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Accessibility statement
Qualification dates
StartEnd
30 Jan 2027Oct 2027
03 Apr 2027Oct 2027
This computing and IT project module lets you explore computing, information and communications technologies in depth and is the capstone module for our computing and IT degrees. It offers practical experience of independent learning and reflective practice. You’ll apply advanced principles and techniques to solve a problem that you’ve defined and write up your experience and findings in a substantial report. You’ll choose your topic and conduct and write up the project with the advice and guidance of a supervisor.
You will gain skills and experience in formulating and completing an individual project of your choice in any area of computing and IT that you have studied at this level. Your tutor will advise and guide you, but you will be expected to produce your work independently, without close supervision. The emphasis is on you being a reflective practitioner, developing the technical aspects of your project and justifying your approach and reviewing and thinking about what you have learnt. You’ll be expected to use the study materials and software associated with the OU level 3 modules you have previously studied.
The main elements of your project will be:
There are guidance notes and resources, but no teaching materials are associated with the module. To investigate your topic, you will draw on various sources (technical papers, books, manufacturers’ literature, and the internet). Your report should demonstrate your ability to assess your developments or other topics you have investigated, using appropriate methods to measure and compare them.
Throughout your project, you will be assigned tasks through tutor-marked assignments (TMAs), which will help you plan and progress through the various phases. You will also submit a final project report.
You must have passed or be studying one of the following modules:
Or one of the discontinued modules M359, M362, M363, M364, M366, T320, T324 and T325.
You will need to inform us of your chosen project area by completing and returning a form available from the website. We will provide details of how to access the website and download the form after you register for the module.
You also need to think about a topic for your project. You can view some previous project titles on the website. There will be an online forum where you can discuss your choice of topic with an experienced tutor. It will also help if you refresh your knowledge of the OU level 3 modules on which you are going to base your project.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
Additionally, the website includes:
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying TM470 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
The computing and IT project (TM470) starts twice a year – in January/February and March/April1.
It will next start in January 2027 and April 2027.
We expect it to start for the last time in April 2029.
1​You’ll have less time to complete TM470 if you start in March/April instead of January/February, as both finish at the same time – keep this in mind when planning your study.
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