KV7007 - Advanced Practice Semester

What will I learn on this module?

This 60 credit module is designed for all full-time postgraduate programmes within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment and provides you with the opportunity to undertake a Live Project (including the possibility of live research project work with staff). for one semester as part of your programme. This experience gives you the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge acquired during the taught part of your programme and to acquire new skills and knowledge in an alternative learning environment. Specific learning will be defined in a personal learning contract. You will be expected to conduct a risk assessment of the project with a project plan.
You will be expected to do a critical literature review research on existing state-of-the-art techniques and provide an optimal solution to the problem based on the research as well minimise any weaknesses or adverse effects of your solution.
Your Advanced Practice semester will be assessed on a pass/fail basis and as such, it does not contribute to the classification of your degree. However when taken and passed it is recognised both in your transcript as a 60 credit Advanced Practice Module and in your degree title.

How will I learn on this module?

This module is designed to promote your personal development by offering you the opportunity to experience learning out-with your taught programme of study. Learning will vary according to the Live Project completed.

The teaching and learning strategies adopted in this module will depend upon the Advanced Practice pathway you choose. Your personal learning and skills and attributes development will be negotiated and defined in a formal learning contract that is unique to you and agreed with the University and your Advanced Practice provider.

Assessment on the module is designed to develop your ability as a reflective life-long learner by facilitating self-evaluation of learning against your personal learning contract.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Prior to your Advanced Practice semester, you will attend relevant presentations (including a compulsory Health and Safety briefing) given by the Module Tutor and other Faculty staff as appropriate. Following this your Personal Tutor, Programme Leader and Advanced Practice Module Tutor will all be able to offer guidance and support in reaching a decision on the appropriate Live Project for you.

You will be provided with supervisory guidance from a member of the Faculty’s academic staff who will act as a mentor providing academic and pastoral support, and the Module Tutor who will maintain contact with you throughout the semester.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Specific achievements will be defined within your individual learning contract. However, all students are expected to achieve the following :

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Reflect on the issues and challenges of the problem domain, extend existing personal knowledge of your discipline; conduct Literature review of the existing systems, apply risk and project management processes, and consider any relevant sustainability issues.

2. Evidence an enhanced understanding of your discipline through the application of existing knowledge in unfamiliar learning environments and through the acquisition of new knowledge and perspectives derived from experience out-with your formal taught programme.

Intellectual/Professional skills & abilities:
3. Exercise self-direction of your own learning by identifying and managing tasks individually and as a member of a team which address your personal goals.

4. Demonstrate mastery of intellectual and professional skills to provide an optimal solution to the complex problems, and evaluate the environmental and societal impact of your solution

5. Critically analyse and communicate ideas in appropriate written and verbal forms.

Personal Values/Attributes:
6. Demonstrate self-awareness of personal development.

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment: This will vary according to the mode of Advanced Practice

Summative assessment:

1. Reflective Account
You will provide a 3,000 word reflective account of your learning during your Advanced Practice activity. This will clearly articulate and evaluate achievements related to goals identified in your personal learning contract and be supported by a portfolio of evidence.

Guidance will be provided to enable you to understand what is expected in your portfolio of evidence and how your reflective account will be assessed.

2. Poster
You will deliver a 10 minute poster presentation to staff, including your academic mentor, and peers. The poster will focus on the core learning derived from your Advanced Practice, but should also detail the experiential learning journey.

Both components are pass fail. Both must be passed to pass the module.

Feedback: Your reflective account will be returned to you with annotated comments directly related to the assessment task. You will receive written and verbal feedback on your poster presentation.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

This module aims to provide postgraduate students with experiential learning opportunities via the completion of a Live Project (including the possibility of live research project work with academic staff) that utilises skills and knowledge acquired during the taught part of your study programme. You will develop resilience and flexibility as you adapt to a different learning environment, and gain a new perspective through comparison with your taught studies.

Assessment on the module is designed to focus awareness of the impact of the time spent in an external learning environment, on your knowledge and understanding of the discipline. You will be encouraged to critically engage with outside practices, and to reflect on your educational development in the context of the challenges posed by an unfamiliar social, cultural and economic environment. Moreover, you will develop awareness of any health & safety, diversity, inclusivity, cultural, and commercial issues, codes of ethical & professional practices, and industry/business standards related to the specific problem domain.

Course info

Credits 60

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 2 years Full Time with Study Abroad

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025 or January 2026

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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