| Unit name | Individual Project with Presentation |
|---|---|
| Unit code | COMSM0142 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Wray |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Successful completion of Years 1, 2 and 3 of the Mathematics and Computer Science Undergraduate degree. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
Individual Project (Teaching Unit) |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
MATHM2204 Project |
| School/department | School of Computer Science |
| Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
Why is this unit important?
The final year project acts as a focus for the accumulated skills resulting from all other units: the overarching goal is application of those skills to a specific, significant Computer Science challenge or problem.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
All final-year Mathematics and Computer Science MEng students must take a significant project unit in their final year, extending outward from what is taught in the main degree programme into mastery of a specific subject area.
You should take this unit if you want your project to be focused on Computer Science, or on both Mathematics and Computer Science.
An overview of content
The unit offers a high degree of freedom with respect to the project’s topic, and allows students to spend a significant amount of time and effort on an area of Computer Science they are specifically interested in. Ideally this might act as a bridge to a career in such a topic, but will also satisfy more general, transferable learning outcomes. They will also complete a presentation that contextualises their project for a relevant audience.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will be able to demonstrate that they can successfully complete and present a significant piece of Computer Science project work. This will be different for every student, as they will have chosen their own areas to work on.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
Optional workshops and tutorials with the project supervisor. Compulsory training on identifying ethical issues associated to the project work will be organised by the unit director.
The presentation will be supported by optional workshops organised by the unit director, with an opportunity for formative feedback.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Individual project: Students will have regular meetings with their academic supervisor throughout Teaching Block 2, who will give them verbal feedback on their work. This will be different for every student, as their projects can cover a wide range of topics. Students will also have a separate opportunity before submission to present their project to an audience including their second marker, to get feedback.
Presentation: Students will receive formative feedback on their Presentation during workshops run by academic staff.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Written Dissertation (90%) submitted at the end of Teaching Block 2 and oral presentation (10%) given mid-way through Teaching Block 2, to assess Learning Outcomes 1 through 5.
The final Dissertation mark is a single mark determined by a panel for the submitted dissertation. There is an interactive presentation to authenticate the work and provide opportunities for clarification. The project’s codebase may also be considered, where applicable. In addition to achieving a pass overall, students must complete the ‘must-do’ ethics training in order to be awarded credit points for the unit. This training takes the form of an online introduction and test.
When assessment does not go to plan
Students who fail this unit will retake assessments in a like-for-like fashion. Students who fail the unit will be expected to resubmit their dissertation and/or Presentation, depending on which aspect they failed.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. COMSM0142).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
