Course coordinator
Dr Xin Guo
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Mathematics & Physics School
Research project report on topic in research field as recommended by supervisor and approved by Head of School.
This special project course offers students the opportunity to undertake independent directed study under the supervision of a staff member. Enrollment in this course should occur only under special circumstances, as advised by the Postgraduate Coursework Coordinator. Availability of this unit is subject to the capacity of supervising staff members.
Within each of the following pairs of project courses, there is no difference in terms of requirements, structure, or essence; of course, substantial differences exist between pairs due to variations in their credit units and the differing subject content.
- MATH7013 and MATH7014;
- MATH7015 and MATH7016;
- STAT7014 and STAT7015; and
- STAT7016 and STAT7017.
For administrative reasons, students intending to undertake Minor Project B should first complete Minor Project A, and those intending to undertake Mini Project B should first complete Mini Project A.
Course requirements
Assumed background
3 year degree with some level of mathematics or statistics content.
Restrictions
Permission of Head of School.
Course contact
Aims and outcomes
On completing this course students will obtain a sound knowledge of the specific topic area.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Apply rigorous mathematical reasoning, draw conclusions from empirical evidence, and efficiently implement relevant mathematical and statistical techniques.
LO2.
Communicate ideas clearly, using examples, counterexamples, special cases, graphs, tables, and visualisation techniques where appropriate.
LO3.
Situate findings within the context of the field's development, comparing and evaluating alternative approaches.
LO4.
Reference original results accurately, using a consistent and appropriate bibliographic style.
LO5.
Write with clarity, coherence, and strong organisational structure in a consistent style.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project, Thesis |
Project Report
|
70% |
10/11/2025 4:00 pm |
| Presentation |
Project Defense
|
30% |
10/11/2025 - 14/11/2025 |
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
Project Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project, Thesis
- Weight
- 70%
- Due date
10/11/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
There is no formal page limit. No formatting or referencing style is formally prescribed, but formatting and referencing should be clear, be used consistently, and be in accordance with the standard practices of the discipline.
DECLARATION
For students who have not signed a Confidentiality Agreement, make sure to include one of the following two declarations on the title page of your report:
I give consent for copies of this report to be made available, as a learning resource, to students enrolled at The University of Queensland.
or
I do not give consent for copies of this report to be made available, as a learning resource, to students enrolled at The University of Queensland.
MARKING
Marks are awarded on the following basis:
- Quality of introduction /20%
- Demonstration of understanding key elements /30% (40% for projects in Mathematics Education)
- Rigour of definitions, proofs, calculations, etc. /20% (not for projects in Mathematics Education)
- Appropriate style of writing /20% (30% for projects in Mathematics Education)
- Appropriate referencing /10%
Submission guidelines
The assignment should be prepared in PDF format and submitted via the Blackboard system.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for further extension/deferral information relating to this assessment item.
Based on the current due time, the 14-day extension constitutes the maximum allowance the teaching team can offer, ensuring sufficient time for marking, moderation, and score uploading.
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.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Project Defense
- Hurdle
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
10/11/2025 - 14/11/2025
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
The project defense comprises a 15-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute question-and-answer session. The project defense is intended to assess the student's genuine understanding of their research project and their ability to communicate their work clearly and confidently. During the defense, the student is expected to give a concise summary of the project's objectives, methodology, and findings, and to respond thoughtfully to questions from the examiner regarding the project's background, approach, results, and significance. The defense also provides an opportunity to clarify the student's individual contribution and confirm their comprehension of key concepts, methods, and literature relevant to the project. The student should be prepared to discuss alternative approaches, justify their choices, and reflect on the limitations and implications of their work. Overall, the defense is an important part of the assessment process to ensure academic integrity and to verify that the report reflects the student's own understanding and effort.
Hurdle requirements
If you receive less than 50% of the total marks for the Project Defense, the maximum grade you may achieve for the entire project is 3.Submission guidelines
The project defense should be video recorded when there is only one examiner. In such cases, the recording must be uploaded to Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for further extension/deferral information relating to this assessment item.
Based on the current due time, the 7-day extension constitutes the maximum allowance the teaching team can offer, ensuring sufficient time for moderation, and score uploading.
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.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Mark 0 - 19.99% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Mark 20 - 44.99% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Mark 45 - 49.99% |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Mark 50 - 64.99% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Mark 65 - 74.99% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Mark 75 - 84.99% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Mark 85 - 100% |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
The supplementary assessment for a student receiving a grade of 3 is contingent upon the overall outcome of the project assessment. Specifically, if the student fails the defense but would have passed the project in the absence of the hurdle requirement, the supplementary assessment will consist of a second defense. Otherwise, if the student would have failed the project regardless of the hurdle, the supplementary assessment will include both a revised project report and a second defense. The revised report must demonstrate substantial improvement relative to the initial submission.
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
Library resources are available 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 Week 13 |
Not Timetabled |
Directed Study Directed reading under the supervision of a faculty member. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
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
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.