Computer Science Taught Student Projects

Cohort-specific information

Undergraduate

Undergraduate Stage 3 projects (PRBX):

Undergraduate Stage 4 projects (MMath)

Postgraduate

MSc Safety Critical Software Engineering projects (PRCE, PRCP, PRCM)

All other Taught Postgraduate (MSc) projects:

General information

Project selection dates

Project ISMs are taken in your third year of undergraduate study, or as part of a Taught MSc degree.
For Undergraduates, projects are selected in the first weeks of Semester 1, and work begins S1/5/Mon.
For Postgraduates, projects are selected during Semester 2, with work beginning SS/1/Mon and continuing through the Summer Semester.

Project hand-in dates

Hand-in dates for all projects can be found on the Computer Science Teaching Portal (UoY login required).

Project selection database

The project selection database is accessed through the Computer Science Teaching Portal. Students can rank any number of projects and advisors can then order students. Because of this, students are strongly recommended to discuss a project with its setter before choosing it (We recommend that you email the project setter to arrange an appointment for a discussion).

Project Assignment Algorithm

Students can rank projects, and advisors can rank students on projects that have been selected by more than one individual. Read more about the algorithm used to assign projects to students.

Student-initiated projects

Sometimes, a student may wish to propose their own project in collaboration with an external organisation such as their placement provider. All such projects must be adopted by an academic member of staff in the Department of Computer Science at York, and they will collaborate on the the content and presentation of the proposal. Read more about student-initiated projects.

Online Project Library

Access the repository of student projects and intermediary reports from research students.

Ethics

All students are required to consider the ethical aspects of their project and discuss it with their project advisor. In order to facilitate this conversation, and to indicate whether ethical approval for the project is required, all project students must complete an ethics checklist and declaration. The ethics checklist can be found here, and should be filled out and shared with the advisor. The ethical responsibility of all student projects is shared between the student and the advisor. Read more about ethical principles and access forms

Budgets and special equipment

The Department has a wide range of hardware and software available, and it will normally not be necessary to purchase items specifically for project work. However, if a project requires equipment the Department does not already have access to, it may be possible for the Department to acquire access, perhaps by having the Department's technical staff build it.

The need for any such equipment must be agreed with your supervisor. In consultation with your supervisor, you should prepare a budget listing the equipment required and its likely cost. A small amount of money is set aside each year for this purpose. The budget statement should be submitted to the Department's Technical Manager for approval.

Special-purpose hardware can be built by the Department's technicians in the Department's hardware workshops. This takes time: careful planning is necessary if you wish to have equipment built in time for it to be of use during your project. Supervisors will be able to provide advice.

Classified material and intellectual property

Some projects, particularly those undertaken with external collaboration, may use or produce restricted or "commercial-in-confidence" material. It is up to the student to arrange to have the report cleared by the appropriate authorities, so that submission can happen at the normal time. Assistance in seeking permission can be obtained from the student's supervisor. It must be possible for all examiners, both internal and external, to see the whole report. If absolutely necessary, examiners may sign confidentiality agreements.

If appropriate, confidential material, which is supplemental to the main project report, may be placed in a separately submitted appendix; only the executive summary & main report would then be lodged in the online project library. Alternatively, it may be possible to delay the lodging of the report in the online project library, for a period not exceeding one year, to allow the student, or a sponsoring company, to apply for protection of material (via a patent or whatever).

The issue of the intellectual property rights (IPR) of material developed as part of a project is complex. Depending on how much involvement a supervisor has had, the IPR may be shared between the student, the supervisor, and possibly a sponsoring company. In situations where this is important, an agreement should be reached as soon as possible.

Resubmission/Resit Forms

Contact

For queries, please contact the project coordinator, Simon Foster (CSE/036, simon.foster@york.ac.uk).