SA302-6-PS-CO:
Urban Sustainability Research Project
2025/26
Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring & Summer
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 12 January 2026
Friday 26 June 2026
30
19 May 2025
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BA K44E Urban Sustainability Studies
This module accompanies students in their preparation, structuring and execution of their capstone project. These capstone projects of the YUFE Urban Sustainability degree can take a variety of different forms including a written dissertation (circa 8000 words) or a smaller report (5000 words) and an additional output related to the project. Students explore these options and are introduced to different resources available for their topics. Students are also encouraged to draw on topics that have inspired them in other modules throughout their degree so far (this can include the minors done at YUFE partners as well as the ‘challenge teams’). This module will draw upon an interdisciplinary perspective as also the capstone in Urban Sustainability is likely to draw on different disciplines. Students will already have been introduced research skills in the first-year and this module builds on these skills.
The aims of this module are:
- To guide students through their capstone project.
- To provide information an available material and resources.
- To support students to develop their projects, case studies and topics.
- To enhance students’ confidence as independent researchers.
- To teach effective time management and workload organisation.
At the end of the module, the student will be expected to be able to:
- Identify an appropriate area of enquiry for their capstone project.
- Devise and, in the light of subsequent research, modify a plan of the capstone project.
- Evaluate and engage critically with relevant secondary readings, case studies, resources available etc.
- Formulate and justify their own arguments and conclusions based on a detailed analysis of material, resources, case studies and readings.
- Deliver an assessed presentation on an aspect of their research, and afterwards take questions from their peers.
- Present, accurately, succinctly and lucidly, their arguments in forms appropriate to their intended audience(s).
- Organise their time effectively to work independently.
Syllabus:
- Workshop 1: Thinking about different capstone project options and potential topics
- Workshop 2: Access to library material and other resources: Research for your topics
- Workshop 3: Panel: Guest speakers on Ideas for Urban Sustainability Projects
- Workshop 4: Structuring your capstone projects
- Workshop 5: Case Studies and clarifying topics
Formative assessment: Research Proposal to be discussed with supervisors
- Workshop 6: Assessed Presentations
- Workshop 7: Adapting capstone projects as part of the research process
- Workshop 8: Writing longer pieces: Writing and Organising your capstone project
Submission of a draft chapter of 2000 words at the end of the spring term
Summer term (both workshops in one week)
- Workshop 9: Final tips
- Workshop 10: Trouble shooting
Submission in late May
This module will be delivered via:
- 10 x 2hour workshop
- 8 x 2 hours in the spring term
- 2 x 2 hours at the beginning of the summer term
Plus individual supervision by supervisors (normally a team of an Essex member of staff and a staff member from the YUFE partners)
Assessment:
- 100% coursework
- 15% assessed presentation on the student’s project
- 85% capstone project
Formative assessment
- Research proposal for the capstone project (sources/ material, structure, approach)
- Draft chapter (2000 words)
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Yes
Yes
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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