Chemistry with Research Abroad

Your project will be assessed on the following: 

• Project proposal (to be received within the specified deadline)        10% 
• Project (based on content, language and presentation)                      55%
• Oral exam (based on content, discussion and language ability)         35%

The aim of your project is to show that you have coherently researched and reported on an aspect of your host country’s culture or history during your year abroad and that you are able to present your findings in appropriately sophisticated French/German/Spanish. 

The project needs to be submitted by Sunday May 18th 2025.

Your project should be formatted in double spacing. It is your responsibility to keep a backup copy in case of mishap. You should submit two copies and also supply an electronic copy should the examiners request it. The word count (1500 - 2000 words) should exclude the abstract, footnotes or bibliography and must be clearly stated at the end of your report. 

While this is a short project, you must ensure that it has a coherent structure. We suggest you use the following headings to organize your work.

Abstract (no more than 100 words). Outline the scope of your project (what topics you cover), describe your method and give your main conclusions.

Introduction. This should explain why you chose your topic (your rationale) and give a brief background to the subject. You should also be clear here about your ‘research question’. What are you investigating? 

Method. Even if you are doing book-based research (a literature review, for example) you still need to outline your methodology. This section should show how you collected your data. If you interviewed people, give details here. You could divide this section, if appropriate, into ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ sources. Primary sources are materials that are ‘first-hand’ or original documents, e.g. diaries, letters, interviews, maps, artworks and theatrical productions. Secondary sources are commentaries on or interpretations of primary sources. These include journal articles, books, biographies, text books and encyclopedias.

Discussion. In this section you should discuss your findings and provide an analysis (this means that your discussion should not merely be descriptive but should provide an interpretation of your material). You should relate your discussion back to your research question and put your findings in the context of the work of others. Finally, you should outline what insights you have gained from the project. 

Bibliography. This is a list of references you cited in your write-up and also other sources you consulted that informed your work but are not directly referred to in the text. It is essential to acknowledge your sources by citing them in the text and in the reference list. If you have used the words of others verbatim, these must appear in quotations marks, cited, and listed in the bibliography. If you do not do this, you will be plagiarising.

You MUST consult either the library’s resource on how to cite references or the Languages Student Handbook. Please ask if you are unsure about this.

Chemistry

Dr Luke Delmas (l.delmas14@imperial.ac.uk) 

Language contacts

Keep in contact with your language department contact at Imperial College. Let them know your address and e-mail as soon as you have settled in.

• French: Dr Marine Orain
• German: Ms Christa Saller
• Spanish: Dr Iria González Becerra