In the Health and Medicine Honours course, you will apply advanced research methods and work under the supervision of an experienced researcher to propose and justify a research project within the broad areas of health science and/or medical research. You will then conduct novel research using appropriate methodologies and time/project management skills. You will analyse and interpret the collected data within the context of the current literature and justify your conclusions, applying learned skills in scientific writing and the effective presentation of information in tabular, graphical and multimedia and in-person presentations. You will develop the ability to effectively respond to critical appraisal of your research outputs and the ability to develop and give effective feedback to peers. This course will involve online and in-person workshops and masterclasses to develop key skills. You will be expected to maintain communication and attend regular progress meetings with the nominated supervisor.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Systematically evaluate relevant theory and concepts, relate these to appropriate methodologies and evidence and draw appropriate conclusions.
2. Analyse and interpret original research data with statistical or other evaluative processes where appropriate.
3. Plan and engage in an independent and sustained critical investigation of a chosen research topic to generate new knowledge.
4. Demonstrate sufficient mastery to understand and apply relevant experimental, theoretical or modelling techniques and methods to collect original research data.
5. Communicate and justify complex concepts and results clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences.

Research-Led Teaching

HLTH4001 is the course taken by students pursuing the health and medicine, an Honours specialisation primarily associated with the Honours in Health Sciences.

It involves a year (2 Semesters) of full time (total 48 credits) study.

Students undertake a research project under the supervision of an academic from the ANU School of Medicine and Psychology or an affiliated School or organisation.

The primary focus of this year is independent study and the completion of a research project at the level of an Honours degree. The principal component of the course is research within a health and medicine topic and conducted under supervision of an academic. To this end, students are expected to write a Research Proposal on their research topic, milestone reports, present on their research work and attend various workshops and seminars. The major item of assessment is the thesis.

The Honours course runs from early February to early November (or from mid July to mid May the following year for those who commence their studies in semester two).

Field Trips

Some research projects may have a fieldwork component. To be discussed with your supervisor.

Additional Course Costs

To be discussed with your supervisor and Honours convenor as needed.

Required Resources

To be discussed with your supervisor and Honours convenor as needed.

Recommended Resources

The HLTH4001 honours handbook, timelines and College handbook are available on the Honours Wattle site.

There are a variety of online platforms you may use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given written feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written feedback is provided on the Research Proposal, Oral Presentation, Milestone Reports and Final Thesis

Informal feedback will be received via:

• Three set meetings are held with supervisors over the year.
• Supervisors will maintain regular contact with their students throughout the year outside of the milestone meetings.
• Discussion during workshops and seminars.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	The Honours year commences in February with a welcome session which includes information and induction.	This induction provides general information for students enrolling in Honours. It is expected that full-time Honours students will enrol in this course twice over consecutive semesters (24 units each semester) to a total of 48 units in the full-year. Dates for submitting the thesis are defined based on the semester in which the student will complete their enrolment in the course. For further details, please refer to the course information and related documents in Wattle, and to the Honours Handbook.
2	Training courses are scheduled throughout the year. Details provided on the wattle site.
3	The focus of Honours is to complete a research project. This project is undertaken throughout the year. There are two assessment items and several milestones to complete during the year.	Please see Honours timeline and Handbook for full details.

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Research Proposal	20 %	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Presenting Scientific Information Oral Presentation	10 %	1, 2, 4, 5
Thesis	70 %	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Research Skills Workshops	0 %	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Student Seminars	0 %	1, 2, 5
Milestones	0 %	1, 2, 3, 4, 5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

There are three components of your course that are formally assessed - the research proposal (20%), oral presentation (10%) and final thesis (70%). Note that the milestones are course requirements and these hurdles must be completed in order to progress and graduate.

Examination(s)

There is no examination

Assessment Task 1

Research Proposal

The research proposal is a written research plan comprised of a literature review, methodology, ethics and timeline.

See WATTLE for details.

Word Count: Your proposal should not normally be longer than 5,000 words.

Due date: 5 April 2024

Value: 20%

Return Date: 1-month after submission

Assessment Task 2

Presenting Scientific Information Oral Presentation

A 20-minute oral presentation followed by 10-minute discussion on your research proposal and preliminary research findings. This is an opportunity for fellow students and academic staff to find out how your research project is going, what you are finding out as you do your analysis, and another opportunity for you to get feedback that you can incorporate into your thesis.

See WATTLE for details.

