Outline

Overview

This unit of study extends the students’ knowledge and skills in research practice, problem solving, and written and oral scientific communication acquired in PHAR3923 (Research Methods). This unit of study develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills and provides opportunities to explore and solve real-world needs. Working in collaboration with experienced researchers or industry partners, students integrate their academic knowledge and skills to conduct a research project and report their findings (both in written and oral form). The development of advanced research and presentation skills are also encouraged through participation in small group supervisory discussion groups, as well as research conferences, seminars and submission of scientific journal articles.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Pharmacy
Credit points	12
Prerequisites ?	PHAR3923
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Betty Chaar, betty.chaar@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Dissertation or thesis	Honours thesis Full project submission	60%	Formal exam period Due date: 09 Jun 2026 at 23:59	Up to 3000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Q&A following presentation, submission or placement	Honours Q&A Project Q&A	7.5%	STUVAC Due date: 01 Jun 2026 at 09:00	5 min	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Honours poster presentation Project presentation	7.5%	STUVAC Due date: 31 May 2026 at 23:59	4 x A3 pgs (poster) + 3-min (pitch talk)	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Milestone 1: Project goals and supervisory agreement Project goals and supervisory agreement	5%	Week 02 Due date: 06 Mar 2026 at 23:59	Up to 2 pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Milestone 2: draft background Project background draft	5%	Week 05 Due date: 27 Mar 2026 at 23:59	800 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Milestone 3: Draft methods and results Project methods and results draft	5%	Week 06 Due date: 02 Apr 2026 at 23:59	Up to 5 pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Milestone 4: Draft discussion Project discussion draft	5%	Week 08 Due date: 24 Apr 2026 at 23:59	Up to 3 pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Peer or expert observation or supervision	Milestone 5: Supervisor assessment Assessment by supervisor	5%	Week 13 Due date: 29 May 2026 at 23:59	Not applicable	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Milestone 1 - Project proposal and supervisory agreement: This task requires outlining the project rationale, aims, study design and methodology, detailing the student’s specific role and any required training, establishing a clear communication agreement with the supervisor, and providing a week-by-week project timeline through to completion.

Milestone 2 - Draft background: This task requires producing a concise, well-structured scientific review of the existing literature relevant to the project topic, outlining the background, current knowledge, key debates and gaps that justify the proposed Honours research. Students must clearly connect the literature to their project rationale and study questions and demonstrate familiarity with published work in the field.

Milestone 3 - Draft methods and results: This task requires outlining the planned structure of the Methods section, providing a preliminary draft of the Results section - including intended subheadings, figures and tables and identifying when any outstanding data will be available and how it will be presented. Students must also report on their overall progress against the project timeline, noting any issues encountered and how they were managed.

Milestone 4 - Draft discussion: This task requires submitting a draft of the key components of the Discussion section as intended for the final report, demonstrating the ability to interpret results in relation to the research question and existing literature, identify limitations, consider alternative explanations and place findings within the broader scientific context. Students must also outline the remaining timeline for completing the final report and provide a brief update on overall project progress, including any issues encountered and how they have been managed.

Milestone 5 - Supervisor evaluation: This task will be completed by the primary supervisor to evaluate the student's research performance across five criteria.

Honours presentation - poster and pitch: This task requires preparing a professional poster using four A3 pages and delivering a 3-minute presentation (followed by 5 minutes of questions during the Week 14 seminar. Students will be required to deliver the presentation multiple times (to different groups). Students must upload a PDF copy of their poster (and any accompanying digital presentation materials, if used) to Canvas before their presentation session. If you do not pass any hurdle assessment(s) the maximum final grade you can obtain will be 45 FA, regardless of the total raw mark you obtain for the unit of study.

Honours Q&A: This task requires answering questions about the research project posed by the academic staff members and other students. If you do not pass any hurdle assessment(s) the maximum final grade you can obtain will be 45 FA, regardless of the total raw mark you obtain for the unit of study.

Honours thesis: This task involves the submission of a thesis requiring students to clearly demonstrate their own contribution to the project.

Note that examiners will have access to previous milestone submissions.

Further details of the assessments, including submission templates, formatting requirements and assessment rubrics can be found on the unit of study's Canvas page.

No use of AI tools (Milestone 5 and Honours Q&A ) : The use of automated writing tools and generative artificial intelligence is prohibited in this assessment. You are not allowed to use AI or any other software to create information or answers, to alter your own original writing, or to generate or modify text from other sources. This includes translation software, editing/paraphrasing software and other generative artificial intelligence tools. Unapproved use is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and may result in penalties, which can include a fail for the assessment.

