IS484 IS Project Experience (FinTech)

Course Description

• This is an SMU-X course designed in collaboration with participating Banks, FinTechs, and other FIs, to serve as project sponsors. Collectively, industry sponsors will supply a minimum of 5 projects ideas to select from.
• Students will form teams of 5 or 6, and select one the project ideas to work on. Project selections do not need to be unique, meaning multiple teams can select the same project idea.
• Each student project team will be assigned a mentor from the industry sponsor and an SMU faculty supervisor.
• Sponsors will provide project scope and management for student teams to have practical industry learning experiences.
• Student teams will have weekly check in meetings, either virtually or physically, with their sponsor.
• Sponsors will specify the technologies to be used, including; development tools/languages, OS, database, 3rd party libraries, target deployment environment e.g. cloud environment.
• Student project teams will be expected to develop a working software application prototype, to be delivered to the sponsor at the end of the course.

Course Prerequisites

1. Software Project Management (IS212) is a pre-requisite or a co-requisite.
2. Any two (2) track courses from the track that you are declaring for your project. One of these courses can be a co-requisite.

Course Deliverables

1. Midterm live presentation, video recording, and slides
2. Final live presentation, video recording, and slides
3. Acknowledgement of deliverables received Email from sponsor

Grading Allocation

• Proposal 5%
• Midterm Presentation 30%
• Final Presentation 65%

Presentation Grading Rubric

The rubric is the same for both the midterm and final presentation

• Requirements and Project Management 35%
• Technical Quality and Detail 35%
• Presentation Quality 30%

Key Differences between IS483 and IS484

• Projects are sourced and matched by the IS484 coordinator
• No final poster/video/report/demo day/booth showcase
• No individual grading, so no reflection forms are required
• Different grade allocations and rubric
• Mid-term and final presentations are scheduled by your faculty supervisor
• Teams submit final presentation video (prerecorded or live)

Project Timeline

Activities	Timeline	Term 1/ Term 2	Action By
Form and Register Teams	Before Week -17	Fill in team details the Project Team Signup Sheet at the link below, listing your preferred projects. FT Track Coordinator will finalize the matching of teams to projects.	Students
Project Review and Preference Selection	Week -16 to Week -13	Review the set of predefined projects provided by financial institutions and Fintech companies. Attend sponsor project briefings. List your preferred projects in the Project Team Signup Sheet at the link below. FT Track Coordinator will finalize the matching of teams to projects.	Students
Project Matching	Week -12	FT Track Coordinator will finalize the matching of teams to projects.	FT Track Coordinator
Proposal	Due before the start of Week -8	Submit your project proposals to your Track Coordinator(s). For mixed-track teams, both track coordinators need to review your proposal.	Students
Decision on Proposal	Week -4	Your Track Coordinator(s) will confirm that the project has sufficient scope to fulfill your respective track requirements for IS Project Experience.	Track Coordinator, Students, (Optional: Sponsor)
Start of Project	Week 1	Supervisor - Teams	Student
Midterm	Week 8	Presentation	Students, Supervisor, Reviewer (Optional: Sponsor, Track Coordinator)
Finals	Week 14	Presentation	Students, Supervisor, Reviewer (Optional: Sponsor, Track Coordinator)
Dell Awards Ceremony Presentation	Week 17	Presentation	Nominated Teams Only

Key Dates for AY2026/27 Term 1

• ✓Students submit team registration and prerequisites forms: by 19 Apr 2026
• Sponsor project descriptions available: by 8 May 2026
• Sponsor info session with students: week of 11 May 2026
• ✓Students submit project preferences: by 17 May 2026
• Student teams assigned to projects: by 22 May 2026
• ✓Students submit project proposals: by 21 Jun 2026
• SMU track coordinator approves proposals: around mid-Jul 2026
• Students start working on projects: in early Aug 2026
• Midterm review: in early Oct 2026
• Final presentation/demo: around mid-Nov 2026
• Dell Awards ceremony presentation (for nominated teams): early Dec 2026

Project Team Signup Sheet

AY2026/27 Term 1
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JJpFhqjso0GFKjkbQGem2O2XRri93fRkCmFT8fN2pDY/edit?usp=sharing

Projects - FY2026/27 Term 1

To Be Advised in May 2026

Sponsor Briefing Session Schedule - FY2025/26 Term 2

To Be Confirmed in May 2026

Archived Past Projects

AY25/26 Term 2
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18mG8ljSZqhU6Ie66L4gd1239terun-CPeKimojxxG0A/edit?usp=sharing

AY25/26 Term 1
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11drNR9efEo9Yx2UNKskiSSatRiQPT3JCaAB4UsZTmpQ/edit?usp=sharing

Previous
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f7r2y1n6USWAYVTVyWkZkYxJt7HCoxlc-z3jAGzX7LQ/edit?gid=0#gid=0