Honors with Research

Honors with Research Program

Empowering undergraduate students to pursue structured research excellence alongside their degree

About the Program

The Honors with Research program is a structured four-semester initiative designed to cultivate research aptitude among undergraduate engineering students in alignment with NEP 2020. It emphasizes experiential, inquiry-based, and problem-driven learning through real-world applications and SDG alignment. The program progresses from research orientation and literature review to methodology design, implementation, and dissertation. With a strong focus on innovation, IPR, publication, and industry relevance, it adopts mentor-guided, milestone-based evaluation instead of traditional exams. This program aims to bridge academia and industry by developing analytical thinking, problem-solving ability, and research communication skills, preparing students for higher studies, research careers, and innovation-driven roles.

Program Objectives

Program Outcomes

Program Structure

Enrolment Process

Program Objectives and Outcomes

Clear learning objectives and expected student outcomes from the Honors with Research program

Program Objectives

The program is designed to enable students to:

1 Develop the ability to carry out systematic literature review and critically analyze existing research to identify meaningful gaps.
2 Formulate relevant and feasible research problems with clearly defined objectives aligned to emerging technologies and societal needs.
3 Acquire and apply appropriate research methodologies, tools, and analytical techniques within their domain.
4 Prepare structured research proposals by clearly outlining scope, methodology, expected outcomes, and feasibility.
5 Execute research plans through experiments, simulations, modeling, or prototype development and validate the outcomes.
6 Communicate and disseminate research findings effectively through technical reports, presentations, publications, or intellectual property outputs while adhering to ethical practices.

Program Outcomes

After successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

1 Formulate clear research problems and define appropriate objectives based on domain knowledge and real-world requirements.
2 Analyze existing literature to identify research gaps, trends, and limitations in current approaches.
3 Design and apply suitable research methodologies, tools, and techniques to address the identified problem effectively.
4 Develop structured research proposals and communicate them effectively through written and oral presentations.
5 Implement and validate solutions through experiments, simulations, or prototype development, and present the outcomes in the form of technical reports, publications, or patents.
6 Demonstrate professional ethics, research integrity, and awareness of intellectual property while conducting and presenting research work.

Program Structure & Key Features

A semester-wise breakdown of the research journey and the distinguishing features of the program

Program Structure

Sem V: Research Orientation & Proposal Development (4 Credits)
Sem VI: Literature Review & Research Design (4 Credits)
Sem VII: Research Implementation & Progress Seminar (5 Credits)
Sem VIII: Dissertation & Viva-Voce (5 Credits)
Total: 18 Credits | Fully Practical & Research-Based

Key Features

No traditional lectures; complete focus on learning by doing and research-based learning
Interdisciplinary flexibility: Students can enroll in programs offered by other departments based on interest and project relevance
Continuous mentor-guided progression with milestone-based evaluation
Integration of SDGs, real-world problems, and industry relevance
Strong emphasis on research publications, IPR, and innovation
Centralized digital repository for research work and outcomes
Supports industry-collaborative research and application-oriented research

Student Eligibility

Essential criteria and requirements for students to enroll in the Honors with Research program

1 The student must have no active backlogs at the time of enrollment
2 The student must maintain academic integrity and must not be involved in any form of malpractice.
3 The student should demonstrate good conduct and discipline, with no record of complaints or involvement in institutional disputes or controversies.

General Guidelines

Symbolic pointers to plan research for third year and final year BTech students under the Honors with Research program

  1. Clarity of Research Problem
    • Start with a broad research area and define 2–3 specific, focused problem statements.
    • Ensure these problems are relevant, feasible, and aligned with industry needs or UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
    • Check whether the scope is suitable for 2-year progression to ensure significant Technology Readiness Level (TRL) movement is achievable within two years.
  2. Literature & Research Gap Readiness
    • Conduct preliminary literature review (10–15 key papers).
    • Identify clear research gaps (avoid overly saturated topics).
    • Prepare a robust baseline understanding that students can build upon effectively.
  3. Defined Research Pathway (Semester-wise)

    Align your project with program structure:

    • Sem V: Problem finalization + proposal
    • Sem VI: Detailed literature + methodology design
    • Sem VII: Implementation / experimentation / prototype
    • Sem VIII: Validation, dissertation, publication

    Prepare a roadmap with milestones and expected outputs for each semester.

  4. Methodology & Tools Planning
    • Decide the type of research (experimental / simulation / analytical / design-based).
    • Identify all necessary resources required:
      • Software tools (e.g., ANSYS, Python, etc.)
      • Lab facilities / equipment
      • Datasets (if applicable)
    • Ensure availability and access before offering the project.
  5. Resource & Feasibility Check
    • Assess lab readiness and infrastructure.
    • Budget requirements (consumables, components, licenses).
    • Evaluate time feasibility within strict academic constraints.
    • Plan for scaling the project's difficulty based on differing student capability levels.
  6. Expected Outcomes Definition

    If you are going to offer a research project under the Honors with Research program, you need to think beyond just the topic. The program runs for two years with a clear progression, so your preparation as a mentor should ensure continuity, feasibility, and meaningful outcomes.

    Clearly define the tangible achievements expected from the students:

    • Prototype / model / simulation
    • Research paper (conference / journal)
    • Patent / IPR possibility
    • Real-world application or validation
  7. Evaluation & Monitoring Plan
    • Break project into manageable weekly/biweekly tasks.
    • Define deliverables for each phase (report, presentation, results).
    • Maintain:
      • Project diary / logbook
      • Regular review checkpoints (aligned with program rubrics)
  8. Risk Identification & Backup Plan
    • Identify possible project risks such as:
      • Tool failure, data unavailability, or experimental delays
    • Keep alternative approaches or simplified pathways ready.
  9. Student Preparation Strategy
    • Define essential prerequisites the students must possess.
    • Plan initial orientation sessions focusing on:
      • Literature review methods
      • Research ethics & plagiarism
      • Basic training on required tools
  10. Industry / Research Linkages Preferred
    • Actively explore potential collaborations with industry partners.
    • Seek out real-world problem statements for the project to address.
    • Utilize external datasets and look for validation opportunities from industry experts.

Enrolment Process

A step-by-step overview of how students apply and get selected for the program

1

Call for Applications

At the end of the 4th semester, the Dean (R&D) office announces the enrolment process for the program and shares eligibility criteria with students.

2

Publication of Research Topics

The list of available research topics, invited from faculty and industry partners, is displayed and circulated to all eligible students.

3

Review of Topics by Students

Interested students review the list of topics to identify projects that best align with their academic interests, research aptitude, and skills.

4

Submission of Application

Students formally apply by submitting the Honors Research Approval Form along with a Statement of Purpose (SOP) to the Dean (R&D) office. The SOP should highlight the student's motivation, preferred research area(s), and readiness for the program.

5

Shortlisting of Candidates

Applications are evaluated based on academic performance, clarity of research interest, SOP quality, and faculty mentor availability. A cap on intake may be applied depending on the number of available faculty mentors.

6

Approval of Enrolment

The final list of selected students is recommended by the Research Committee and approved by the Dean (R&D) / Head of Department. The Academic Section formally notifies the approved list.

7

Orientation Session

Selected students attend a structured orientation conducted by the Dean (R&D) office. The session covers program objectives, roles and responsibilities, timelines, deliverables, and assessment metrics.

Interested in the Honors with Research Program?

Connect with the Dean (R&D) office or your department for eligibility details, available research topics, and the latest application schedule.

Contact R&D Office Application Form