KJM3010 – Undergraduate Research I
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course is a research-based project assignment in chemistry. The project assignment includes literature studies, compiling information and data, and presenting research-based findings in a project report. You will also be involved in practical laboratory work and/or theoretical calculations in a specific research project.
Learning outcome
When you have completed this course, you:
- have basic skills in searching for and familiarizing yourself with the contents of scientific literature.
- know the theoretical foundation for your research project.
- master the experimental and/or theoretical techniques relevant to your project.
- have experience in carrying out a research project according to scientific standards.
- can present and discuss your research results in a scientific form.
For a 10 credits project assignment, there will only be limited time for laboratory work or calculations will be a large part of the project, and focus will not be on obtaining your own results, but on familiarizing yourself with the field and its methods.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
To be admitted to the course, you are required to have passed at least 30 credits of chemistry courses, and to have documented laboratory experience. For detailed information about the requirements, see "Formal prerequisite knowledge".
Students must plan their project assignment and find a supervisor as early as possible, about three months before the semester starts. The head supervisor will be one of the scientific staff members of one of the research groups at The Department of Chemistry.?This also applies when selecting an external project assignment.?You and your advisor will draft a project description that is signed by both parties and submitted to the study administration, studieinfo@kjemi.uio.no, for approval by September 1st in the autumn semester and February 1st in the spring semester.?Please read the guidelines for the project description.
Special admission requirements
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2) + R2
And in addition one of these:
Physics (1+2)
Chemistry (1+2)
Biology (1+2)
Information technology (1+2)
Geosciences (1+2)
Technology and theories of research (1+2)
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
Formal prerequisite knowledge
To be admitted to the course, you are required have passed at least 30 credits of chemistry courses, and to have completed a laboratory course in KJM1101 – Generell kjemi, KJM1111 – Organic Chemistry I, MENA1001 – Materials, Energy and Nanotechnology, or equivalent courses. For project assignments where such a background is relevant, the courses BIOS1130 – Biokjemi 1, BIOS2910 – Molecular Biology or similar courses, and MENA-courses taught at The Department of Chemistry, may count among the 30 credits.?Students with a similar background are encouraged to contact the study administration.
In addition to the departments own HSE course (see "Teaching"), the following HSE courses must be passed before you can start the laboratory work in KJM3010:
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with KJM3020 – Undergraduate Research II.
- 10 credits overlap with KJM2010 – Undergraduate Research I (continued).
- 10 credits overlap with KJM2020 – Undergraduate Research II (continued).
- 10 credits overlap with KJM2030 – Undergraduate Research III (continued).
- 10 credits overlap with KJM3030 – Undergraduate Research III.
Teaching
The teaching will consist of four parts:
- At the start of the semester, you will have a mandatory introduction to HSE regulations at The Department of Chemistry.?
- Individual guidance based on an agreement between the student and the teacher/supervisor. You will normally receive up to 40 hours of guidance in this subject.
- Course in literature search and reference usage, 6 hours.
- Preparation for the project report. You will write a project report that will be the basis for your examination in the course. Please read the guidelines for the project report.
As?the?teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance.?Read about your insurance cover as a student.
Examination
Approved project description and completed health, safety, and environment (HSE) course are prerequisites for being eligible to take the final exam.
The final project report forms the basis for assessment. The supervisor's evaluation of your effort and independence in the project work will influence the result. Additionally, the candidate is to present the research project in an oral presentation, followed by an examination based on the project report.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.
If you fail, you may be given the opportunity to hand in a revised project report within 6 weeks, if your supervisor and sensor agree that the scientific raw material is sufficient.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.