Student-defined Projects

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Timetable for student-defined projects

A Student-defined project is a project that a student wishes to conduct with a designated supervisor, but which is not (fully) defined by the setting deadline of Spr/3/Mon.

• Before this date, a setter may propose a project on behalf of the student, and it goes through the normal vetting process; the setter should make clear in the project title that it is a project for a specific student.

Student-defined projects are acceptable, but must be carefully prepared, and are subject to tighter controls than those put forward by staff setters within the setting deadline (Spr/3/Mon).

Identify a supervisor: a student wishing to define their own project must first find a supervisor.

• The supervisor must be a member of teaching staff, though a project defined with a member of teaching staff may subsequently be transferred to an RA or external supervisor with the explicit agreement of the BoS chair, the student, and the receiving supervisor.

Defining the project: the student and the member of teaching staff who has agreed to supervise the project work together on the definition of the project.

• The member of staff must advise the student of the criteria for the project on the relevant degree course, and must ensure that the proposal meets the criteria. In particular, the technical content of the project must be explicit.
• The format of a student-defined project definition is as for setter projects, but must include justification and motivation. For example, the definition must demonstrate that the student knows where to look for literature; that they have or can easily acquire the required skills; that the project has the required review and evaluation phases (and, for lifecycle projects, that requirements-design-build-test are all present).
• The timetable for student-defined projects must be observed, and the proposal must demonstrate its scope is feasible within the time limits.
• The member of staff should attest to the credibility of the student's justifications.

Vetting Once complete, the project definition is passed to the normal vetter for the member of staff's projects. The vetter must also check that all the project criteria can be met. Vetting should also ensure that the project is feasible in the time allowed. The vetting process may be interactive.

Expenses If the project requires the purchase or construction of any equipment, or any other expenditure over and above normal departmental resources, then a budget must be prepared, and must be agreed with the project supervisor and the Laboratory Superintendent before permission can be given for the project to proceed.

Final Authorisation Once the vetter is satisfied, the definition is passed to the Project organiser, who authorises the project if satisfied that all the criteria have been met. Only at this point is the student considered to have a project match.

Note that the setting and allocation timetable makes provision for student-defined projects; undergraduate students may continue negotiation of student-defined projects into the summer term, but must complete the process as soon as possible. It is the responsibility of the student to interest a supervisor; after this, the supervisor must engage with the student and the vetter to finalise the definition. The vetting process,including BoS approval, is as for projects set before the specified Spr/9/Fri deadline.

Last modified: Tue Feb 21 16:20:37 GMT 2012