1. Welcome to UCC Dr Liam Marnane Dean of Graduate Studies dgs@ucc.ie (Dept. Electrical & Electronic Engineering)

2. Postgraduate Study at UCC Huge range of programmes in Four Colleges ⁻Science, Engineering & Food Science (CSEFS) ⁻Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences (CACSSS) ⁻Medicine & Health (CMH) ⁻Business & Law (CBL) Highly diverse postgraduate population ⁻Continuing and returning students ⁻Part-time and full-time students ⁻International students Over 3000 postgraduate students at UCC On-going developments at UCC for postgraduates

3. Adjusting to Postgraduate Study Course duration is short: Need to hit the ground running. More independent study, reading and research required Maturity and independence assumed Become more knowledgeable about your field or a new field

4. Doing a Literature Review The aim of a literature review is to review previously published research and put it into some kind of perspective – should be more than a mere summary of a body of knowledge – should carry critical discussion and novel thinking or interpretation of the published work Look for opportunities to: – Compare results and conclusions of different authors – Contrast results that appear to lead to different conclusions – Reassess results in the light of new information that may not have been available to the original authors

5. Dissertation Have you a clearly defined research question? Have you read the background literature? Have you an objective that is achievable and clear? Why is your research important? How can it be tackled? – make a plan Don’t Wait for the Summer Workshop in Spring on Writing a Dissertation

6. Plagiarism Plagiarism is Not just Copying www.plagiarism.org – to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own – to use (another's production) without crediting the source – to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.

7. All of the following are considered plagiarism: turning in someone else's work as your own copying words, diagrams, figures and ideas from someone else without giving credit failing to put a quotation in quotation marks giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not www.plagiarism.org

8. Avoiding Plagiarism Citing sources. – Acknowledge that certain material has been borrowed – Provide reader with the information necessary to find that source – Different forms of citation for different disciplines Quoting – Taking the exact words from an original source – Place text in “ ” Paraphrase (but include Citation) – Include the ideas or information from an original source in your work by rephrasing them in your own words – The key to successful paraphrasing is to use as few words as possible from the original text www.plagiarism.org

9. UCC Policy on Plagiarism On the Web Site Student – Academic Information Student Policies – UCC Plagiarism Policy Turnitin http://www.ucc.ie/en/policiesandprocedures/examinationsandstudentrecords/studentrecordsregistration/uccplagiarismpolicy/

10. Rule & Regulations Postgraduate Calendar (Course Structure & Description) Book of Modules Marks & Standards All found on Web – Students Academic Information www.ucc.ie/en/students/academic/

11. Calendar Course Structure & Description Degree of Masters – Taught Masters College Postgraduate – Diploma College – Certificate College

12. MA in Creative Writing NFQ Level 9 90 Credits Part 1 (50 Credits) – 15 Credits Core Modules – 35 Credits Elective Part 2 (40 Credits) – Dissertation Module

13. Book of Modules MB6300 Computational Systems Biology Assessment: 70% Written Exam, 30% Continuous Assessment Penalties (for late submission ): Given 0 End of Year Written Examination Profile: 1 ½ hour exam Requirements for Supplemental Examination: 1 ½ hour exam in Autumn with CA carried forward, failed elements of CA must be repeated

14. Marks & Standards MSc Corporate Finance (Full-Time) Programme Pass & Progression: Pass Part 1 and 2 independently. Can compensate in 10 credits in Part 1. Can repeat in Autumn. Exit Award: Fail part 2 or withdraw after passing part 1 will be awarded Postgraduate Diploma Honours – 1 st Class: Aggregate of 70% or above – 2 nd Class: Aggregate of 60% or above

15. What happens next? o Get settled and familiarised with environment o Get to grips with timetables, course layout etc. (check Calendar on the web) o Get and use UCC e-mail address o Learn about course expectations and examination requirements o If you have a research project, learn what is expected ASAP o Make use of expertise in Departments, Colleges and central offices (e.g., Graduate Studies Office) – never be afraid to ask o Think about careers – talk to Careers Service