1. What is the aim of UROP?

   To provide UG students, who have excellent academic performance and who are talented, an opportunity to get research exposure/experience by working in an on-going research project.

2. Who should consider taking it?

   If you have good CPI (at least 8.5), and you can handle extra workload, and you are keen to contribute in research, you may opt. There are no other pre-requisites.

3. Why should a student do it?

   It will give the student a challenging opportunity to participate in research, and establish his/her research aptitude. It will also appear on his/her grade card as research experience. It may also bring to him/her some financial support.

4. Is UROP a course or project?

   UROP involves participating in and carrying out research as a project work

5. Who can do UROP?

   All the students who have entered through JEE can do UROP. The DD students can do UROP01 only.

6. What are the UROP Levels?

   The initial UROP, called UROP01, is for getting research exposure in any research project in the institute. It has no credits, and it must be done satisfactorily to be listed on your grade card. The second level consists of UROP02 and UROP03. These must be done in lieu of your degree projects in the final year. UROP02 is Stage 1 and UROP03 is Stage 2 of the project. The second level UROP represents research work, where the student is expected to contribute significantly to the ongoing research work.

7. Must you do both UROP levels?

   Both the levels are independent. You may do either or both.

8. Can you combine UROP with PT?

   Yes, it is possible (see below). However, you can do both also when they are in different summers.

9. UROP proposals from faculty :
   • Faculty with on-going research projects should submit proposals to DUGC in a standard format (see below).
   • DUGC should review the proposals to ensure that the work is clearly defined for giving an appropriate level and quantum of exposure / experience.
   • All available and approved proposals should be listed on the homepage of the department.
   • Each department will define procedures for receiving applications from students and for allocations.


10. UROP01 (Research Exposure)
    • Generally of six-months duration.
    • Operates from Jan-June or June-November in a year.
    • A student is expected to work about 8 hours/week during semester course work and full time during summer.
    • It may be combined with PT if the PT slot is in the summer covered by the period of UROP01.
    • A student may be paid Rs. 1,500-2000 per month from research grants.
    • Students should formally register for UROP01 with Academic Office.
    • Students can apply after completing first year of their studies.
    • Student applications should be invited and processed in November and April so that the work can start as per the above periods.
    • Students should not take leave during this period.
    • Students may take UROP01 in any department of their choice.
    • The nature of work is expected to be of development and experimentation type.
    • The students will be evaluated by the supervising faculty on the basis of regular work, interest, and contributions in the on-going work. The pass / fail grade should be sent to the Academic Office at the end of the period.
    • "UROP01 : Research Experience" will be listed on the grade card only for the students who receive pass grade.
    • The supervising faculty may terminate UROP01 at any time in case of unsatisfactory work of the student.


11. UROP02 + UROP03 : Research Project
    • These are in lieu of the degree project work, and carry same credits. These are not available to DD students.
    • The students are expected to make contributions to the on-going research. The work must result in a technical report publishable as a conference / journal paper.
    • In case of unsatisfactory or inadequate work, student registrations for these will be converted to the normal degree projects. A grade below BB will automatically convert registration for this into the standart B.Tech projects.
    • The research work will be evaluated by a panel to ensure a level of contribution higher than an average project (that is typical of degree-level projects).
    • The durations will be normally same as degree projects; however, preceding or succeeding summer breaks may be combined.
    • Students should take these from their own departments.
    • Students may be paid stipend of up to Rs. 3000/- pm from research or consultancy projects.
    • If the level and quantum of work is not adequate, the supervisor may terminate the research project and convert it into a normal degree project.
    • These projects will be listed as Research Projects on the grade reports


12. Format for UROP Proposals The following format is suggested to the departments for getting UROP proposals from the faculty :
    
    UROP Level
    Faculty name
    Other faculty involved in the work
    Area of Research
    Title of the project work
    Description of on-going work : giving goals, milestones, plans, grants, publications, etc.
    Work expected from the student
    Evaluation criteria
    Financial support for the student
    


13. Suggested format for allotment : The following format is suggested to the department for allotment of UROP topics to the students.
    
    UROP Level
    Name of Student
    Roll No and CPI of the student
    Dept of Student
    Title of the project
    Name of supervising faculty
    Period of UROP
    Is PT being covered (yes/no)
    Stipend for the student and Project Code (as applicable)
    Signatures of the student, faculty and Head
    


14. The project proposals approved by the department and allotments to the students should be sent to Dean (AP) through the Head of the Department for confirmation and further processing.

Procedure

1. UROP will be available at two levels, both independent of each other. They will carry codes similar to course codes so that they can be listed in grade reports.
   
   • UROP01 : Undergraduate research experience
   • UROP02 : Undergraduate research project, Stage 1
   • UROP03 : Undergraduate research project, Stage 2



2. UROP01 will be listed on grade report only if the student performs work assigned to him satisfactorily. The student is expected to put in about 8 hours of work per week.



3. UROP02/UROP03, being research projects, are expected to be research-oriented, with adequate originality in the work. The quantum and level of work is expected to be much higher than a normal B.Tech. Project and is expected to result in a publication. Their evaluation will carry Grades AA, AB and BB. If the level of originality is not adequate, these projects will be converted into normal B.Tech. Projects (before or during evaluation time of either stages).



4. UROP02/UROP03 may be evaluated separately (from other B.Tech. Projects) by independent panels on lines similar to M.Tech. project evaluations. UROP01 evaluations will be done by the faculty supervising the work.



5. Topics for UROP will be announced well in advanced by the faculty. A topic will be accepted as UROP by the DUGC of the department. The proposal will highlight research nature of work, give broader research context of the work, duration, expected background, deliverables, evaluation criteria, etc. The topics may be interdisciplinary in nature, and may be proposed jointly faculty from different departments. The accepted topics will be sent to the Academic Office , who will publish them on IITB's UROP site. The topics may be finalized from this purpose by October and March end each year.



6. The students with no backlogs and good academic performance will be eligible to apply for UROP. The applications will be made to the respective DUGCs. A committee consisting of DUGC members and the project investigator (PI) will select students for awarding UROPs. The selected list of students will be communicated to the Academic Office. These will be treated as registrations for UROPs.



7. All UROP assignments will be evaluated rigorously to ensure their distinctive character. A report on all UROPs carried out within a department will be submitted to the Senate on a yearly basis.



8. Institute-level funding may be available for students doing UROP01, whereas research project funds may be used to support students for UROP02/03. The Institute will provide norms for payments to the students.



9. Initially, UROP is expected to be available to about 10% students in each department.

B.Tech./M.Sc. Project evaluation

Evaluation Process

1. Each stage will be evaluated separately and graded



2. The guide will give approval for submission of the project report for evaluation, ensuring that the work carried out by the student is adequate.



3. The guide may allocate an "XX" grade (at least 1 month in advance of stage evaluation) in case the student has been irregular in interactions and work (a student is expected to have at least one meeting every week with the guide).



4. In special situations (such as prolonged health problem, lack or delay in getting facilities), the guide may recommend to UGAPEC (through DUGC) an extension of maximum one month for submission and evaluation without any grade penalty.



5. The examination panel (same as per exiting rules) may award a fail grade (FF or FR) for poor performance and/or inadequate work



6. In case of "FF", the student can appear again after 1 month by submitting fresh report; in this case, the maximum possible grade will be limited to "BC".



7. The student will be required to register a fresh for the stage in case of "XX" and "FR" grade.



8. An II grade may be awarded on medical grounds (requiring the student to miss the evaluation), in which case, a re-examination will be held after 1 month.