Preparation

Follow the checklist on this page to get started with your Research Project:

Step 1: Find a project and supervisors

The process of finding a project typically starts after the summer break in your second year by arranging to meet with staff members whose research interests you and discuss possibilities for projects. You have several weeks, until end of September, to define a project. 

If you are starting your thesis in February, you should arrange discussions with staff members after the winter break in January.

Where?

• You can perform (part of) your project outside the ITP after approval by and under the formal supervision of a staff member of the ITP. Please note: You should discuss intentions to do a project (partially) outside of the ITP with your project supervisor/first examiner first, before contacting another institution.
• In the context of the 7.5 EC course “Theory for Technology” you can perform a small research project aimed at the intersection between theory and application. This is usually supervised by a researcher from the Technical University Eindhoven but can also take the form of an internship. Contact prof. Dr. Rembert Duine for more information.
• For a double degree (TWIN) thesis with another UU master’s programme, a staff member from each programme is a supervisor/examiner. The research project should integrate your research interests across both programmes.

Step 2: Define your Research Project

Together with your project supervisor/first examiner (and if applicable, your daily supervisor), you concretely define your Research Project, title, and research aims. You also write a short project description. Together, the student and supervisors come to an agreement on the organisation of the supervision, planning of the project, holidays, etc. Note that as your research proceeds, adjustments to the direction and aims of your project may be necessary, and your final thesis title may end up differing from the original one.

Step 3: Submit your Research Project application form

1. When you have found your subject and supervisors/examiners, you must submit an application form via Osiris Student. Select ‘My Cases’, ‘Start a new case’, 'Thesis and graduation' and then ‘GSNS Research Project (Thesis)’.
2. Start date: In the form in Osiris Student, you set a start date for your project. You need to put an end date that is close to the date when you submit your application. If for example you start working with your supervisor at the beginning of November, but file your form a few months later, you will be asked to change your start date, and put the date of your application form.
3. End date: In the form in Osiris Student, you set an end date for your project. The length of the Research Project in full-time weeks is 0.7 x the number of credits. Shift it to a later date if you work part-time during certain periods, for example because of courses, holidays, or work as a student assistant. A 7.5 EC course counts for 5 full-time weeks of work.

Other information you will need for the form are:

• Names of project supervisor/first examiner, second examiner and/or daily supervisor
• Your (internship) contract if you do a Research Project outside Utrecht University
• Planning of regular meetings with your supervisor(s)
• Workload per week
• Student absence
• Supervisor(s) absence
• Presentations to be held
• Group meetings to be attended
• Number of EC and if applicable; whether you are doing a regular or extended thesis

Important: to apply correctly, you must have discussed the project setup with your intended supervisors/examiners beforehand. We advise you to study the application form before you discuss it with your supervisors/examiners or fill it out together to make sure that it includes all the required information.

Ethics and Privacy check

A selection of students will be shown information about the Ethics and Privacy check. Please read this information carefully and check the box 'Ja/Yes' otherwise you can't complete the application.

Step 4: Wait for approval

After submitting the application form in Osiris Student, your form will be forwarded to the Student Desk, your project supervisor/first examiner, second examiner, daily supervisor (if applicable), the programme coordinator and finally, the Board of Examiners for checks and approvals. You may be asked for modifications, should they find any problems with the form. You will be notified of this via e-mail.