A capstone project typically requires either (A) the construction of a major product or subsection of a product, or (B) the scientific investigation of an idea or hypothesis. The former places weight on the ingenuity, quality and difficulty of the product that is designed and built, the latter on the intellectual depth and practical rigour of the proof or evaluation carried out. Each student chooses a topic from a list or in discussion with their prospective supervisor, or takes a topic allocated in response to stated preferences.

The allocation process can occur through informal discussion with staff before the deadline, and thus there is some advantage to opening discussions by email or in person ahead of the start of A semester.

All students will take the D version (A & B semesters) of this paper by default, presenting most results at the Engineering Design Show (EDS).

With permission of both convenor and supervisor, students may take the -X version, permitting some assessments to extend through to the next calendar year. Good reason is required for this variation.