The type of project or report, and whether it’s optional or compulsory, varies based on your program of study. The activity is worth six course units, equivalent to two graduate level courses. It is substantially less than a master's thesis in scope, size and effort.

Engineering report or engineering project

An engineering report or engineering project can be based on a literature review, a design study, calculations with numerical or analytical models, experimental work, or any combination of these.

It doesn’t need to be an original contribution to knowledge like a master’s thesis. It can be a digest of existing information or results using existing computational methods. It must demonstrate that you have achieved competence in the subject area of the report.

The engineering report is optional for students enrolled in:

• Master of Engineering Chemical Engineering (CHG)
• Master of Engineering Civil Engineering (CVG)

The engineering project is optional for students enrolled in:

• Master of Engineering Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (AMM)
• Master of Engineering Biomedical Engineering (BMG)
• Master of Engineering Biomedical Engineering and Concentration Clinical Engineering (BMG)
• Master of Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering (ELG)
• Master of Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering and Concentration Applied Artificial Intelligence (ELG)
• Master of Engineering Environmental Engineering (EVG)
• Master of Engineering Mechanical Engineering (MCG)

Research project

A research project should be well-defined and provide an authentic, relevant learning experience. It takes about 260 hours of work after your supervisor has approved the proposal and agreed to supervise the project.  

The project should have clear goals and at least one concrete deliverable (e.g., data collection, conducting a survey, developing a software module, literature review). It should also identify some regular milestones, as this will provide opportunities for both you and your supervisor to chart progress and receive feedback.

Compulsory for students enrolled in:

• Master of Computer Science (CSI)
• Master of Computer Science and Concentration Applied Artificial Intelligence (CSI)
• Master of Computer Science and Specialization Bioinformatics (CSI)

Optional for students enrolled in:

• Master of Digital Transformation and Innovation (DTI)
• Master of Digital Transformation and Innovation and Concentration Applied Data Science (DTI)
• Master of Digital Transformation and Innovation Concentration UX Design (DTI)
• Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering, Concentration in Interdisciplinary AI (SYS)

An engineering project, engineering report or research project is usually completed within one term. If it takes longer, you must enrol for the following term and pay the appropriate tuition fees.

Tips on how to approach a potential supervisor

Email the professor. Include the following:

• A copy of your CV
• A short paragraph about your research areas of interest (keep your scope wide and general, not too narrow and focused)
• The start date of your program
• Your expected date of graduation
• The courses you have taken during your program so far
• Requirements you must complete

This information will help the professors assign a project that fits with both of your timelines and areas of interest. 

You must enrol by Service request in uoZone. Submit your request by the term enrolment deadline.

The process can take 10 to 15 business days. Enrolling on time is important.

When you receive final approval, the senior officer of your program of study will complete the enrolment. You’ll receive an automated message once your service request is finalized.

How to submit a service request

1. On the uoZone Applications tab, select Service Requests.
2. The My Service Requests screen is displayed. If you haven’t created a service request, the service request table will be empty.
3. Select New Request.
4. Enter the requested information:
   1. Category: Enrolment
   2. Type: Engineering Research Project/Engineering Report
   3. Sub-type: Enrol in Eng. Research Project/Engineering report
5. Attach the following documents:
   1. Engineering Report/Project — Research Project Approval form (PDF, 311 KB) — Complete this form after speaking with your supervisor.
   2. Project proposal/outline — required for BMG, CSI, DTI and SYS (see extra information below) 

Where to submit your report or project

Submit your engineering report, engineering project or research project by service request in uoZone. Follow the same procedure as when you submitted your enrolment documents, but select the following categories and types:

• Category: Enrolment
• Type: Engineering Research Project/Engineering Report
• Sub-type: Submit the Eng Research Project/ Eng. Report

Required documents:

• A copy of your report/project
• Appointment of Examiner form (PDF, 346 KB) — required for AMM, BMG, CHG, CVG, EVG and MCG. The form must be filled out by both you and your supervisor and uploaded with your report or project or earlier.

Submission deadlines

BMG, CHG, CSI, DTI, ELG and SYS

Submit your report or project by the last day of the term.

Your supervisor will evaluate your project or report and email the final grade to the Graduate Studies Office.

AMM, CVG, EVG and MCG

Submit your report or project by the last day of classes.

Your supervisor must approve the report or project through the service request dashboard. The service request is then assigned to the examiner(s) appointed by the supervisor and approved by the program co-ordinator. The evaluation is completed and the final grade submitted to the Graduate Studies Office.