UROP Frequently Asked Questions
This list of FAQs (frequently asked questions) compiles common questions and answers about UROP (Computing). Please email the current UROP co-ordinator if you spot any errors or if you have suggestions or other queries that are not answered here.
- Is UROP for me?
- What is the aim of UROP?
- What are the pre-requisites of UROP?
- When is the best time to do UROP?
- I am in year 1 (semester 1 or 2) and I am really interested in UROP. Can I take UROP early?
- Workload: If I take up UROP, will I end up with a heavier workload?
- I want to do something during my vacation, should I take up UROP?
- Are exchange students allowed to take UROP?
- I am eligible and very interested in UROP. What should I do?
- Project assignment: How do I find my UROP project?
- Self-proposed project: May I propose my own project?
- Vacation: (For international students) May I go home to visit my family during the vacation while I am doing UROP?
- Hostel: Can I use UROP as a reason in my application to stay in the hostel over the vacation?
- IA / SEP / NOC: Can I do both UROP and IA (industrial attachment) / SEP / NOC at the same time?
- CP4101: Can I do both UROP and CP4101 at the same time?
- CP4101: May I do a UROP instead of CP4101 in my final year?
- Can UROP be used to fulfil degree requirements?
- I do not meet the GPA requirements for UROP but would like to do a research project. What can I do?
- Can i reuse text from literature reviews in the progress reports for the final UROP report?
- After UROP: Can I convert my UROP report into a publication?
- Can i register for UROP while doing ATAP?
- I saw in the FAQ section that “Students are not allowed to register for UROP while on ATAP or SIP.”, but can I register for ATAP while doing UROP? For example, if I’m doing UROP in year3, can I also do the ATAP in year 3 sem2 and the following summer break?
- If I could do UROP in year 3, I should start from the year2 summer break is it? If I can’t do ATAP, can I do the 3-month internship during the year 2 summer break? like CP3200 or CP3202?
1. Is UROP for me?
Nobody can answer this question for you. You will have to decide that. We hope that this FAQ will help, but also try to talk with seniors who are taking UROP now.
2. What is the aim of UROP?
UROP aims to give students the rare opportunity to do Independent Research Work under the supervision of a professor.
3. What are the pre-requisites of UROP?
UROP is meant for stronger, talented students in SoC — those who have a strong interest in research work and can cope with the extra workload demand that UROP entails.
There are, of course, pre-requisite for CP3209 and minimum GPA requirement. Please check the “Eligibility” section in the Details portion of this website.
4. When is the best time to do UROP?
The ideal time to do UROP is not earlier than the 4th semester. You must also make sure that you have enough remaining semesters to do your CS3214 (for IS/EC students) and CP4101 Final Year Project after you have completed your UROP.
5. I am in year 1 (semester 1 or 2) and I am really interested in UROP. Can I take UROP early?
It is good that you are interested in research work. However, for UROP to be effective, you should first have enough “domain knowledge” and have taken sufficient basic courses — preferably the essential 2000-level courses.
Therefore, we advise students to take UROP starting from 4th semester onwards, and complete it before CP4101 Final Year Project (FYP).
If you are keen on research, you can approach the professors to assign you some readings on the topics to get started early on the project. These readings will come in handy when you officially embark on your UROP project later.
Finally, if you really believe that you handle it (even if you do not meet the pre-requisites for CP3209 , but you have other relevant experience or knowledge), you can write to the UROP coordinator formally to be considered for UROP early. This will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
6. Workload: If I take up UROP, will I end up with a heavier workload?
Generally speaking, Yes!
Although UROP accounts for 4Units in each of the two semesters, the actual amount of work it takes per semester is expected to be more than a typical 4Unit course.
Research work is very hard work, involving lots of reading and independent learning, even before you start to do any programming.
Hence, UROP is meant for the better students who have a keen interest in research work and can cope with the extra workload demand that UROP entails.
7. I want to do something during my vacation, should I take up UROP?
Not Really. UROP is not a vacation study programme.
UROP aims to give students an opportunity to do INDEPENDENT RESEARCH WORK. This means that it is the students who are doing most of the work, while the supervisor just provides some guidance.
Students should consider UROP only if they are keen in research work.
8. Are exchange students allowed to take UROP?
UROP is not open to exchange student. However, exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the project supervisor.
9. I am eligible and very interested in UROP. What should I do?
It is really easy. Things you can do any time — check the UROP website for pre-requisites, schedules, FAQs , and other information, talk to current UROP students, find out about UROP projects, talk to professors, etc.
The rest is simple:
- Check if you have satisfied the pre-requisites for UROP.
- Find a suitable project. See the point below.
- Once you have found a project and have gotten the approval of the professor to supervise you, apply for UROP via the online application form. You will be informed of the outcome of your application by email.
- Once your application is approved, we will then update the ProjAdm site and assign the project to you. You may check the ProjAdm site.
- Start work on the project.
10. Project assignment: How do I find my UROP project?
To find your UROP project, we use a two-way approach in which both the student and the supervisor must agree on the student-project matching. Follow the following steps:
- First, consult the UROP Project List on the ProjAdm site.
- It’s a good idea also to look through projects on the FYP section of the site. The project listing there will also give you hints about the themes of research that professors work on, and help you propose similar projects when the UROP project listings do not suffice.
