An extensive analytical research project using appropriate research methodology, involving simulation and modelling, measurements, experimentation, data collection and analysis. This research project will enable you to develop and demonstrate your technical expertise, independent learning abilities and critical research skills in a specialist subject area relevant to the field of study of the course.

This module is only offered as part of the Guided Weapon Systems MSc.

What you will learn

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

Knowledge

  • perform a technical, theoretical analysis of a specialist area of study relevant to the course,
  • validate the experimental results by means of a theoretical analysis,
  • discuss and assess the results of the experimental and theoretical analysis, making valid conclusions about the work and recommending suitable follow-up work to continue the investigation.

Skills and Other Attributes

  • critically evaluate the initial project proposal, revise if necessary, and hence prepare a detailed project plan to implement the revised proposal in the time available,
  • utilise search engines and tools to investigate a specialist area of study, critically analysing the results of the search to further the investigation,
  • employ suitable analysis and modelling tools such as Matlab or Excel,
  • design and implement a coherent and comprehensive sequence of experiments to test hypotheses arising from the searches, critically analysing and evaluating the results of the experimentation, and using the results generated to amend the sequence as necessary,
  • document the theoretical analysis and experiments in a comprehensive technical research report,
  • present the contents of the report to an expert audience including industrial partners external sponsors, explaining project results, analysis and method.



Core content

Module topics:

  • thesis preparation, large document template,
  • advanced search techniques; information literacy,
  • research techniques and methodology; project management.


Accreditation

The Guided Weapon Systems MSc is fully accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society and Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Location and travel

Cranfield Defence and Security (CDS) is a Cranfield School based at the Ministry of Defence establishment on the Oxfordshire/Wiltshire borders.

Shrivenham itself lies in the picturesque Vale of the White Horse, close to the M4 motorway which links London and South Wales. It is 7 miles from Swindon, the nearest town, which lies off the M4 at the hub of Britain’s motorway network.

Bath, Cheltenham, Bristol and Oxford are all within an hour’s drive and London less than two hours away by car.

All visitors must be pre-booked in at reception by the person they are visiting on the campus.

For further location and travel details

Read our Professional development (CPD) booking conditions.