The School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering has recognised in recent years that its students of electromagnetics have been performing weakly. For the newly formed George Green Institute for Electromagnetic Research this poses a major problem. The Institute is faced with falling numbers of suitable postgraduate students and/or the need to provide intensive training to postgraduates on a one to one basis. This is a repetitive, inefficient and costly teaching practice. In order to overcome these problems a new 30-credit, specialist MRes module "Research Techniques in Advanced Electromagnetics " has been created.

The focus of this individual project is on the teaching methods and assessment details of the module. The project also reports the findings of two questionnaires exploring student satisfaction of the module. Questionnaire was chosen as it was felt the students would find it an easier way to express their opinion.

Two routes helped in defining content, structure, teaching methods and assessment details of the module: a) analysis of a range of MSc and MRes modules on offer in this area and, b) useful discussion within the Institute. It was felt that module needs to provide different ways and modes of teaching and assessment in order to deliver a sound foundation in electromagnetics as well as to accommodate topical developments. The teaching method is a combination of five one-day seminars delivered by lecturers and additional four components focused on students: a case study, one laboratory and two software experiments. The four components are specified by a lecturer and the students have a fixed time within which to complete it. The module assessment is based on reports produced on the four components plus one "take away" exam.

Both questionnaires explored students' satisfaction of the module. The first questionnaire investigated whether the students believed the overall objectives of the module have been met. The second questionnaire evaluated the students' experience of the each component of the module. Each questionnaire yielded 7 responses (100%). Almost all students felt that the overall objectives of the course have been met. They were very positive about their experience of the course, in particular, with the case study and practical laboratories. The "take away exam" was also rated highly and the reports required on the software and laboratory experiments were rated as useful and a "good start" for their research project. However, the lectures were described as being "too compact" and the case study needed "more guidance". Although they enjoyed the experimental laboratory they complained that the timescale to complete it was too short and that they needed more guidance in the discussion of results.

In conclusion it is felt that students enjoyed the variety of teaching methods and especially the "hands on" case studies. It is felt that this variety enabled development of critical and practical skills as well as provided students with a better insight into the area.