition
3. Plagiarism involves the act of taking the ideas, writings or inventions of another person and using these as if they were one’s own, whether intentionally or not. Plagiarism occurs where there is no acknowledgement that the writings or ideas belong to or have come from another source.
4. Most academic writing involves building on the work of others and this is acceptable as long as their contribution is identified and fully acknowledged. It is not wrong in itself to use the ideas, writings or inventions of others, provided that whoever does so is honest about acknowledging the source of that information. Many aspects of plagiarism can be simply avoided through proper referencing. However, plagiarism extends beyond minor errors in referencing the work of others and also includes the reproduction of an entire paper or passage of work or of the ideas and views contained in such pieces of work.
Good Practice
5. Academic work is almost always drawn from other published information supplemented by the writer’s own ideas, results or findings. Thus drawing from other work is entirely acceptable, but it is unacceptable not to acknowledge such work. Conventions or methods for making acknowledgements can vary slightly from subject to subject, and students should seek the advice of staff in their own School/Institute about ways of doing this. Generally, referencing systems fall into the Harvard (where the text citation is by author and date) and numeric (where the text citation is by using a number). Both systems refer readers to a list at the end of the piece of work where sufficient information is provided to enable the reader to locate the source for themselves.
6. When a student undertakes a piece of work that involves drawing on the writings or ideas of others, they must ensure that they acknowledge each contribution in the following manner:
• Citations: when a direct quotation, a figure, a general idea or other piece of information is taken from another source, the work and its source must be acknowledged and identified where it occurs in the text;
• Quotations: inverted commas must always be used to identify direct quotations, and the source of the quotation must be cited;
• References: the full details of all references and other sources must be listed in a section at the end of any piece of work, such as an essay, together with the full publication details. This is normally referred to as a “List of References” and it must include details of any and all sources of information that the student has referred to in producing their work. (This is slightly different to a Bibliography, which may also contain references and sources which, although not directly referred to in your work, you consulted in producing your work).
7. Students may wish to refer to the following examples which illustrate the basic principles of plagiarism and how students might avoid it in their work by using some very simple techniques:
1. Example 1: A Clear Case of Plagiarism
Examine the following example in which a student has simply inserted a passage of text (in italics) into their work directly from a book they have read:
University and college managers should consider implementing strategic frameworks if they wish to embrace good management standards. One of the key problems in setting a strategic framework for a college or university is that the individual institution has both positive and negative constraints placed upon its freedom of action. Managers are employed to resolve these issues effectively.
This is an example of bad practice as the student makes no attempt to distinguish the passage they have inserted from their own work. Thus, this constitutes a clear case of plagiarism. Simply changing a few key words in such a passage of text (e.g. replace ‘problems’ with ‘difficulties’) does not make it the student’s work and it is still considered to be an act of plagiarism.
2. Common Mistakes
Students may also find the following examples[2] of common plagiarism mistakes made by other students useful when reflecting on their own work:
• “I thought it would be okay as long as I included the source in my bibliography” [without indicating a quotation had been used in the text]
• “I made lots of notes for my essay and couldn't remember where I found the information”
• “I thought it would be okay to use material that I had purchased online”
• “I thought it would be okay to copy the text if I changed some of the words into my own”
• “I thought that plagiarism only applied to essays, I didn't know that it also applies to oral presentations/group projects etc”
• “I thought it would be okay just to use my tutor's notes”
• “I didn't think that you needed to reference material found on the web”
• “I left it too late and just didn't have time to reference my sources”
None of the above are acceptable reasons for failing to acknowledge the use of others’ work and thereby constitute plagiarism.
8. What follows are examples of the measures that students should employ in order to correctly cite the words, thought or ideas of others that have influenced their work:
1. Example 2: Quoting the work of others
If a student wishes to cite a passage of text in order to support their own work, the correct way of doing so is to use quotation marks (e.g. “ “) to show that the passage is someone else’s work, as follows:
“One of the key problems in setting a strategic framework for a college or university is that the individual institution has both positive and negative constraints placed upon its freedom of action”.
2. Example 3: Referencing the work of others
In addition to using quotation marks as above, students must also use a text citation. If the work being cited is a book, page numbers would also normally be required. Thus, using the Harvard system for a book:
“One of the key problems in setting a strategic framework for a college or university is that the individual institution has both positive and negative constraints placed upon its freedom of action” (Jones, 2001, p121).
