Course coordinator
Dr Dorival Pedroso
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 20/06/2026)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 4
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Civil Engineering School
The capacity to develop research questions and implement research programs to address them are highly desirable in professional engineering practice. This course provides an opportunity for students to enhance their research skills through the completion of a small research project. Each student will choose a preferred research topic and engage with an academic supervisor. The research activities of each student vary between research topics but can involve various combinations of laboratory experiments, field studies, data analysis and numerical modelling. Students will deliver the research background, literature review, research gaps, methodology, outcomes and conclusions through a thesis report and oral presentation with Q&A. There are no traditional formal lectures or tutorials in this course.
The course enables students to develop research skills and gain specialised knowledge in a particular subfield of civil engineering.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This course should only be attempted in the final two semesters of a student's program. A good understanding of 1st, 2nd and 3rd year courses relevant to the project topic is assumed.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
CIVL4560, CIVL4580, CIVL4583, CIVL4584, CIVL4600, CIVL4604, CIVL4605
Restrictions
Final year students only and permission from Head of School required.
Course contact
Timetable
Additional timetable information
Students must meet their supervisors regularly
Aims and outcomes
The course is designed to help students develop research skills and gain specialized knowledge in a particular field of the civil engineering profession.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Formulate an engineering problem from a limited brief
LO2.
Critically evaluate previous research
LO3.
Apply project management techniques to plan and carry out a small engineering research project in the allocated time frame, within the available resources, and in a safe and ethical manner
LO4.
Generate appropriate evidence through a reproducible method that is suitable for drawing sound conclusions
LO5.
Evaluate critically the outcomes of your research
LO6.
Develop evidence-based arguments to support conclusions
LO7.
Explain your ideas effectively to a general audience by using effective audio-visual means.
LO8.
Report the rationale and findings in a written document
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Participation
|
pass/fail hurdle |
28/07/2025 - 8/06/2026 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Progress Report
|
20% |
10/11/2025 5:00 pm |
| Presentation |
Oral Presentation
|
30% |
20/05/2026 - 22/05/2026 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Final Report
|
50% |
8/06/2026 5:00 pm |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Participation
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- pass/fail hurdle
- Due date
28/07/2025 - 8/06/2026
- Other conditions
- Secure.
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04, L06
Task description
A record of meetings with the project supervisor must be kept and included in the final report as an annex. Students should meet with their supervisors 10 out of 13 possible weekly meetings. A simple tabular record showing key topics discussed and signed by the supervisor is sufficient. An email confirmation by the supervisor can be accepted.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Students must meet with their supervisor at least 10 times during the semester (13 weekly meetings) to pass the course or have a valid reason for absences.Submission guidelines
Submit as an annex of the final report, uploaded via Turnitin using the link in Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Progress Report
- Identity Verified
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
10/11/2025 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L08
Task description
The student is required to prepare a report containing the following sections:
- Introduction – Outline the background of the research topic, the issues needing investigation, and the significance of resolving these issues.
- Literature review – Critically analyse existing literature related to this research topic, summarise past work, and highlight areas for improvement in future studies. Based on this review, identify the main research questions and list the study’s objectives, aiming to answer these questions.
- Research plan – Detail the approach for conducting the project. Include a Gantt chart to illustrate the project timetable.
- Work to date – Present the progress made so far using texts, figures, and tables.
- Health and safety (optional) – If the project involves fieldwork or laboratory activities, list the risk assessments and inductions to be undertaken.
- References – Provide a list of sources cited throughout the report.
- Appendices (optional) – Attach additional data, such as spreadsheets and computer code.
The report should be approximately 15 pages long, excluding the table of contents, references, and appendices.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
The report must be uploaded via Turnitin using the link in Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Oral Presentation
- Identity Verified
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
20/05/2026 - 22/05/2026
- Other conditions
- Secure.
- Learning outcomes
- L05, L06, L07
Task description
The student must present their work to a non-specialist audience, including examiners, within the specified timeframe. The exact date and allocated times will be published on Blackboard. The presentation must cover the following points:
- Aims and background
- Research gaps and objectives
- Methodology
- Results
- Conclusions
The presentation should last no longer than 10 minutes (you may be asked to stop if it exceeds this). It will be followed by 9 minutes of Q&A. One minute is set aside for changing presenters.
