FAQ Corporate

For one-semester computer science projects, it costs $5,000 for a company with less than $200 million in annual revenue and $7,000 for a company with greater than $200 million in annual revenue.

$15,000 for a two-semester computer science project and all engineering projects.

Companies can receive an early bird discount of $2,000 if their project is accepted by a Faculty Director 30 days before the beginning of the projects’ first semester.

Typically a UTDesign Capstone team has 4 to 6 students each working on average 10 to 12 hours per week, which is essentially one FTE.  An engineering and computer science intern typically earns over $17 per hour.  For an intern that works one semester (15 weeks), you would expect to pay $10,200.  For an intern that works two semesters (30 weeks), you would expect to pay $20,400.

UTDesign Capstone is a program that provides our senior engineering and computer science students with a meaningful experience on their Capstone project by partnering with industry to create solutions to real-world engineering and computer science problems.  Sponsored UTDesign Capstone projects are proposed and mentored by companies.  Students not only get to work on a real company project, but also gain valuable experience working in an environment similar to that of their industry mentor(s).

Complete the contact information form, we will contact you within 24 hours.  You may also call (972) 883-2182.

Brainstorm some ideas for projects with people from your company. Submit these ideas through the online portal. Schedule a meeting with the UTDesign Capstone Faculty Director to discuss topic ideas. Determine together the appropriate scope of the project and whether the project will be successful for the students and your company. The project scope is designed to have a rigorous yet achievable “minimally viable product” and a couple of stretch goals.

A UTDesign director will contact you to discuss your project. Once all details of the project are worked out, you can secure the project by making a commitment and/or down payment before classes start. Your team will be assigned as soon as possible into the semester.

Projects are typically four to six students, and each student is expected to average 10 hours per week of work on the project (15 hours per student per week in the summer).  This is at least a 40-hour total effort per week.  Consider what one full-time student who just completed their junior year could accomplish in two semesters (one semester if a computer science project).  Develop project goals based on this skill level and amount of effort.  It is also important to discuss the proposed project tasks with the Faculty Director(s) in charge of that engineering department’s Capstone projects, because they have years of experience with student Capstone projects and can “right scope” the project to make sure that it is within the student team’s capabilities and available time.

Complete the online project proposal form, listing the skills you think are needed.  Work with the department faculty director to determine if and how these are obtainable.

Dedicate an experienced employee (corporate mentor) with the appropriate technical background for the project to meet regularly (weekly) with the student team, have a realistic expectation of what can be accomplished for the duration of the project, manage the students to success, and communicate any potential barriers with the team, UT Dallas Advisor (provided by UTDesign) and department Faculty Directors as soon as they are identified.

Corporate partners own 100% of the IP and all project results, and are encouraged to enter into mutually acceptable agreements with the UTDesign Capstone students and their teams. This allows them to secure rights to the IP developed during the course of the project. These agreements are to be made solely between the company and the students.

If requested by the corporate sponsor, the UT Dallas Advisor signs a nondisclosure agreement representing them and UT Dallas. UT Dallas provides the NDA and the corporate sponsor is encouraged to review and propose any necessary changes, which must be approved by UT Dallas before all parties sign. Work directly with the students to get their NDA. UT Dallas is not involved with student NDAs.

Projects are usually presented to the students the first or second week of the semester.

For a suggested schedule, please visit this link.

This work should be completed at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester in which the project begins.

Computer Science and Software Engineering (CS) projects are one semester for each project team; however, if the scope of the project is two semesters, one project team will complete assigned deliverables in their semester, and a second project team will continue the project and complete assigned deliverables in their semester.

Biomedical (BMEN), Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Mechanical Engineering (ME) or any combination of CS, BMEN, ECE and ME projects are two semesters in duration.

The scope should be similar to what you would expect one full-time intern to accomplish in the same amount of time.  Our UTDesign Faculty Directors will gladly work with you and have the experience to “right-size” the scope to increase the likelihood of success.

All engineering and computer science students have 24/7 access to the 40,000 SF UTDesign studio, including the use of the fabrication shop, 3D printers, TI Innovation Lab, 7 conference rooms, computers, test and measurement equipment and ideation space.  A staff of 7 serves all users Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Computer Science projects have up to $500 per semester to purchase materials, licenses, and devices.

Engineering and interdepartmental projects have up to $3,000 for parts, materials, and fabrication expenses.

Corporate sponsors may use the UTDesign Makerspace from 9 AM through 6 PM, Monday through Friday.

UT Dallas entering freshmen have among the highest average SAT scores in Texas and are second only to Texas A&M for the number of National Merit Scholars in public universities.  These students take rigorous academic degree plans.

Students have won many local and national awards. Some have had their designs submitted for patents. Top honors received by our students since 2014: