Eleven years experience with the running of web-based projects for final year undergraduate students of the Faculty of Life Sciences at Manchester University, along with an example of one project, is described. Application of the scientific method was emphasised to students. Technical support workshops were provided for them. Project performance and reports were assessed by similar criteria to laboratory-based projects. Since the 1993/4 academic year 316 web sites have been developed by students. The marks of students who did web-based projects since 1997/98 were 64.9 plus or minus 0.5 % (mean plus or minus S.E.M., n = 284), which was only slightly but significantly lower than the marks of students who did laboratory-based projects (66.6 plus or minus 0.6 %, n = 1727, P less than 0.01). Web-based projects are a robust alternative to laboratory-based projects. Students doing the former projects develop many of the same skills, other than practical skills, as those doing the latter projects but in addition develop the skills of questionnaire design and analysis and enhance their computing skills. Additional teaching materials have been produced as well. (Contains 4 figures and 5 tables.)