AI tools allowed : (all other assessments) The use of AI tools is optional. You are permitted to use automated writing tools and generative artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate your learning and completion of this assignment. Please adhere to the following guidelines:
-   Do not enter confidential, personal, copyrighted or otherwise sensitive information into any AI tool.
-   Do not rely on the accuracy of outputs. You remain responsible for your work. This means you must independently verify and edit AI-generated content to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and suitability of the output.
-   If you use these tools, you must be aware of their limitations, biases, and propensity for fabrication.
Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission, must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to reference and acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.
You are advised to keep copies of the prompts you provided and AI outputs as evidence of your research and writing process. This allows you to produce an accurate acknowledgement of AI use when you submit your work. This can be requested by the unit coordinator if there is any uncertainty about the originality of your work.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	At HD level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the unit material. A ‘High Distinction’ reflects exceptional achievement and is awarded to students who demonstrate the ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding to produce original solutions for novel or highly complex problems and/or comprehensive critical discussions of theoretical concepts.
Distinction	75 - 84	At DI level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the units material. A ‘Distinction’ reflects excellent achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates an ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding of the subject to produce good solutions for challenging problems and/or a reasonably well-developed critical analysis of theoretical concepts.
Credit	65 - 74	At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material. A ‘Credit’ reflects solid achievement and is awarded to a student who has a broad general understanding of the units material and can solve routine problems and/ or identify and superficially discuss theoretical concepts.
Pass	50 - 64	At PS level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the material. A ‘Pass’ reflects satisfactory adequately referencing the original source of the work.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Multiple weeks	Honours project work (on site)	Fieldwork (259 hr)
Ongoing	Honours project work (self-directed)	Self-directed learning (49 hr)
Week 14 (STUVAC)	Honours poster presentation and Q&A	Seminar (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

PHAR4913 is a project-based unit rather than a unit delivered through traditional timetabled classes.

Students are expected to undertake their research at the site where the research is conducted on the days stipulated in their individual timetables and as directed by their supervisor. Where the nature of the project permits, supervisors may approve limited remote work; however, on-site attendance is the default expectation, and students are expected to actively work on their research project during timetabled hours. Your supervisor will monitor and assess your engagement and attendance across the semester to ensure that you meet the expectations of the unit.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Conduct relevant investigations to answer questions or hypotheses of chosen health research topic.
LO2. Evaluate research findings and relevant literature critically to arrive at evidence-based conclusions.
LO3. Demonstrate skills to identify and manage uncertainty or ambiguity that arises during research.
LO4. Propose how research conclusions can inform future developments in pharmacy-related areas or be applied to improve pharmaceutical science or pharmacy practice.
LO5. Demonstrate skills in disseminating research findings including written skills, oral and multi-media presentation skills, and receiving and responding to feedback.
LO6. Apply appropriate writing and referencing techniques, including appropriately acknowledging sources, to uphold academic honesty.
LO7. Demonstrate responsibility for personal and professional development through independent learning and continuous reflection.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - At the point of general registration as a pharmacist - 5.4. contributing to the evidence base through engaging in research and inquiry, including 5.4.a. formulating questions relating to gaps and uncertainties in practice 5.4.c. undertaking relevant investigations, where appropriate Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 5.4. demonstrating skills in research and inquiry, including 5.4.a. formulating questions 5.4.c. undertaking relevant investigations, where appropriate
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - At the point of general registration as a pharmacist - 5.4. contributing to the evidence base through engaging in research and inquiry, including 5.4.b. identifying and critically appraising relevant source materials 5.4.d. drawing conclusions by synthesising the results of research and inquiry activities Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 5.4. demonstrating skills in research and inquiry, including 5.4.b. identifying and critically appraising relevant source materials 5.4.d. drawing conclusions by synthesising the results of research and inquiry activities
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - At the point of general registration as a pharmacist - 5.3. recognising and responding to the inherent complexity, ambiguity and uncertainty of contemporary and future professional practice Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 5.3. demonstrating awareness of the inherent complexity, ambiguity and uncertainty of contemporary and future professional practice
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 5.4.f. identifying ways in which the outcomes can be applied to practice
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - At the point of general registration as a pharmacist - 5.4. contributing to the evidence base through engaging in research and inquiry, including 5.4.e. reporting and disseminating the outcomes appropriately Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 5.4. demonstrating skills in research and inquiry, including 5.4.e. reporting and disseminating the outcomes appropriately
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - At the point of general registration as a pharmacist - 1.9. upholding and advancing the reputation and value of the profession 5.4. contributing to the evidence base through engaging in research and inquiry, including 5.4.e. reporting and disseminating the outcomes appropriately Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 1.9. upholding and maintaining the reputation and value of the profession 5.4. demonstrating skills in research and inquiry, including 5.4.e. reporting and disseminating the outcomes appropriately
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - At the point of general registration as a pharmacist - 1.6. adopting a proactive and reflective approach to maintaining and developing their own professional competence and expertise in order to remain fit-to-practise 4.1. engaging in regular and systematic reflection to enhance professional learning and practice 4.2. identifying and acknowledging professional limitations and seeking appropriate support where necessary, including additional professional education and/or referral of patients to other health care professionals Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 1.6. demonstrating a proactive and reflective approach to developing their own professional competence and expertise 1.8. accepting personal responsibility and accountability for decisions and actions in simulated and/or work-integrated learning environments 4.1. undertaking regular reflection as a means of enhancing learning and practice 4.2. demonstrating awareness of professional limitations and adopting appropriate strategies where necessary, including additional professional education and/or referral of patients to other health care professionals

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the first time the unit is being offered

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

PHAR4913: Pharmacy Honours

Semester 1, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links