How to Choose a Project:
Information for Students
The general outline of the procedure, along with the timetable, is available here. Technical details of the allocation process are described in the following document.
Student-Defined Projects
Some lecturers are happy to supervise student-defined projects. You must
discuss your suggestions with a lecturer who will accept responsibility
for supervising the project.
In order to undertake a student-defined project you must prepare a description
which meets the
criteria.
It is not sufficient that you only identify the technical objectives or
artefacts of the project. The description must demonstrate that the project
has academic content and that it has an identifiable review element with
a clear starting point in the literature. It is worth bearing in mind as
a rule of thumb that, if at this stage you can see your way right through
to the end of a student-defined project, it is probably too easy!
A student-defined project description must be agreed between the lecturer
and the student. When completed, you should submit it to the supervisor.
The project will then be vetted, just like any other
project, and given a code. You may then select it as one of your choices.
There is no guarantee that the project will be approved by the moderator.
If it is not, the supervisor will be invited to revise it. The ``cut-off
date'' is the end of the second round of allocation: if the project has not been approved by then,
it will be rejected. Do not select any projects in the first round if you are still negotiating your self-defined proposal, as this may lead to another project being allocated to you. However, if your self-defined project is still not approved (vetted) by the time the second round of allocation starts, consider selecting other projects in order to ensure that no random project is assigned to you.
CS/Maths and MMath Projects
If you are a joint Mathematics student you must consult your supervisor
before making the decision to do or not to do a Computer Science project.
If you decide not to do so, you must register this decision with the allocation
program, otherwise you will be allocated a project by default.
MEng Projects
MEng students should read the guidelines
published by the Department Teaching Committee.
Advanced MSc Projects
Advanced MSc students should consult heir supervisor for guidance about projects.
Sandwich Students
You might need to visit York to talk to project supervisors before you
select, but email or telephone the academic staff first to arrange a meeting
time or to discuss the project.
Project Structure
Students should read the Projects
section of the Students' Handbook before choosing their project. Although
the project you select should capture your interest, there are some additional
criteria that you should consider in making your selection. You must be
clear in your own mind that the project will exercise you academically,
and that you will be capable of writing a scholarly report on the outcomes
of the project. This report should not be limited to a description of any
artefact you develop. It should contain both a review which sets the project
work in the context of the published literature and some evidence of critical
evaluation of the outcomes of the project.
If your project requires the purchase or construction of any equipment
- that is, the spending of money - then a budget must be agreed among you,
your supervisor and the Laboratory Superintendent before permission will
be given for the project to proceed.
Dr D. Kazakov /
Projects Coordinator / kazakov@cs.york.ac.uk / Last update: 11 Feb 2003