How to select and be allocated a thesis topic for engineering thesis ENGG4801 - #4 credit

Same procedure applies for all projects including:

ENGG4801 (semester 1 start), ENGG4802 (semester 2 start), for ITEE Electrical, Computer Systems and Software Engineering (BE) students
METR4900 (semester 1 start), METR4901 (semester 2 start), for Mechatronic Engineering (BE) students
ENGG7803 (semester 1 start), ENGG7804 (semester 2 start), for Master of Engineering (ME) students
ENGG7802 (either semester start, completing in one semester), for Master of Engineering (ME) students

1) Read carefully through the list of topics offered by the many supervisors under the appropriate link at

You can search and sort based on a number of parameters; use this to help discover topics that interest you.

Browsing the work of past thesis students and noting their supervisors will also help give background to those topics offered. You can find past theses here:

If you have an idea for your own topic, then you should approach the most likely supervisor directly and see if they are interested in supervising you on that topic. If your supervisor is non-ITEE academic request him/her to read the supervisor guide and use the project database. Your project is administered through the project database so it is essential that your supervisor uses it.

If you know supervisors in areas of your interest who haven't put up their topics yet, you can always email them and ask. Most often they would be interested in a project with engaged and active student.

2) List at least five topics (more is better) and list them in order of preference. Choose from at least two different supervisors. Identify the topic with the supervisor's unique email/account name and then the database topic number and title.

To assist the supervisors in judging if the topic is a good fit for you, please also add the following information:

• your name (Family name in CAPITALS)
• your student number
• your student email address
• your GPA (roughly is OK)
• subjects you have taken which are relevant and how you did in them.
• Additional relevant information

3) Put all of this information into an email and send it to the supervisor who is your first preference. Send a cc of your email to engg4801@itee.uq.edu.au as a backup. I suggest your subject line should be "ENGG4801 topic preferences". Please send this email by the beginning of  the first week of exams.

An example email appears at the end of this page.

Supervisors will email you back to organise further contact and will enter your details in the thesis database against the topic which has been allocated to you, or advise you to seek further.

All students should ensure they have a topic by the end of week 1 of the semester in which their project commences.

REMEMBER, for projects lasting two semesters you enrol for BOTH SEMESTERS with the SAME CODE.

All students should ensure they have a topic by the end of week 1 of the semester in which their project commences.

REMEMBER, for projects lasting two semesters you enrol for BOTH SEMESTERS with the SAME CODE.

3.Consult your thesis supervisor for advice on OHS risk BEFORE you start working in the lab. Be aware that depending on your lab hazard rating and your supervisor advise you will need to prepare risk assessment in your 'project proposal' Project Proposal Marksheet .