BBC Masters of Science - Dr Terry Whatson October page 1

OCTOBER
This year introductory day schools at nine regional centres across the country were scheduled. Each tutor ran their own day school, which proved a tiring but worth while exercise. Apart from providing an overview of the course and an opportunity to meet, student to student, student to tutor, the day schools permitted discussion of assessment. The three early assignments are standard fare though it always helps to know what your tutor is looking for, but the fifth is something different. The fifth piece of assessment is a poster (the fourth being its plan) and students were able to see and discuss some examples of posters.

The poster day schools, held this year in Milton Keynes (twice), Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh and Dublin on various Saturdays in July were the next major event on the course calendar. The early assignments are out of the way by May and the poster allows students to opt for a particular topic to study in a bit more depth. As in previous years, the posters and the students defending them, were of a very high standard. The day is a tiring one, but very rewarding and gratifying for all to experience the high academic standard attained by the students.