COMP396 - MEng Final Year Project

Year: 2009-10
Originating department: Computer Science
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Semester: Second Semester
Credit level: Masters Level
Credit value: 60
External examiner: Prof. M. Sergot (Imperial University)
Member of staff with responsibility for the module: D Kowalski
Board of studies: Board of Studies in Computer Science
Mode of delivery: Tutorials/Seminars
Contact hours: 2 Lectures, 3 seminars, 2 tutorials, 3 other
Pre-requisites: COMP516
Co-requisites: none

Module description

Aims

To give students the opportunity to work in a guided but independent fashion to explore a substantial computer science research related problem in depth, making practical use of principles, techniques and methodologies acquired elsewhere in the programme.
To give experience of carrying out a large piece of individual work and in producing a dissertation.
To enhance communication skills, both oral and written.

Learning outcomes

After completing the module students should be able:

To specify a substantial problem, and produce a plan to address the problem
To manage their time effectively so as to carry out their plan
To locate and make use of information relevant to their project
To apply research related techniques taught elsewhere on the programme
To design a solution to a substantial problem
To implement and test their solution
To evaluate in a critical fashion the work they have done, and to place it in the context of the related research field(s).
To prepare and deliver formal presentations
To prepare and deliver a demonstration of software
To structure and write a dissertation describing their project

Teaching and learning strategies

The MEng project will be undertaken full time in the second semester of year 4. In the project the Department wishes to foster independent learning, within a framework provided by a series of five review points:

specification (oral presentation, week 4)
design (oral presentation + documentation, week 9)
final presentation(week 13)
software demonstration (week 13)
and dissertation (written, week 15).
These reviews are each carried out by two members of staff, and give opportunity for monitoring progress and giving formative feedback. A nominated member of staff is available to students for every week of the project to provide direction and advice as needed.

Syllabus

All projects will contain the following elements: research, design, realisation and evaluation. Particular topics are allocated on an individual basis.

Recommended texts

To be advised.

Assessment

100% continuous assessment:
   10% - Specification (Summer, 15 mins)
   10% - Design(Summer, 15 mins)
   10% - Demonstration (Summer, 15 mins)
   10% - Final presentation (Summer, 15 mins)
   60% - Dissertation (Summer)