Student must be registered on MSci Forensic Science, MSci Forensic Investigation, MSci Policing and Criminal Investigation or MChem Chemistry.

1. DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND SKILLS TO ENABLE WORK AT AN ADVANCED LEVEL IN A PROFESSIONAL, AWARD-RELATED, WORK ENVIRONMENT.
Application, Knowledge & Understanding, Learning

2. WORK EFFECTIVELY IN A PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT, EVALUATING PRACTICE, AND APPLYING APPROPRIATE THINKING
Application, Learning, Reflection

3. UNDERTAKE NEW TRAINING APPROPRIATE TO PLACEMENT TASKS AND DEVELOP NEW SKILLS APPROPRIATE TO NEEDS.
Application, Learning, Problem Solving

4. DEMONSTRATE ADVANCED ABILITY TO CONDUCT DIRECTED AND SELF-DIRECTED RESEARCH, ENCOMPASSING THE CAPABILITY TO LOCATE AND REVIEW APPROPRIATE LITERATURE.
Analysis, Enquiry, Knowledge & Understanding, Learning

5. COMMUNICATE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PLACEMENT IN A STRUCTURED FORMAT, IDENTIFYING OUTCOMES OF RESEARCH.
Communication

6. REFLECT ON SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE GAINED THROUGHOUT THE PLACEMENT.
Reflection

Work Diary 10%
Supervisor Mark 10%
Conference style Presentation 20% 30 minutes
Report 60% 7500 words

1. Work Diary - A secure electronic reflective diary, (accessible through the University VLE system or via OneDrive), or a hard copy book for the student to record the day-to-day activities carried out during the placement and working hours [1, 2, 3, 6]

2. Supervisor Assessment – This will include an assessment of the students work related skills including self-management and will follow consultation between the academic supervisor and the industry supervisor. [2,3,4]

3. Conference style Presentation - A 30-minute oral presentation, or defended poster presentation lasting 30 minutes in total, outlining the work undertaken during the placement. This presentation will be viewed by a panel. [5]

4. Report - A report, typically no more than 7,500 words in length, which should include an outline of the business operations of the organisation, detailed information on the work undertaken during the placement, including the technical aspects of the placement, an outline of the impact of the work undertaken on the organisation, and a critical evaluation of the experience gained. Wherever possible, the content and nature of the work should reflect the specific aims of the Named Award. [4, 5, 8]

The purpose of the module is to assess the industrial placement period which the student has undertaken (on a full-time basis), thus providing a formal mechanism for gaining credit towards their MSci degree.

The module, therefore, requires the student to undertake, within the total elapsed time of the placement, (a) structured piece(s) of project work, relevant to the company which ensures that the learning outcomes are demonstrated. A learning contract will be drawn up with the employer and the university prior to undertaking the placement.

The content will be highly dependent on the nature of the work undertaken during the placement.

The work can be varied but will be tailored to the students’ needs whilst satisfying the company requirements. This will be negotiated between the placement co-ordinator, placement supervisor, the student and his/her industry supervisor.

The learning strategies involved will depend to a large extent on the nature of the work undertaken.
In general, it will be a requirement that literature relevant to the area of work, and background to any techniques utilised, will be continually reviewed. Any work-related activities required by the employer will be undertaken. This could be in the form of:
External work-based placement with minor research element
External research-based placement
Internal work-based placement with minor research element
Internal research-based placement

Whilst the period in industry is required to be a period of 11 weeks full time (usually 35 hours per week, 385 hours total), the module seeks to identify relevant project work, in conjunction with the placement mentor, which will constitute a minimum of 40 hours alongside your other tasks.

15 hours of contact time will be achieved through;
3 x 1 hour tutorials in semester 1 and meeting(s) between the student, supervisor and industry supervisor (including, if possible, a supervisor visit to the place of work), regular Skype meetings, phone calls, emails and attendance at the presentation.

The remainder of the time (160 hours) will be used for self-directed study relevant to the placement and research activity.

Learning strategies will include some of the below:
Evidence of an induction period in the company.
Project work will be identified and agreed as indicated in Indicative Content.
A diary of the student’s work will be maintained throughout the placement period.
Detailed reports prepared by the student and presentations, meetings etc. will be undertaken as appropriate.
Advice and guidance will be given by the visiting tutor via visits, email, or telephone communication.
The use of appropriate library resources, and internet application will be encouraged.
Learning from colleagues at work (discussion with colleagues) and working as part of a team are important aspects of the learning strategy.

Reference text will be placement specific and directed by placement supervisor.

Generic texts:
Fanthome, C. (2004) Work Placements: A Survival Guide for Students. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.

Hertbert, I and Rothwell A. (2004) Managing Your Placement: A Skills Based Approach. Palgrave.

The student will also have contact with an academic placement supervisor and where relevant, an industrial supervisor at the placement, both of whom will be able to give guidance and advice.
In addition, students will need access to the appropriate facilities and equipment at their placement and the University VLE.

You will spend the second semester of your final year working on an internal or external placement. This will give you the opportunity to demonstrate that you can work effectively in a professional environment. You will learn new skills and conduct research appropriate to the placement requirements.