Thesis FAQs

On this page you'll find our most frequently asked questions from students enrolled in thesis courses managed by the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS).

If you can't find an answer to your query below, please refer to EECS Thesis Information page or contact thesis_enquiries@eecs.uq.edu.au.

2026 Updates

REIT7820 is a new 2-unit single semester postgraduate thesis course that is being offered from Semester 2, 2026 onwards. Together with REIT6811, this will provide students with 4 units of research, as required by their degree. Supervisors will automatically be assigned to the course, so students will not be required to find their own supervisor and project.

Should you be enrolled in REIT7841 (4 unit) or REIT7820 (2 unit)?

4-units: If you want an individual topic and expanded research experience and are possibly look at doing further research after graduation, then 4-unit projects are suitable (e.g. REIT7841).

2-units: For students in 16-unit or 24-unit Masters programs: if you are doing REIT6811 in S1 (or have already completed it), you may enrol instead in the new 2-unit REIT7820, starting in S2 2026.

This option is particularly recommended for one-year Masters programs.

REIT7820 runs at a less intense pace over 1 semester and dovetails cleanly with REIT6811. REIT6811 (S1) plus REIT7820 (S2) together provide 4 units of research credit, equivalent to the year-long 4-unit thesis projects.

In REIT7820, you will be assigned to a broad thesis theme (no need to find a specific topic or supervisor) and the course combines structured, workshop-style learning with strong research components and individual assessment.

Finding a project

Q: If a student has not secured a project, will the School allocate a project after the semester begins?

A: If you have not secrued a project, you should go to the EECS Project Database and put in your preferences to secure a project. You can find the link to the Project Database on the EECS thesis website. https://eecs.uq.edu.au/current-students/thesis-coursework-information

Q: I have expressed my interest in a project and the supervisor has accepted my request. What about the other projects I expressed interest in?
A: When you have accepted a project, you should write to all the other supervisors you have approached to withdraw your expression of interest.

How do I change to the new rules for 2026?

You can follow the 2026 program rules, you do not need to ask permission. You must be certain to follow all 2026 rules, you cannot mix and match. If you want peace of mind you can email enquiries@eait.uq.edu.au to inform them you intend to follow the 2026 rules.

To satisfy the minumum of 4-units REIT6811 and REIT7820 are sufficient. Note that you do need to choose another course to replace the 2-units that would have been in the larger thesis project.

Who owns thesis IP (including industry)

Notionally, undergraduate thesis students own the IP for their project. However, if you join an existing UQ research project, you will need to assign your IP to UQ. For industry‑sponsored projects, IP arrangements must be negotiated with the industry partner before the project begins. In many cases, if an NDA is required, it will also cover IP rights.

You can consult with EAIT Employability