Students undertake an individual engineering project, with supervision. Project topics can be selected from available student projects or developed by students as agreed with their supervisors. Students are strongly advised to identify their supervisor and finalise their project topic prior to commencement of the first semester of their project. Students register their supervisor-approved project through Wattle course page by week 3 of the first semester of the project.

Students are expected to manage all aspects of their individual project from conceptualization through the planning phase to the monitoring and control of the project performance and the ultimate achievement of the assessment deliverables. Details of the project process, roles and responsibilities are communicated through the Wattle course page.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Identify a substantial research and/or development project including the problem the project seeks to address, its context and significance in contemporary engineering, scientific or research fields.
2. Scope the selected project appropriately and identify and determine knowledge, skills and methodologies required to complete the project.
3. Apply research skills and methodologies to identify, collate, summarise and critically evaluate relevant literature, data and sources. 
4. Combine and demonstrate synthesis of new knowledge with the application of relevant underlying theory, skills, concepts and methodologies in relevant engineering and/or scientific fields.
5. Analyse, interpret, explain and evaluate results generated during the project and compare and contrast to existing work and literature where appropriate.
6. Communicate the project objectives, process, knowledge and results to practising engineers and scientists in written and verbal form.

Research-Led Teaching

In this course you will be directly guided in a research project by research staff or your own choice of appropriate supervisor.

Field Trips

Travel off-site may be required for certain projects. Costs should be covered through funding by the supervisor and/or the project partner organisation. Limited microgrants are available by application. Approval must be sought from the course convenor.  See the course guide for details.

Additional Course Costs

We do not expect students to bear any significant costs associated with the course. In general, all substantial project costs should be covered by the supervisor and/or partner organisation's funds. Students may apply for an individual micro-grant to cover minor costs for project items such as materials or consumables. Approval must be sought from the course convenor.

Required Resources

Depending on the project, students may require appropriate clothing and safety equipment, (e.g., enclosed shoes and safety glasses) if identified in their project risk assessment. Some projects may also require access to specialised technical equipment (e.g., laboratories, computing infrastructure, etc.).

Access to these required resources will be arranged at no cost to the student, and facilitated by the supervisor and/or project partner organisation.

Recommended Resources

See various guidelines and sample theses and documents on the 4200 Wattle page. Students are expected to identify other resources in terms of background literature as per learning outcome 3, with guidance from their individual supervisor. 

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• It is the student’s responsibility to meet regularly with their supervisor and obtain direct verbal and/or feedback on their work.
• Verbal comments can be given in tutorials and consultation sessions.
• Submitted assessment will receive feedback.
• More detailed comments on submitted assessment may be obtained from your supervisor in person. It is the student’s responsibility to ask for such feedback from their supervisor. 

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

Referencing Requirements

Research skills including appropriate referencing are a specific requirement of 4200. Please see the thesis assessment criteria, tutorials, sample theses and consult with your tutors and supervisors for requirements and conventions. 

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	New students: Identifying supervisor and project and conducting research project Existing students: Conducting research project
2	New students: Identifying supervisor and project and conducting research project ?Existing students: Conducting research project
3	New students: Identifying supervisor and project and conducting research project Existing students: Conducting research project	New students: Project Contract and Registration
4	All students: Conducting research project
5	Conducting research project
6	Conducting research project	New students: Context document
7	Conducting research project
8	Conducting research project
9	Conducting research project
10	Conducting research project
11	Conducting research project	Finishing students: Oral Presentation
12	Conducting research project
14		New students: Midterm Submission Finishing students: Thesis Submission

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Project Contract and Registration	0 %	1
Context Document	5 %	1,2,3
Midterm Submission	15 %	1,2,3,4,5,6
Poster Presentation	15 %	1,2,3,4,5,6
Thesis Submission	65 %	1,2,3,4,5,6

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Project Contract and Registration

Details of task: Online registration of the project and a written contract between student and supervisors, using the given template.

Value: 0%

Assessment Task 2

Context Document

Details of task: Two-page report outlining your research question/topic, background context and initial scope of project. Key reference material, authors and prior art should be outlined. 

Word limit: Two pages

Value: 5%

Assessment Task 3

Midterm Submission

Details of task: A review to highlight the work undertaken during the first half of the project. These are also to provide feedback to incorporate into the remainder of the project. 

Word limit: 6 pages.

Value: 15%

Assessment Task 4

Poster Presentation

Details of task: A 5-10 minute talk on your project covering:

• your name, project title and supervisor’s name
• a clear, appropriate research question
• the methodology or approach you are using to address your research question.
• the project results
• conclusion and future work.

You also need to answer questions raised by the audience.

A poster that includes supporting information about your project for this talk and to facilitate discussion. 

Word limit: One poster covering work, there are no specific word limits, but presentation is important. 

Value: 15% 

Assessment Task 5

Thesis Submission

Details of task: A maximum of 50 pages describing your research project.

Word limit: less than 50 pages

Value: 65% 

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

Assignments are submitted using Turnitin in the course Wattle site. You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Assignments must include the cover sheet available on Wattle. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records. 

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Please note that for ENGN4200 late submissions are not permitted. Individual permissions for late submission need to be approved by the course convenor on an individual basis before the due date of a submission.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

Students should seek direct verbal feedback from their supervisor for all assessment items. In general, marks will be provided via Wattle. Individual arrangements may also be made between supervisor and student.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students