ABH401 Project - Part A
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | ABH401 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | ABN401 or UXH300 |
| Equivalent(s): | UXH400-1 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,704 |
| International unit fee | $5,436 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | ABH401 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | ABN401 or UXH300 |
| Equivalent: | UXH400-1 |
| Coordinator: | Tracy Washington | tracy.washington@qut.edu.au |
Overview
ABH401 Project – Part A and ABH402 Project – Part B are consecutive capstone units that together form a 24-credit-point honours research project in the Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours). These units integrate knowledge and skills developed across the earlier stages of the course and bridge academic inquiry with professional practice and/or preparation for postgraduate research.
In Part A, you will expand on a research problem identified through prior coursework, including ABN401 Research Strategies in the Built Environment. Working with an allocated academic supervisor, you will refine and test the feasibility of your proposed research through an expanded literature review, research design, and project planning. The outcomes of Part A establish the scholarly, ethical, and methodological foundations for the independent execution and defence of the research project in Part B.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply design-thinking, problem solving, and analysis to investigate a contemporary problem or challenge facing your discipline.
- Analyse theory and literature and apply professional and ethical judgement.
- Apply independent research skills to identify and devise potential solutions for discipline and interdisciplinary problems.
- Develop and communicate a proposed program of research to a professional and academic standard.
Content
This unit focuses on the application of research skills to support an evidence-based research project. It includes applying research skills to identify, critically appraise, and integrate varied information sources, as well as utilising digital tools, including generative artificial intelligence.
In this unit, you will:
- Expand on a research or industry problem for investigation
- Gain an understanding of research ethics and integrity, methods, and processes
- Refine your research proposal with an expanded and fully referenced literature review that synthesises key research and grounds your study in existing knowledge
- Create a poster and present on the proposed research problem
Learning Approaches
This unit differs from most coursework units in the Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours) as it is structured around an individually supervised capstone honours research project. Your learning is centred on the development of a viable and ethically sound research proposal that will be independently undertaken in ABH402 Project – Part B.
Early in the semester, you will participate in orientation sessions and structured workshops that introduce the expectations of the honours capstone sequence, the supervisor allocation process, and the requirements of Part A. These sessions provide guidance on refining research problems, expanding literature reviews, understanding research ethics and integrity, and developing appropriate research methodologies and project plans.
Throughout the semester, your primary learning activity will be regular engagement with an allocated academic supervisor, who acts as your mentor and principal point of contact. Supervisory meetings support iterative development of your research proposal, provide formative feedback on written and visual work, and assist you to refine the scholarly, ethical, and methodological foundations of your project.
In addition to supervision, you will engage with targeted workshops and online resources delivered through Canvas that support key stages of proposal development, including project planning, ethics preparation, and communication of research intent. You are expected to work independently between meetings, drawing on feedback, peer discussion where appropriate, and learning from prior coursework, including ABN401 Research Strategies in the Built Environment.
To support consistency and impartiality in assessment, major assessment items are marked by an academic staff member who is not the student’s project supervisor.
Feedback provided in Part A supports progression to Part B, where the research project is completed and a final grade for the capstone sequence is awarded.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
For your proposal and poster presentation, a randomly assigned supervisor will provide you with written feedback. Your assigned supervisor may suggest further formative skills to help improve your work before progressing to Part B, where you will action your research project.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment in this unit is designed to support the development, testing, and validation of a research project proposal that will be independently undertaken in ABH402 Project – Part B. The assessment items are completed in consultation with an academic supervisor and focus on establishing the conceptual, scholarly, and methodological readiness required for successful progression to Part B.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion
In collaboration with your Honours supervisor, you will expand and refine your research project proposal based on feedback received in ABN401. This assessment requires you to strengthen the literature review, clarify the research problem, objectives, and significance, and refine the proposed research methodology.
You will submit an expanded written proposal that demonstrates scholarly rigour, ethical awareness, and feasibility, and includes a project timeline outlining key research milestones. This assessment establishes the written and analytical foundation required for independent project execution in ABH402 Project – Part B.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment, in accordance with guidance provided on Canvas.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA)
This assessment requires you to present your research proposal through a visually engaging poster and oral presentation. The poster must clearly communicate the research problem, aims, research questions, background literature, proposed methodology, and project objectives.
Through the 5 minute presentation, you will demonstrate your understanding of the research context, justify key decisions, and confirm the feasibility and scholarly grounding of the proposed project. The presentation provides an opportunity for academic staff to verify authorship, understanding, and readiness to progress to independent research delivery in ABH402 Project – Part B.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Relevant readings, modules and other resources are available on the unit Canvas website.
You are also required to use the following:
QUT Library Databases
QUT Cite| Write
Further resources for this unit will be determined in conjunction with your project supervisor.
Risk Assessment Statement
All commencing Faculty of Engineering students are required to complete the Mandatory Safety Induction
There are no extraordinary risks associated with the classroom/lecture activities in this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)
- Apply theoretical, practical and cultural knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines and specialist knowledge and skills in one built environment area.
Relates to: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion, Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA) - Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
Relates to: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion, Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA) - Communicate knowledge, ideas and creative solutions in diverse modes, for a range of contexts and diverse audiences.
Relates to: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion, Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA) - Plan, develop and complete research and other projects.
Relates to: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion, Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA) - Strategically collaborate with diverse stakeholders and communities, including First Nations peoples.
