FAQs

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP@CECS) at VinUni’s College of Engineering and Computer Science engages undergraduates as Research Assistants under CECS faculty mentorship. It provides hands-on research experience, enabling students to explore career paths, enhance major knowledge, build skills, and prepare for graduate school or careers through the full research process. UROP includes 8 elective courses and is part of the VinCore program.

All VinUni undergraduate students, regardless of major or prior research experience, are eligible for UROP. Students from any college (CECS, CBM, CHS or CAS) can apply but must discuss project expectations with a faculty supervisor beforehand to ensure alignment with their skills and interests.

All UROP participants must complete the “Fundamental Research Skills” course on Canvas after enrolling in UROP1010/1011, which introduces undergraduate-level research principles. A certificate of completion is mandatory to engage in UROP activities.

UROP projects require 20 to 60 hours per month for at least one semester (Fall, Spring, or Summer). The commitment can extend to an academic year or longer, offering flexibility to fit students’ schedules.

Yes, off-campus opportunities, such as during exchange semesters, are available with online supervision through meetings or reports, allowing students to fulfill UROP commitments remotely.

Review research positions emailed by CECS or on CECS SharePoint, contact the faculty supervisor to discuss project details, and submit the online Application Form. You may apply for up to two projects per semester, with your second choice considered if the first is not accepted.

Faculty supervisors review applications and may conduct interviews to discuss the Scope of Work and project requirements. If accepted, you register for the UROP course on the Student Information System (SIS) and join the course on Canvas.

The Credit option (UROP1010, UROP2010, UROP3010, UROP4010) grants 1 credit per course, is letter-graded, and incurs no service fee. The Paid option (UROP1011, UROP2011, UROP3011, UROP4011) offers no credit, is graded Pass/Fail, and provides performance-based payment, subject to faculty funding. Both options require sequential courses with the same supervisor. The Credit option suits most students, while the Paid option is ideal for those with proven research commitment.

No, you must first confirm your continuation by submitting the Application Form provided by CECS to update the faculty supervisor’s name on SIS before registering for the next UROP course.

If you switch to a new faculty supervisor, you must retake UROP1010 (Credit) or UROP1011 (Paid), regardless of your previous UROP experience. Note that VinUni’s Financial Regulations and Tariff on Retake Fees apply.

Yes, after completing a UROP course, you can switch between the Credit and Paid options with your faculty supervisor’s email approval. For the Paid option, payment depends on available faculty funding and your research performance from the previous semesters.

You may apply for up to two UROP projects per semester, with your second choice considered if the first is not accepted. However, you can enroll in only one UROP course per semester.

Yes, you can join as a Volunteer Research Assistant to explore research without credit or payment. Contact a faculty supervisor directly to discuss available opportunities.

Yes.

You are eligible to apply; however, you are still required to seek your faculty supervisor’s endorsement by email if you are unable to meet him or her in person during the application period.

No, application documents should be uploaded to the Application Form sent by CECS as part of your online application on or before the deadline.

You can proceed to the next UROP course after a break, provided you continue with the same faculty supervisor and follow the course sequence (e.g., UROP1010 to UROP2010).

You will receive an email notification after the application review and any interviews, indicating acceptance or rejection. For the Paid option, you will be informed about the Service Contract and payment details.

After acceptance, students register for the appropriate UROP course (e.g., UROP1010 or UROP1011) on SIS, following the VinUni Academic Calendar and Registrar’s Office guidelines. To continue in the next course, submit the CECS Application Form before registering on SIS.

Yes, you can add or drop a UROP course on SIS within the VinUni Academic Calendar deadlines, typically within two weeks of the semester start. Missing the drop deadline will result in a Fail grade for that course.

The announcement schedule varies by semester. Please refer to UROP@CECS Call for Application for the latest schedule.

You must submit Midterm and Final Reports on Canvas by the specified deadlines, documenting research progress and findings. These reports are evaluated by faculty supervisors, and for the Paid option, determine payment approval.

For Credit option courses (UROP1010, UROP2010, etc.), you receive a letter grade based on faculty evaluation of reports. For Paid option courses (UROP1011, UROP2011, etc.), a Pass grade qualifies you for payment, which is performance-based as specified in the Service Contract. Additionally, you must email the Progress Update to the faculty supervisor, cc’ing staff for payment processing, with details provided in Canvas assignments.

UROP courses follow the CECS grading scheme, with Midterm and Final Reports weighted at 30% and 70%, respectively.

• Credit Option (UROP1010, UROP2010, etc.): Letter grade (A to F).
• Paid Option (UROP1011, UROP2011, etc.): Pass (80 – 100%) or Fail (< 80%).

UROP report template is included in the UROP Guideline and Canvas assignments. Faculty supervisors may specify alternative templates or evaluation criteria, which may differ from the provided template used as a reference.