The University of Sheffield
School of Computer Science

COM6912 Artificial Intelligence Dissertation Project

Summary For your individual project, you can choose from a wide range of possibilities in many different environments both within and outside the University. The project is completed during the summer, and you will have a personal academic supervisor to guide you during this period.
Session Grad Year 2025/26
Credits 60
Assessment Assessment of the module is by a dissertation that is produced towards the end of the summer, complemented by a presentation session where the work done is to be demonstrated and questions answered. If considered appropriate by the examiners an oral examination may be held.
Lecturer(s) Various - a project supervisor will be allocated prior to the start of the Spring semester.
Resources Unconfirmed practical marks when available
Aims

This module aims to give the student the opportunity: 

  • to demonstrate research skills by integrating material learnt throughout the MSc course with new material learnt during the project and applying this to a substantial open-ended problem of relevance to their specialism;
  • to undertake an individual piece of work in an area of their own choice;
  • to demonstrate and improve their technical abilities in the areas relevant to the project;
  • to demonstrate and improve their professional skills, particularly those of time and work management, understanding of relevant social, legal and ethical issues, and risk assessment and management;
  • to demonstrate their skills in imparting technical information both orally and in writing. 
Learning Outcomes  By the end of the module the student will be able to:
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply principles that have been taught on the programme to produce a solution to an open-ended problem;
  • Demonstrate that they can research the background to an open-ended problem and acquire an in-depth knowledge of the state-of-the-art in the project area;
  • Demonstrate practical skills appropriate to the project area;
  • Demonstrate the ability to plan and manage the process of producing a solution to an open-ended problem; whilst giving due consideration to, and reflection on, risk management and relevant social, legal and ethical issues;
  • Demonstrate they can document the work that they have done, review it critically, and present it to others. 
Content The content of the project is typically selected by the student from a range of topics proposed by the staff or industrial partners of the department. Students are also encouraged to propose their own topic, provided they can find a supervisor willing to supervise it and with the agreement of the Projects Officer.
Teaching Method Students use departmental facilities and are exposed to the state-of-the-art methods and equipment relevant to the project topic. The student is expected to meet regularly with the supervisor, in order to discuss progress with the work and obtain advice on it. The rest of the work they are expected to plan and carry out independently.
Restrictions Restricted to students studying for MSc Data Analytics.
Feedback Regular meetings with their supervisor.
IP Exemption This module is exempt from the University's Regulations relating to Intellectual Property which can be found at: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/apse/apo/quality/policies-guidance/ip