Relates to: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion, Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA) - Reflect on feedback and experience, and display professional and ethical judgment and initiative.
Relates to: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion, Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA)
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | ABH401 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | ABN401 or UXH300 |
| Equivalent: | UXH400-1 |
Overview
ABH401 Project – Part A and ABH402 Project – Part B are consecutive capstone units that together form a 24-credit-point honours research project in the Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours). These units integrate knowledge and skills developed across the earlier stages of the course and bridge academic inquiry with professional practice and/or preparation for postgraduate research.
In Part A, you will expand on a research problem identified through prior coursework, including ABN401 Research Strategies in the Built Environment. Working with an allocated academic supervisor, you will refine and test the feasibility of your proposed research through an expanded literature review, research design, and project planning. The outcomes of Part A establish the scholarly, ethical, and methodological foundations for the independent execution and defence of the research project in Part B.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply design-thinking, problem solving, and analysis to investigate a contemporary problem or challenge facing your discipline.
- Analyse theory and literature and apply professional and ethical judgement.
- Apply independent research skills to identify and devise potential solutions for discipline and interdisciplinary problems.
- Develop and communicate a proposed program of research to a professional and academic standard.
Content
This unit focuses on the application of research skills to support an evidence-based research project. It includes applying research skills to identify, critically appraise, and integrate varied information sources, as well as utilising digital tools, including generative artificial intelligence.
In this unit, you will:
- Expand on a research or industry problem for investigation
- Gain an understanding of research ethics and integrity, methods, and processes
- Refine your research proposal with an expanded and fully referenced literature review that synthesises key research and grounds your study in existing knowledge
- Create a poster and present on the proposed research problem
Learning Approaches
This unit differs from most coursework units in the Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours) as it is structured around an individually supervised capstone honours research project. Your learning is centred on the development of a viable and ethically sound research proposal that will be independently undertaken in ABH402 Project – Part B.
Early in the semester, you will participate in orientation sessions and structured workshops that introduce the expectations of the honours capstone sequence, the supervisor allocation process, and the requirements of Part A. These sessions provide guidance on refining research problems, expanding literature reviews, understanding research ethics and integrity, and developing appropriate research methodologies and project plans.
Throughout the semester, your primary learning activity will be regular engagement with an allocated academic supervisor, who acts as your mentor and principal point of contact. Supervisory meetings support iterative development of your research proposal, provide formative feedback on written and visual work, and assist you to refine the scholarly, ethical, and methodological foundations of your project.
In addition to supervision, you will engage with targeted workshops and online resources delivered through Canvas that support key stages of proposal development, including project planning, ethics preparation, and communication of research intent. You are expected to work independently between meetings, drawing on feedback, peer discussion where appropriate, and learning from prior coursework, including ABN401 Research Strategies in the Built Environment.
To support consistency and impartiality in assessment, major assessment items are marked by an academic staff member who is not the student’s project supervisor.
Feedback provided in Part A supports progression to Part B, where the research project is completed and a final grade for the capstone sequence is awarded.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
For your proposal and poster presentation, a randomly assigned supervisor will provide you with written feedback. Your assigned supervisor may suggest further formative skills to help improve your work before progressing to Part B, where you will action your research project.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment in this unit is designed to support the development, testing, and validation of a research project proposal that will be independently undertaken in ABH402 Project – Part B. The assessment items are completed in consultation with an academic supervisor and focus on establishing the conceptual, scholarly, and methodological readiness required for successful progression to Part B.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion
In collaboration with your Honours supervisor, you will expand and refine your research project proposal based on feedback received in ABN401. This assessment requires you to strengthen the literature review, clarify the research problem, objectives, and significance, and refine the proposed research methodology.
You will submit an expanded written proposal that demonstrates scholarly rigour, ethical awareness, and feasibility, and includes a project timeline outlining key research milestones. This assessment establishes the written and analytical foundation required for independent project execution in ABH402 Project – Part B.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment, in accordance with guidance provided on Canvas.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA)
This assessment requires you to present your research proposal through a visually engaging poster and oral presentation. The poster must clearly communicate the research problem, aims, research questions, background literature, proposed methodology, and project objectives.
Through the 5 minute presentation, you will demonstrate your understanding of the research context, justify key decisions, and confirm the feasibility and scholarly grounding of the proposed project. The presentation provides an opportunity for academic staff to verify authorship, understanding, and readiness to progress to independent research delivery in ABH402 Project – Part B.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Relevant readings, modules and other resources are available on the unit Canvas website.
You are also required to use the following:
QUT Library Databases
QUT Cite| Write
Further resources for this unit will be determined in conjunction with your project supervisor.
Risk Assessment Statement
All commencing Faculty of Engineering students are required to complete the Mandatory Safety Induction
There are no extraordinary risks associated with the classroom/lecture activities in this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)
- Apply theoretical, practical and cultural knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines and specialist knowledge and skills in one built environment area.
Relates to: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion, Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA) - Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
Relates to: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion, Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA) - Communicate knowledge, ideas and creative solutions in diverse modes, for a range of contexts and diverse audiences.
Relates to: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion, Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA) - Plan, develop and complete research and other projects.
Relates to: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion, Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA) - Strategically collaborate with diverse stakeholders and communities, including First Nations peoples.
Relates to: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion, Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA) - Reflect on feedback and experience, and display professional and ethical judgment and initiative.
Relates to: Honours Project Proposal and Literature Review Expansion, Honours Project Proposal Poster Presentation (VIA)