The same reference could also be made to a book using the numeric system:
“One of the key problems in setting a strategic framework for a college or university is that the individual institution has both positive and negative constraints placed upon its freedom of action” (Ref.1, p121).
More often, a piece of work will have multiple references and this serves to show an examiner that the student is drawing from a number of sources. For example, articles by Brown and by Smith may be cited as follows in the Harvard system
“It has been asserted that Higher Education in the United Kingdom continued to be poorly funded during the 1980’s [Brown, 1991], whereas more modern writers [Smith, 2002] argue that the HE sector actually received, in real terms, more funding during this period than the thirty year period immediately preceding it”.
or as follows using the numeric system:
“It has been asserted that Higher Education in the United Kingdom continued to be poorly funded during the 1980’s [Ref 1], whereas more modern writers [Ref 2] argue that the HE sector actually received, in real terms, more funding during this period than the thirty year period immediately preceding it”.
3. Example 4: Use of reference lists
Whichever system is used, a list must be included at the end, which allows the reader to locate the works cited for themselves. The Internet is also an increasingly popular source of information for students and details must again be provided. You should adhere to the following guidelines in all cases where you reference the work of others:
If the source is a book, the required information is as follows:
|Author’s name(s) |Publishers Name |
|Year of Publication |All Page Numbers cited |
|Title of Book |Edition (if more than one, e.g. 3rd edition, 2001) |
|Place of Publication | |
If the source is an article in a journal or periodical, the required information is as follows:
|Author’s name(s) |Volume and part number |
|Year of Publication |Page numbers for the article |
|Title of Journal | |
If the source is from the Internet, the required information is as follows:
|Author’s or Institution’s name (“Anon”, if not known) |Full URL (e.g. /instruction/plagiarism/) |
|Title of Document |Affiliation of author, if given (e.g. University of Tennessee) |
|Date last accessed by student | |
The way in which the information is organised can vary, and there are some types of work (for example edited volumes and conference proceedings) where the required information is slightly different. Essentially, though, it is your responsibility to make it clear where you are citing references within your work and what the source is within your reference list. Failure to do so is an act of plagiarism.
9. Students are encouraged to use a style of acknowledgement that is appropriate to their own academic discipline and should seek advice from their mentor, course leader or other appropriate member of academic staff. There are also many reference sources available in the University Library which will provide useful guidance on referencing styles.
Managing Plagiarism
10. Students, supervisors and institutions have a joint role in ensuring that plagiarism is avoided in all areas of academic activity. Each role is outlined below as follows:
How you can ensure that you avoid plagiarism in your work:
• Take responsibility for applying the above principles of best practice and integrity within all of your work
• Be aware that your written work will be checked for plagiarism and that all incidents of plagiarism, if found, are likely to result in severe disciplinary action by the University. The standard penalty is to annul all assessments taken in the same diet of examinations (for details please refer to Regulation 50 at and to the Guidelines for Staff and Students on Discipline at ).
How your School/Institute will help you to avoid plagiarism:
• Highlight written guidance on how you can avoid plagiarism and provide you with supplementary, verbal guidance wherever appropriate
• Regularly check student work to ensure that plagiarism has not taken place. This may involve both manual and electronic methods of checking. A number of plagiarism detection packages are in use at Heriot-Watt University, one example being the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) “TurnitIn” plagiarism detection software. See for more information on how this software package works.
• Alert you to the procedures that will apply should you be found to have committed or be suspected of having committed an act of plagiarism and explain how further action will be taken in accordance with University policy and procedures.
How the University will endeavour to reduce student plagiarism:
• Provide clear written guidance on what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it directly to your School/Institute and to you
• Alert you and staff in your School/Institute to the penalties employed when dealing with plagiarism cases
• Take steps to ensure that a consistent approach is applied when dealing with cases of suspected plagiarism across the institution
• Take the issue of academic dishonesty very seriously and routinely investigate cases where students have plagiarised and apply appropriate penalties in all proven cases.
-----------------------
[1] The author acknowledges the following sources of information used in preparing this guide to Plagiarism:
“Plagiarism – A Good Practice Guide”, Carroll, J and Appleton, J (2001) and various extracts from Student/Course Handbooks 2004/2005, Schools and Institutes at Heriot-Watt University
[2] Extract from ‘Plagiarism at the University of Essex’ advice copyrighted and published by the Learning, Teaching and Quality Unit at the University of Essex ( ), reproduced with kind permission.
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