- Approach the professors (visit their office, or email/phone them) to discuss their projects. Discussion can cover details of the project, as well as expectation of the professors, your own background, rough project schedule and so on. (Do these for as many projects as you like.)
- Even for professors who did not propose any UROP project, you may still contact them on your own. Some professors like students to take their initiatives, as it shows that the students are self-motivated, an important quality for anyone doing research.
- Make your choice, and seek the approval of the supervisor. (Else, try other choices.)
- If the project has not be put up on the ProjAdm site, your supervisor has to add it in. Only then the project is registered and a project code given to it. Then you can submit the e-application form.
11. Self-proposed project: May I propose my own project?
Sure, you may. If you cannot find a suitable project, and have some project idea in mind, find out which professors work in the related area, and consult them. Fill out the Proposal form from the Forms website. You should provide all relevant information about the project to your potential supervisors. If the professor is willing to take up that project, please request him or her to add the project into the ProjAdm Site.
12. Vacation: (For international students) May I go home to visit my family during the vacation while I am doing UROP?
Vacation Rule for UROP students:
As UROP students are expected to spend full time on research during the vacations, they are supposed to remain physically here in NUS doing their projects during the vacations.
When choosing your projects, if you plan to travel, it is important to let your supervisor know your travel plan so that they aware of it. Your supervisor must agree to your travel schedule.
These requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with both your supervisor and the UROP Coordinator. In all cases, the total amount of leave taken should not exceed 4 weeks.
13. Hostel: Can I use UROP as a reason in my application to stay in the hostel over the vacation?
No, although some international students would like to use UROP to increase their chance in their hostel application. The standard criteria laid down by the university apply for hostel application.
14. Internships and IA / SEP / NOC: Can I do both UROP and Internship or IA (industrial attachment) / SEP / NOC at the same time?
At any given time (including during vacations), a student cannot work externally or do SEP/NOC and work towards UROP simultaneously.
UROP involves full time research during the vacations, and internships and IA or SEP/NOC also involves full-time commitment during the vacations. Therefore, although we do not explicitly exclude students from doing internships or IA or SEP/NOC, it is generally not possible to do both at the same time. Students who want to do both internship/IA and UROP may have to spend an extra semester.
15. CP4101 : Can I do both UROP and CP4101 - Final Year Project (FYP) at the same time?
A student cannot do UROP and CP4101 – Final Year Project (FYP) simultaneously. Students looking to try research before taking up FYP should consider doing a 1-semester CP3106 Independent Project, if there is not sufficient time to consider a year-long UROP.
16. CP4101: May I do a UROP instead of CP4101 in my final year?
It is highly encouraged to do CP4101 (Final Year Project) instead of doing a UROP in your final year. A final year thesis constitutes a major, recognizable capstone in an undergraduate education. However, those students who are fulfilling their CP4101 requirements through other means may opt to enrol for UROP to benefit from the opportunity to experience research. Other students without sufficient reasons will be rejected and asked to apply for CP4101 instead.
17. Can UROP be used to fulfil degree requirements?
It is highly encouraged to do CP4101 (Final Year Project) instead of doing a UROP in your final year. A final year thesis constitutes a major, recognizable capstone in an undergraduate education. However, those students who are fulfilling their CP4101 requirements through other means may opt to enrol for UROP to benefit from the opportunity to experience research. Other students without sufficient reasons will be rejected and asked to apply for CP4101 instead.
18. I do not meet the GPA requirements for UROP but would like to do a research project. What can I do?
You can do a FYP if you are in Year 4. If you want to try a research project earlier, you can talk to faculty members who proposed UROP projects about the possibility of letting you do them as CP3106 Independent Project.
19. Can i reuse text from literature reviews in the progress reports for the final UROP report?
Yes, you can do that as the UROP report is the only deliverable which is considered internally published.
20. After UROP: Can I convert my UROP report into a publication?
For some students, having a publication is a good means of demonstrating your commitment to research and is an integral part of a Curriculum Vitea for an application for graduate studies. Check with your supervisor whether s/he feels that your work is significant enough for a publication. In certain cases, your supervisor will allow you to convert your final report into a technical report while waiting on an appropriate publication deadline. If both parties agree to this solution, approach the SoC technical report coordinator (currently as of Dec 2015, Prof. Ling Tok Wang) for details.
21. Can i register for UROP while doing ATAP?
Students are not allowed to register for UROP while on ATAP or SIP.
22. I saw in the FAQ section that "Students are not allowed to register for UROP while on ATAP or SIP.", but can I register for ATAP while doing UROP? For example, if I'm doing UROP in year3, can I also do the ATAP in year 3 sem2 and the following summer break?
No, by default, you are precluded from doing other programmes (without your supervisor’s approval). UROP is a full year programme and needs your full attention to have a better chance of obtaining good results. However, this can be waived if your supervisor exceptionally believes that you can continue adequate/good progress while on other programmes.
23. If I could do UROP in year 3, I should start from the year2 summer break is it? If I can't do ATAP, can I do the 3-month internship during the year 2 summer break? like CP3200 or CP3202?
Students may participate in programmes during vacation period. However, you will need to discuss with your UROP supervisor in advance and obtain prior consent from him / her before you embark on the programme.
Generally, most students prefer to take the year long UROP as soon as possible; e.g., starting April and formally register in Aug in Sem I and defend at the end of Sem II (next April). See my answer to FAQ Q24.
