Guide to MSc Projects main_84.html Assessment of the Dissertation/Reports main_96.html Research Project Timetable

Research Project Timetable

In Semester 1.
Project proposals are posted on the web; students should go to the postgraduate information page and navigate from there. Having perused the list, you should: Obtain a Project Subscription form from the Student Support Office in the School. See the supervisors of the projects that interest you to discuss the projects in detail. Get them to sign the Project Subscription form. This is vital; you will not be assigned a project unless you have seen the supervisor first; without a project you cannot gain an MSc. Bear in mind that members of staff may be away even during term-time, so do not leave this until the last moment. When you have completed your enquiries, return the form to the Student Support Office in the School (we suggest that you keep a copy). You should indicate at least three choices on the form (in order of preference). This is important: you may be given any of these, so do not select a project unless you are really prepared to do it! Of course, the allocation scheme will respect your preference order typically, every year around 70% of the students who submit a form by the deadline are allocated their first choice but clashes of one kind or another always happen. There may changes to this procedure this year: we [(CS] hope to remove the paper sign off form and replace it by a web based sign off form. Hence, we intend to create an electronic sign off system rather than the previously used paper sign off form; if time allows. You will be notified of all and any changes. There are a large number of students in the School; all have to complete a project as part of their MSc programme. To help you decide on a project there is a list of suggested projects supervised by different members of staff. But you can choose a project from this list or you can discuss with a member of staff completing a project you have developed yourself. Your chances of being allocated a project depend on the number of students wishing to undertake the project. For example, if you develop your own project, and this is agreed with a supervisor, then you will be allocated this project. However, if you and 5 other students all wish to undertake a particular project then your chances are 1 in 6. Some projects are very popular and whilst we try to match you with your preferred projects this can be difficult if projects are oversubscribed. To help us allocate projects we normally ask you to rank the projects you select in order of preference and we try to allocate you with your most preferred projects. Please perform this exercise as quickly as possible (i.e. start thinking about a project immediately after the projects are announced typically, around mid-January - or well beforehand if you wish to arrange your own project) and hand in your form by the deadline. Please note that there is no advantage if you hand your form in early (but there is a disadvantage if you hand in after the deadline). The project coordinator will then collate the data and attempt, in discussion with programme directors and supervisors, to give as many people as possible their first choices, or, failing that, one of their most preferred choices. Please note that, with the exception of group projects, only one person will get to do one project. Also, there is a limit to the total number of projects that a staff member is capable of supervising. For these reasons, there is a strong likelihood of disappointment if you plump for popular projects/supervisors. Unfortunately there is no way of knowing the pattern of demand in advance (you might like to ask staff members about the level of interest in projects when you see them). If you are unsuccessful, there will be a further round of the process. It is possible that you wish to do a project of your own devising, or follow up an idea that has arisen in conversation with a staff member. If you wish to do a project that does not appear on the list then you should first get the agreement of a staff member to supervise you, and then hand in a description of the project (signed by the supervisor) to the Student Support Office in the School, again by the deadline. Projects with industrial partners may also be available.
Students select suitable MSc Projects
During the first semester, you (as an MSc students) will be making decisions about which projects to undertake. As you can appreciate there are about 150 projects for students to select from, all with different requirements and outputs. Students are required to discus the projects with the supervisor whom will advise you on their projects. To be fair to academic staff the students must be capability of undertake the project. In order for you (the student) to make an informed decision about whether to proceed with the project selection, there are a few things you might want to discuss with the supervisor, namely: In making your decision you might want to consider, and discuss with the supervisor if necessary, the following: MSc projects should be challenging for the students, but they should also be achievable. In discussing the project requirements with the supervisor beforehand you might be saving a great deal of time that might otherwise be required at a later date attempting to bring a your self “up to scratch” in research knowledge or mathematical/computing skills. You should discuss the issues in a frank and open way ask what explicit existing knowledge is required for the project domain. Remember, the main aim of this initial meeting is to make sure you are happy to undertake the project under the guidance of this particular supervisor; also you should make yourself fully aware explicitly of what the project entails. If you are happy that you are capable of undertaking the project and you fully understands what the project entails; then select the MSc the specific project you have discussed.
Second Semester and Remainder of MSc year
After choosing your project at the turn of the year you will:
  1. Complete the Research Skills & Professional Issues course unit in the second semester, alongside some taught course units.
  2. Submit your Project Progress Report by the deadline before the end of the second semester. If you pass then:
  3. Work full-time on your project and writing the dissertation until the deadline which is usually early to mid September.
Warning:
Writing your dissertation may take much longer than you imagine. You should therefore allow at least 1 month (and probably longer) full-time to write, and also write-up parts of your work as they are completed so that the dissertation is part-way written before your project is completed.
Mid Summer.
You must give prior notice of your intention to submit by completing a Notice of Submission Form. A fee is payable for late notice. The rules regarding the form of the dissertation are currently being made and will in due time appear on the University's policies webpage. You will be made aware of the rules regarding the form of the dissertations/reports, and you will also be told where to submit both, the Notice of Submission Form as well as the dissertation/reports.
Early September.
The deadline for the submission of MSc dissertations or reports for a group project varies from year to year but is usually in early September. Two bound copies of your dissertation must be submitted. In the case of group projects two bound copies of the group report must be submitted and two bound copies of the individual reports of each group member. Bear in mind that binding may take some time please allow for this. To let us know that you have submitted, could you please email sso@cs.man.ac.uk. Submitting late. If you are unable to submit by the deadline in early September you must request the permission to submit late by completing a request form.
Guide to MSc Projects main_84.html Assessment of the Dissertation/Reports main_96.html Research Project Timetable