Units / ASP5001
ASP5001 · Advanced astrophysics research project A
2026 Handbook12 credit pointsLevel 5School of Physics and Astronomy
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
You will undertake a research project involving original work on a topic chosen in consultation with an academic supervisor. The topic may be a continuation of research completed in ASP4002, enabling a deeper insight into a larger research problem. In this case, it is expected that the research outcomes will also be suitable for submission for publication in a peer-reviewed international journal. Alternatively, the project may be a separate topic to ASP4002, but you must display a more mature research methodology than was required for ASP4002.
Areas of study: Master of Science in Astrophysics
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | Second semester | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interim seminar | Presentation | 25% | — |
| 2 | Interim thesis | Written | 75% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.
Learning outcomes
- Understand, use and explain the basic concepts and principles of the research literature which underpin the chosen area of astrophysics research.
- Synthesise and interpret the knowledge gained in the study of the underpinning research literature. This leads to the ability to identify a niche topic or topics within this existing body of literature, which represents a gap in current knowledge. This problem should be suitable for original research.
- Solve an outstanding problem or problems in the chosen area for original research.
- Present the results of the original research in written form as an interim thesis, and also present key thesis results in oral form as an interim seminar.
Workload
24 hours per week which includes 18 hours of independent research; 4 hours of literature review, interim seminar and interim thesis preparation (averaged over the semester); attendance at group meetings, seminars colloquia equivalent to 1 hour per week; specialist training and consultation with a supervisor, 1 hour each per fortnight.
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