Outline

Overview

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Advanced Computing (BAdvComp) programs study various advanced aspects of Information Technology. The program may include lectures, tutorials, seminars and practicals. They will undertake a capstone project. Assessment will include the project and may include examinations and classwork.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Computer Science
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	INFO3333 and {completion of the requirements of a major in Computational Data Science [DATA3888 and 12 credit points of (COMP3027 or COMP3927 or COMP3308 or COMP3608 or DATA3404 or DATA3406)] or Computer Science [(COMP3027 or COMP3927) and (COMP3888 or COMP3988) and 6 credit points of (COMP3109 or COMP3221 or COMP3308 or COMP3608 or COMP3419 or COMP3520)] or Cybersecurity (CSEC3616 and ELEC3506 and COMP3221 and CSEC3888) or Information Systems (ISYS3401 and (ISYS3402 or INFS3050) and ISYS3888) or Software Development [SOFT3202 and (SOFT3410 or INFO3315) and SOFT3888]}
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	David Lowe, david.lowe@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Q&A following presentation, submission or placement	Viva Discussion of project with examiners	5%	Progressive	10 mins	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Dissertation or thesis	Thesis Project work contributes to final thesis.	80%	Progressive	40-50 pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Video presentation A video recording of thesis presentation.	15%	Progressive	15 mins	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Project Analysis Brief Your analysis and plans to conduct the project.	0%	Week 06	5 pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Progress Report An initial draft of the thesis.	0%	Week 13	20 pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Project analysis brief: A document to present findings and plans for the project. This document is to be presented and discussed with your supervisor during a supervision meeting by Week 5. Students are required to reflect on their progress after the meeting and submit the document to Canvas by the deadline. Students doing both INFO4001 and INFO4002 concurrently must submit this document by Week 3. The minimum requirement is a substantive document that details the problem, its related works, purpose of the project and a reasonable timeline (including activies) to conduct the project.

Progress Report: The initial draft of your thesis that presents your chosen approach, preliminary findings and plans for the remaining weeks of the project, including INFO4002. These should be presented to your supervisor during a supervision meeting by Week 12. Document to be submitted to Canvas by Week 13. Students doing both INFO4001 and INFO4002 concurrently must submit this document by Week 5. The minimum requirement is a substantive document that contains the write-up of the thesis to-date.

Thesis: Each report is assessed by two people, your supervisor and another examiner. The second examiner is appointed by the coordinator.

Detailed information is available in Canvas.

Students who commence their degree in 2019 or earlier: You need to also complete INFO4002, and the same mark applies to both INFO4001 and INFO4002.

Students who commence their degree in 2020 or later AND are NOT enrolled in the Honours program: You need to also complete INFO4002, and the same mark applies to both INFO4001 and INFO4002

Students who commence their degree in 2020 or later AND are enrolled in the Honours program: You will need to complete INFO4911 instead of INFO4001. See the unit outline for INFO4911 for more information.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

Penalty clause:

For every calendar day up to and including ten calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to late work. The penalty will be calculated by first marking the work, and then subtracting 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date.

Example: Consider an assignment’s maximum awardable mark is 10; the assignment is submitted 2 days late; and the assignment is marked as 7/10. After applying the penalty, marks will be: 7 - (0.5 x 2) = 6/10.

For work submitted more than ten calendar days after the due date a mark of zero will be awarded. The marker may elect to, but is not required to, provide feedback on such work.

Refer to section 7A of Assessment procedures policy available at: http://sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2012/267&RendNum=0

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity	Learning outcomes
Weekly	Project work - own time.	Project (12 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to update their supervisor on their progress regularly.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Berndtsson, Hansson, J., Olsson, B., & Lundell, B. (2008). Thesis Projects: A Guide for Students in Computer Science and Information Systems. Springer London, Limited.

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Reading List, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Make an original contribution to the field
LO2. Carry out an extended supervised capstone project
LO3. Write a thesis presenting and evaluating one's original contribution, in a style suitable for the academic literature

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No significant changes were made to the structure of the unit.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

INFO4001: Thesis A

Semester 2, 2025 [Supervision] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links