Time Limit: 20 minute presentation followed by 10 minute discussion

Due date: See WATTLE for presentation schedule

Value: 10%

Return Date: Within 2-weeks of presentation

Assessment Task 3

Thesis

A comprehensive scientific written report of your Honours research project. See WATTLE for details of thesis writing guidelines.

Submit the thesis via WATTLE.

Your thesis will be assessed by a panel of two examiners. Typically, one examiner will be familiar with the research field and the other will be a non-expert. The non-expert examiner will be able to assess the basic logic and clarity of your thesis, rather than the technical details. All examiners will be looking for quality of your work, rather than the amount of work you have done. They will be assessing your understanding of the background, methodological understanding and broader implications of your work, rather than the significance of the results themselves. 

See WATTLE for details

Word Count: Maximum 20,000 words

Due date: 25 October 2024

Value: 70%

Return Date: The course results will be released on ISIS.

Assessment Task 4

Research Skills Workshops

Workshops and seminars are compulsory for all students to attend. They are an important part of your research training and are designed to provide you with core research skills, exposure to a range of research topics, practice presenting your research and feedback on your project. A range of key topics including literature reviews, ethics, research design and methods will be covered. This is also an opportunity for your colleagues to learn about the research you plan to do, and for you to get feedback.

See WATTLE for details

Hurdle assessment requirement: This assessment item must be attempted to pass the course.

Dates: See WATTLE for workshop and seminar schedule

Assessment Task 5

Student Seminars

The seminars are an important part of your research training and are designed to provide you with exposure to a range of research topics, practice presenting your research and feedback on your project:

1. You will be asked to give a 10-minute presentation on your proposed research to your fellow students. This is an opportunity for your colleagues to learn about the research you plan to do, and for you to get feedback on aspects such as the feasibility of your research plan.
2. You are expected to attend your peers presentation and to provide feedback.

See WATTLE for details

Hurdle assessment requirement: This assessment item must be attempted to pass the course.

Time Limit: 10 minute presentation

Dates: See WATTLE for student seminar schedule

Assessment Task 6

Milestones

Hurdle assessment requirement: Milestone items must be completed to pass the course.

Milestone 1: Student and Supervisor Expectations Agreement

This agreement is non-binding but serves an important role in ensuring the student (candidate) and supervisor(s) have met to discuss a variety of issues (e.g. the candidate’s career aspirations, type and level of supervision to be provided, the requirements of the research project and training needs) to help establish agreed expectations and ensure both student and supervisor(s) have a clear understanding of responsibilities. Note that the milestones are course requirements and these hurdles must be completed in order to progress.

Milestone 2: Mid-term Meeting with Supervisor

This milestone occurs about one month after you submit your Research Proposal. The meeting is an opportunity to get further feedback on your project, discuss your research plan together, and identify potential concerns, early enough in the year that you still have time to make any changes to your research plan. Few projects go exactly as planned, so this meeting is an important opportunity to let your examiners know if things are on track, get feedback or suggestions from them, and to raise any concerns you might have. You will arrange this meeting with your supervisor and the Honours Convenor can also be present if it is helpful. In any event a subsequent meeting should also be arranged with the Honours convenor to discuss the mid-year report which evidences this milestone. The report associated with this meeting is short (typically ~2 pages). The report should be a concise summary of progress to date and a plan for future goals. The milestone report provides a basis for discussion at the Mid-term Progress Meeting. Note that the milestones are course requirements and these hurdles must be completed in order to progress.

Milestone 3: Thesis draft and Final Meeting

A draft of your thesis should be submitted to your supervisor at least a calander month prior to the deadline for final submission. You should arrange to meet with your supervisor who will discuss the work with you and will also provide written feedback within two weeks of being given the draft. Your supervisor(s) should agree and sign off on completion of all major data collection, data analysis and background reading that are required for submission. This is to ensure that you have all the literature, data and analyses together in order to focus on writing your thesis for the remainder of the year. The Honours Convenor can also be present at your meeting if it is helpful. A brief report associated with this meeting should be produce, agreed and provided to the honours convenor. The report should be a concise summary of progress to date and a note of the major issues that may remain to be address before the submission of the thesis. The milestone report provides a basis for discussion and planning of writing and proofing your thesis before submission.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

No hard copy thesis submission required. A PDF copy of the thesis is electronically submitted to the Science Honours wattle site.

Late Submission

The policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students