This is a capstone course in the degree. The Project affords the opportunity to take the skills and knowledge from other courses in the degree, and forge a minor contribution by research and/or development to the discipline. Students can take significant ownership of a minor body of research, and reflect this to the wider community by presentation and written thesis. Projects are chosen from a list of topics selected or approved by the Head of School. Where appropriate, these topics may be of a military nature. Group effort may be permitted in appropriate cases. In each case at least one staff member will be nominated as a supervisor to provide guidance and general supervision during the project and preparation of the thesis. Shortly after the May recess, the students will prepare a poster presentation on their project, and use this as the basis for a mid-year Viva or oral examination describing first semester work on the topic, and late in second semester each student will be required to lead a seminar on their project topic attended by other students taking this course and members of staff. Students will use this project as a vehicle to develop Project Management skills. The thesis, which typically will have a length of nominally 20,000 words, is to be presented not later than the first day of examination period. Thesis must be presented both typed and suitably bound and in electronic form. Evidence of sufficient progress may be required from time to time. The Head of School may require the student to undertake a new project if the progress is deemed unsatisfactory.
This is the first half of a year-long course.
During the year students will be required to participate in a series of specialist lectures and seminars. Specialist lectures will normally take the form of attendance by students on at least 8 occasions during the year at nominated meetings of the local professional societies.
Students must also complete ZEIT4299 Electrical Engineering Project B before being awarded any units of credit.