Keele Badge

CHE-40078 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 06 April 2026

CHE-40078 - MChem Research Training (Placement)
Coordinator: Peter Matthews Room: LJ0.19 Tel: +44 1782 7 33188
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734921

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

CHE-40050
CHE-40066
CHE-40064
CHE-40068

Description for 2026/27

This is a core module for the MChem programmes for students carrying out a placement-based research project. It is designed to give you the tools to succeed in research through critical understanding of appropriate chemical sciences literature, the research process and your analytical skills. In addition, you will learn and reflect on specific, on-the-job training provided by your placement host, as well as developing professional skills in data processing, presentation graphics, referencing, and other relevant components of a professionally written scientific content.

Aims
To further develop information literacy skills in searching for, selecting and critically evaluating relevant peer-reviewed research literature.
To gain an appreciation of the chemistry research process, through engagement with issues surrounding funding, publishing, research integrity and ethics, and impact.
To further develop written communication skills.
To build research, communication, record-keeping and reporting skills relevant to a professional workplace

Intended Learning Outcomes

use analytical and critical reading to extract and collate information presented in scientific, peer-reviewed journal literature: 3
communicate effectively and persuasively in written forms using clear, scientific language: 1,4
evaluate and discuss the impact of the outcomes of a research project in terms of the societal, financial and intellectual perspectives: 1
present and defend the key findings of an original research project in a variety of formats including a laboratory notebook and poster presentation: 3,4
appraise critically the suitability of techniques used for research and in published work: 2
continuously develop and critically reflect on relevant professional skills for research in a chemical sciences workplace: 2

Study hours

Active Learning Hours
3 hours Chemistry Research Symposium attendance
1 hour attending oral presentation session
20 hours host-specific training or equivalent
20 hours remote or asynchronous workshops
Independent Study Hours
20 hours reflective writing on placement activities
6 hours remote advisory meetings
230 hours independent study and assessment preparation

School Rules

Students who have not secured a placement host by the start of Semester 1 will be transferred to the equivalent non-placement version of the module.
This module can only be taken alongside the other two placement-based MChem modules, students must take all three of CHE-40076, CHE-40078 and CHE-40080

Description of Module Assessment

1: Research Proposal weighted 10%
Proposal
Students will prepare a research proposal or business case (equivalent to 700 words) based on their placement research project which will include title, brief background, the aims of the project, details of the investigation to be carried out and the methods to be used

2: Portfolio weighted 40%
Professional Training Portfolio
Students will maintain a portfolio of professional training activities carried out as part of their placement, with both a written and a presentation element. The written element, equivalent to 3500 words, may include local safety inductions, training in GLP or GMP techniques, legal record-keeping and data protection, training on specific instrumentation or laboratory practices, and record these in a portfolio which includes a reflective component. Depending on the nature of the placement, elements may be supplemented with advanced research training components from the non-placement version of this module where appropriate. The oral presentation element consists of a 10 minute presentation at Keele, at approximately the mid-point of the placement, summarising progress to date and reflecting on the professional practice aspects of working in a placement environment.

3: Laboratory Book weighted 35%
Laboratory notebook
A comprehensive and contemporary laboratory notebook that includes: details of experiments (or equivalent) undertaken, results, literature that has been engaged with, data analysis and records of project meetings with the placement supervisor and the Keele-based project advisor. The combination of written work and processed data are equivalent to approximately 4000 words

4: Poster weighted 15%
Poster Presentation
Poster presentation on the placement research project to include: brief context for the project and the results obtained in the project. The poster will be assessed for content, professionalism and visual appeal as a static piece of work. You will additionally give a 5-10 minute talk about your poster to academic staff and then answer questions for 5-10 minutes. The format of the poster presentation may be modified to a smaller group of approved markers to allow for intellectual property considerations for commercially sensitive work.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 06 April 2026