Physics 437 research projects

PHYS 437A & 437B Guidelines

The final year Physics Research Project courses are intended for students in their fourth year of an Honours program in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.   These courses will provide valuable research experience, particularly useful for students who plan to proceed to graduate work.  The workload expectation is comparable to any other course, normally 6-12 hours per week. 

Quest requires departmental permission and a cumulative average of 70% for course enrolment.  The process will not begin until a supervisor has been identified and confirmed via submission of the agreement form below.

All questions about PHYS 437 A/B should be directed to phyugrad@uwaterloo.ca. 

Getting started

Students should contact supervisors and ask them if they are willing to supervise a 437 project and if so, what projects they have available.

All faculty members of the Department of Physics and Astronomy (including adjunct and cross-appointed faculty) are eligible to supervise. Occasionally, faculty from other departments will agree to be supervisors, especially if a student has a particular interest in their research areas. If the supervisor is not from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, a co-supervisor from the department will need to be arranged.

Students are encouraged to submit this short form to register their interest in Phys437 for the W27 term, and any preferences for research topic PHYS 437A/B Research Preferences Form.  The form should be submitted by Friday Oct 9.  This list will be provided to potential supervisors, and we will also suggest to you the names of faculty who are available to supervise in your area of interest.  The objective is to try to help you identify a potential match within about two weeks (i.e. by Oct 23).   Alternatively, you may reach out to faculty members directly to inquire about potential supervision, at any time.  

With either method, once a supervisor has been identified, you must complete the Research Project Agreement form.  The process will not begin until this agreement form has been completed. Once the registration process has begun, you will receive an email with further details.

Search for a supervisor by research area:

Students are encouraged to see at least two faculty members to discuss projects with them.

The latest date to make final arrangements for your project and notify the Physics Undergraduate Office is the end of the second week of lectures.

* Please note: students are not automatically enrolled into PHYS 437B after completion of PHYS 437A. A new form submission is required for continuation in the PHYS 437 research project course.

Getting enrolled

Once a project and supervisor have been selected, the student must complete the agreement form (below).

Research Project Agreement for PHYS 437 A/B

Quest requires departmental permission for course enrolment - the process will not begin until this agreement form has been completed. Once the registration process has begun, the student will receive email with further details.

The latest date to make final arrangements for your project and notify the Physics Undergraduate Office is the end of the second week of lectures.

All students registered in PHYS 437A must meet their project supervisor before the end of the second week of lectures; otherwise it will be assumed that they have dropped the course and the undergraduate officers will be notified accordingly. Project supervisors must confirm and acknowledge the eligibility of the project and whether any ethics clearance is needed prior to finalizing a student's registration.

* Please note: students are not automatically enrolled into PHYS 437B after completion of PHYS 437A. A new form submission is required for continuation in the PHYS 437 research project course.