Recommended prerequisite for participation in the module

Students who wish to register for the Master’s thesis examination must have successfully passed all previous examinations, incl. examinations of any electives (altogether equivalent to 90 ECTS).

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

The student must prepare a Master’s thesis on a subject which the student is free to select from within the framework of the selected profile or to select their subject from within the framework of the entire programme. The thesis subject, which must include an international and/or intercultural dimension, must be approved by the study board.

The subject must be presented to the study board in the shape of a synopsis comprising substantiation of the relevance of the subject and of the theoretical and methodological points of departure, a description of the main structure and disposition considered.

Students who have chosen the specialisation in Arctic Studies must write their thesis within this area.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

• the theoretical area of the selected issue
• theories and methods for the identification and analysis of a relevant and delimited issue within the main areas of culture, communication and globalisation, including methods for identification, selection and assessment of relevancy of digitally available or produced information
• research ethics relating to information retrieved either digitally or non-digitally, and the ethical implications of research work.

 

Skills

• independently, on the basis of scientific theory and method, seeking, analysing and applying knowledge within the area of the programme
• outlining and applying new models of analysis for the investigation of international and/or intercultural issues
• selecting appropriate digital and/or non-digital tools and resources in relation to planning and conducting research and solving problems
• structuring and communicating knowledge gained in an academic and accessible manner.

Competences

• delimitation and analysis of complex international and/or intercultural problems within the globalised world, including any relevant digitalised aspects of these
• methodology-based argumentation for disciplinary choices and priorities
• application of theories and scientific methods in relation to a specific issue
• launching and managing holistic and complex investigations based on scientific criteria, models of analysis, and methods within the field of the selected issue
• assuming responsibility for personal academic development and specialisation within the selected area.

Type of instruction

Type of instruction is described in § 17 in the curriculum.

Exam

Exams

Name of exam	Master's Thesis
Type of exam	Master's thesis/final project An external, combined oral and written examination in: Master’s Thesis. The examination will be conducted as a dialogue between the student, the examiner and the external examiner on the basis of a Master’s thesis prepared by one or a number of students. The thesis must be no shorter than 35 pages, and must not exceed 70 pages per student, or 80 pages if the thesis is prepared by one student. The thesis must include an international or intercultural dimension. An abstract in English of a minimum of one page and a maximum of two pages must be prepared (the pages of this abstract are not included in the overall minimum and maximum page numbers stipulated for the Master’s thesis). Duration of examination: 45 minutes per student, including 10 minutes for voting and announcement of the result. Re-examinations will be held according to the rules in force on group examinations as stipulated in the Examination Order.
ECTS	30
Permitted aids	All written and all electronic aids
Assessment	7-point grading scale
Type of grading	External examination
Criteria of assessment	The criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures