The aim of the Project Specification is to set out the key features of your project and to detail your plan for how it will be carried out. The specification should demonstrate that the project is well-conceived, contains an appropriate level of challenge and is feasible for successful completion within the time available. Your project should be based on an agreed business problem that forms part of the apprentices role.

Your line manager is responsible for managing the project from the employer perspective. The university project tutor (Claire) will oversee the project and provide academic support.

Contents of Specification

Expected components in the Project Specification include:

• Title
• Problem statement/gap in existing provision
• Objectives
• Evidence of agreement between apprentice, employer and university
• Methodology/Methods
• Timetable
• Resources to be used
• Costing
• Any ethical considerations

Individual Project Specifications may need to include different things so talk to your supervisor to decide if there are particular areas you should cover or issues to discuss in your specification.

Format of Specification

The specification is generally a brief document. The format (and also the length) may vary according to the requirements for content agreed with your supervisor. However, as a rough guide, around 3000 words would be reasonable. Your specification must include a timetable and a good way to represent this is as a table or Gantt chart showing dependencies between stages. You may also include any other figures and tables that are appropriate.

Equipment and External Resources

A suitable project environment should be provided ensuring access to all required tools, systems etc. This may be the apprentice’s normal workstation or may be another environment as appropriate to the nature of the project. Agreement to be made between apprentice, employer and university on what systems, tools and platforms will be required to complete the task and how these will be made available.

You should also identify any resources which affect the progress and success of your project. This might include things such as data promised from a company, a suitable development environment or participation in evaluation and testing.

Assessment Criteria

The specification is worth 10%.

The following criteria will be used by the assessors in marking your specification. Marks will be awarded using the University's 20-point mark scale - see https://warwick.ac.uk/services/aro/dar/quality/categories/examinations/marking/ug2017/

• Technical content:
  • The application of the core and specialism knowledge and skills to meet the outcomes in the standard
  • Student is well read in the project's subject area.
  • Sufficient context and existing research is described to assess the significance of the project
  • Effective analysis of problems and issues.
  • Quality of design work.
  • Good choice of methods and tools.
• Project management:
  • Well conceived project
  • Risks assessed and mitigations described.
  • All necessary research, analysis and design work planned
  • Work is well planned out.
• Communication skills:
  • The application of behaviours from the standard.
  • Basic written language skills such as spelling and grammar.
  • Effective composition and exposition.
  • Report is of an appropriate length for your particular project.

The Life of the Specification

The Specification is a working document and not something which is written once and then forgotten. Review and update the Specification regularly to both record your progress and effectively plan your remaining time. Use the Project Specification to help you to keep the project properly focused on its objectives, to make the most effective use of your time, and to facilitate communication with your line manger and supervisor on the progress of your work.