The presentation slides must be uploaded a day before the first presentation day, following the submission instructions.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Note that the presentation will be recorded.
Submission guidelines
The student must upload a PDF file corresponding to their presentation slides. The file size must be less than 100 Mb. The file must be uploaded via Turnitin using the link in Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Any extension requests must be approved before the oral presentation date. A separate presentation session will be organised for these students within the subsequent two weeks.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Final Report
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
8/06/2026 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L08
Task description
The student is required to write a report containing the following sections:
- Abstract – Summarise the research background, gaps, methods, findings, conclusions, and implications. The abstract should be informative and concise, allowing readers to grasp the essence of your research without needing to read the entire report.
- Introduction – Describe the background of the research area (e.g., industry sector or natural environments), using numbers to highlight the significance of the industry or environment, and how it operates or functions. Then, specify the issues identified within the research area and explain why solving these issues is important.
- Literature review – Use your own words (rather than copying their abstract) to review and comment on how previous studies addressed the identified issues. List the main research gaps in past studies, and outline the hypothesis and goals of your study that aim to fill these gaps.
- Research Methods – Outline the research tools employed (e.g., fieldwork, laboratory experiments, mathematical modelling, or databases). Describe, in your own words, the procedures followed during the study (e.g., experimental steps, data collection before and after processes). Include solutions implemented to resolve issues encountered during the research.
- Results and discussion – Use tables and figures to present your findings clearly, highlighting key points within the text. Summarise all conclusions from the tables and figures, and compare your overall findings with those of previous studies.
- Conclusion – Summarise the background, gaps, methods, and findings. Note that the conclusion is not a repetition of the abstract but should focus more on the significance of the research background, implications of your study, limitations, and suggestions for future research.
- References – List all sources cited in the main report.
- Appendix (Optional) – Include computer codes, large tables, or figures produced during your research.
The report length, excluding the table of contents, references, and appendices, is approximately 30 pages.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Hurdle requirements
In order to pass this course, students need to obtain a minimum of 45% in the final project.Submission guidelines
The report must be uploaded via Turnitin using the link in Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: (Fail) The research work is incomplete or inadequate. Some assessment items are missing (averaged results are considered). |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: (Fail) The research work is very unsatisfactory or inadequate. Some assessment items are incomplete or missing (averaged results are considered). |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: (Fail) The research work is unsatisfactory, with either incomplete or missing assessment items (averaged results are considered). |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: (Pass) All items of assessment submitted. The student demonstrates a sound knowledge of the relevant technical information and at least a partial understanding of research methods. Has some correct and some incorrect information (averaged results are considered). |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: (Pass with credit) All items of assessment submitted. The student demonstrates a good knowledge of the relevant technical information and a good understanding of research methods. There are only minor factual inaccuracies (averaged results are considered). |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: (Pass with distinction) All items of assessment submitted; research skills are evidenced in the student's work and mastery of technical information. There is a demonstrated ability to identify and solve previously unseen problems using critical thinking and established research processes. There are only minor factual inaccuracies and no irrelevant information (averaged results are considered). |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: (Pass with high distinction) All items of assessment submitted. Mastery of technical information and research methods is evident, along with high-level critical analysis and an ability to synthesize information from different sources. There are no factual inaccuracies and no irrelevant information (averaged results are considered). |
Additional course grading information
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
The mode of supplementary assessment is dependant on the which assessment item has not been fulfilled to meet the learning outcomes.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Exam week 1 (second semester) |
Not Timetabled |
Scientific investigation The Civil Research Thesis course is organised in the following steps:
Discuss with your supervisor about how to carry out the research. List all necessary resources and work health and safety requirements, which may include:
With the relevant tools/site access/resources available, you will execute the investigation as per the discussion with your supervisor:
You will need to work on the four-unit two-semester Research Project course (CIVL4606) for about 10 hours per week.
See the assessment section for details. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
- AI for Assessment Guide
- Recording of Teaching Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: