Planning on studying Honours or doing a research project? Here’s what you need to know

What course options are there?

Computing Individual Research Projects - project registration form required for enrolment

S2 2023 Computing Project registration form »

COMP3740 (6 units)

• Must be taken in 1 semester.

COMP3770 (12 units)

• Must be taken over 2 consecutive semesters.

COMP4560 (12 units)

• Semester 2 2023:
  • Typically taken over 2 consecutive semesters; however, with support from your project supervisor and approval from the Project Covnenor, you may be able to complete the project in a single semester.
• 2024 onwards:
  • Must be taken over 2 consecutive semesters. 

COMP6715 (6 units) - will be discontinued in 2024

• Semester 2 2023:
  • Must be taken in 1 semester

COMP8755 (12 units)

• Semester 2 2023:
  • Typically taken over 2 consecutive semesters; however, with support from your project supervisor and approval from the Project Covnenor, you may be able to complete the project in a single semester.
• 2024 onwards:
  • Must be taken over 2 consecutive semesters.

COMP8604 (12 units) - will be discontinued in 2024

• Semester 2 2023:
  • With support from your project supervisor and approval from the Project Convenor, you may be able to complete the project in a single semester.
• 2024 onwards:
  • Master of Machine Learning and Computer Vision students seeking a 12-unit option will complete either a COMP8715 TechLauncher project or COMP8830 Computing Internship. Students who commenced in 2022 may enrol in COMP8755 as a 2 semester project.  

Computing Honours - project registration form required for enrolment

COMP4540 (24 units) - will be discontinued in 2024

• Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) seeking a 24-unit option will complete COMP4550.

COMP4550 (24 units)

• Must be taken over 2 semesters.  
• This course is typically taken within the Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours), Bachelor of Applied Data Analytics (Honours), Bachelor of Science (Computer Science Honours), Bachelor of Advanced Computing (Honours) or Bachelor of Advanced Computing (Research and Development) (Honours) degrees.

COMP8800 (24 units)

• Must be taken over 2 semesters.  
• This course is typically taken within the Master of Computing (Advanced) degree.
• Students who do not have the approval of an identified supervisor for COMP8800 by week 1 of their final two semesters will be transferred to the Master of Computing.

COMP8603 (24 units) - will be discontinued in 2024

• Master of Machine Learning and Computer Vision students seeking a 24-unit option may enrol in COMP8800 with the approval of their program and project course connvenor. Students will be required to have completed or be concurrently enrolled in COMP6445 Advanced Computing Research Methods.

TechLauncher Projects - no project registration required

TechLauncher is an initiative that enables students to develop the research and professional skills required to use technology to bring great ideas to life and positively impact our society. Students will work closely with industry professionals, technology experts, and entrepreneurs to complete projects addressing complex problems across a variety of disciplines and industries.  Students are given the choice to create start-up software companies whilst guided by experienced industry mentors, or to work with industry professionals on real-world projects. 

Students participating in the Start-Up scheme will enter the Innovation ACT competition and compete for funding. For more information, view the TechLauncher website.

COMP3740 (6 units) - available from 2024

• Students may seek approval to enrol in a 6-unit TechLauncher project to be completed in 1 semester.

COMP3500 (12 units)

• Must be taken over 2 consecutive semesters.

COMP3550 (12 units) - will be discontinued in 2024

COMP4500 (12 units)

• Must be taken over 2 consecutive semesters.

COMP4810 (12 units) - will be discontinued in 2024

• Bachelor of Advanced Computing (Honours) students completing a 12-unit TechLauncher project will enrol in COMP4500. 

COMP8715 (12 units)

• Must be taken over 2 consecutive semesters.

Engineering Individual Research Projects - project registration form required for enrolment

S2 2023 Engineering Project registration form »

ENGN2707 (6 units)

• Must be taken in 1 semester.

ENGN3706 (6 units)

• Must be taken in 1 semester.

ENGN3712 (12 units)

• Can be taken in 1 semester or over 2 consecutive semesters. 

ENGN4706 (6 units)

• Must be taken in 1 semester.

ENGN4712 (12 units)

• Can be taken in 1 semester or over 2 consecutive semesters. 

ENGN4718 (18 units)

• Can be taken in 2 consecutive semesters or over 3 consecutive semesters. 

ENGN4350 (12 units)

• Can be taken in 1 semester or over 2 consecutive semesters.
• In addition to the Project Registration Form, students will be required to register the details of their project with the project course convenor as a hurdle assessment due in Week 2.  

ENGN8602 (6-12 units)  

• Can be taken in 1 semester or over 2 consecutive semesters.

ENGN8601 (6-24 units)  

• Can be taken in 1 semester or over 2 consecutive semesters.
• If enrolling into 18-24 units, it must be taken over 2 consecutive semesters.
   

Engineering Group Research Projects - no project registration required

ENGN4300 (12 units)

• Must be taken over 2 consecutive semesters.

ENGN8170 (12 units)

• Must be taken in 1 semester 
   

How do I find a project/supervisor?

Once you’ve decided on which course you’ll take, the next step is finding a project and a supervisor.

Resources

• Engineering project information session webinar (2021)
• Computing project information session webinar (2021)
• Browse CECC student research projects. This a database of projects available for all levels of research, including honours projects. All potential research students at any level are encouraged to browse it! If you see a project that looks interesting, email the potential supervisor about it. Don't be afraid to discuss possible variations to the listed project: what appears on the web site is generally more of a suggestion than a rigid specification.
• CECC research: This webpage summarises the main areas of research expertise in our College. Browse through on the topics that you're interested in, and you will see a list of projects available. From this page, you can also view the profiles of academics working in these areas.
• Collaborations with Colleges: Tip: you don't need to just look within our College for a project. Check out some other areas of ANU if you have multidisciplinary interests. For instance: ANU Mathematical Sciences Institute (MSI), Research School of Physics, or the Energy Change Institute.

Approaching a Supervisor

If any specific projects or potential supervisors stand out to you, contact them via an email to express your interest!

If they have available projects and the capacity to supervise you, they may arrange to meet with you for an informal interview. If you get this opportunity, prepare to show the potential supervisor that you’re enthusiastic, independent and capable of deep understanding in the field of research.

What do I do if I can’t find a supervisor?

If you can demonstrate that you have attempted multiple times to find a supervisor but have not succeeded, then you should reach out to your program and course convener for the particular course you’re hoping to enrol into. They can help introduce you to potential supervisors so you can continue the negotiation process. You can find out who the convener of a course is listed on the ANU Programs and Courses website.

Remember though – it is your responsibility to actively seek a project supervisor. This means that you need to be proactive in reaching out to academic staff and you may also need to follow up with supervisors or conveners if you haven’t received a response after a week or so.

How do I enrol into Honours OR Research Project course?

Once you've secured a supervisors and negotiated the details of your project (including the topic, duration and weighting of your project, the artefacts you'll be expected to deliver and your submission timeline), you will then be able to complete the CECC Project Registration Form which Student Services verify with the Project Convener and use to manually enrol you into your Project Course.  

Note that you do not need to apply for a Permission Code for a project course, as you will be manually enrolled by Student Services; however, prerequisites for specific Project Courses (e.g. minimum performance requirements, enrolled program requirements, etc.) still apply and your enrolment will be vetted against the published requirements by Student Services. If you do not meet the requirements, you will not be permitted to enrol. 

Important information for engineering students who are following pre-2019 program rules: The Associate Director (Education) for the School of Engineering has determined that you will be able to enrol into ENGN4200 (as per your program rules), instead of completing ENGN4300 or ENGN4350. As such, you will be contacted by CECC Student Services and enrolled manually into ENGN4200. However, you will still need to source your own Project Supervisor.

Project course enrolment workflow

Download workflow chart (PNG)