Extended Master's Thesis

2025/2026

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Students may choose to combine the 3rd and 4th semesters into an extended master’s thesis (60 ECTS). Extended theses are especially advised when working on project topics, where an extraordinary great generation of data is necessary. Theses (including extended theses) have to be approved in advance by the Study Board of Planning, Geography and Surveying, and the student has to fulfil the knowledge, skills and competencies as indicated for master’s theses. See description of 4th semester.

Students completing the project module acquire the following:

Learning objectives

Knowledge

  • Thorough knowledge of relevant theories and methods in relation to the chosen problem and can reflect on them
  • Can describe the used theories so that the special characteristics of the theories are brought to light and in this way document understanding of the possibilities and limitations of the used theories within the concerned field of problems
  • Have knowledge of the scientific-theoretical and methodical embeddedness of the used theories and can reflect on them
  • Have thorough knowledge of the research embeddedness of the chosen problem, including knowledge of the most important national and international research in the field 

Skills

  • Can independently plan and carry through a project at a high professional level
  • Can give an account of possible methods for solution of the problem formulation of the project, and describe and assess the suitability of the chosen method, including an account of chosen limitations and their importance to the results
  • Can give an account of the relevance to the education of the chosen problem, including a precise account of the core of the problem and the professional context
  • Can analyse and describe the chosen problem by using relevant concepts, theories and empirical investigations
  • Can analyse and assess the results of empirical investigations, whether it is the student’s own investigations or those of others, including an assessment of the importance of the investigation methods to the validity of the results
  • Can point out relevant future strategies, possibilities of change and/or solution proposals
  • Can impart knowledge of the problem to both professionals and non-professionals 

Competences

  • Can form a synthesis between the professional problem, theoretical and empirical investigations and make a critical assessment of the synthesis formed and the other results of the project work
  • Can independently, on the basis of the acquired problem, be part of interdisciplinary discussions and development work
  • Can independently acquire the newest knowledge in the field and are on this background capable of continuously developing the professional skills and competencies   

Type of instruction

Problem-based project work alone or in groups.

Exam

Exams

Name of examExtended Master's Thesis
Type of exam
Master's thesis/final project
ECTS60
Assessment7-point grading scale
Type of gradingExternal examination
Criteria of assessmentThe criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Facts about the module

Danish titleLangt kandidatspeciale
Module codePGLBEMK17303
Module typeProject
Duration2 semesters
SemesterAutumn
ECTS60
Language of instructionEnglish
Location of the lectureCampus Aalborg
Responsible for the module

Organisation

Education ownerMaster of Science (MSc) in Engineering (Urban, Energy and Environmental Planning)
Study BoardStudy Board of Planning and Surveying
DepartmentDepartment of Sustainability and Planning
FacultyThe Technical Faculty of IT and Design