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M.Sc. Thesis Seminar

Prior to writing their Master's thesis, the student is required to give a formal Thesis Seminar, during which they will explain the direction of their research and present their findings. After the successful completion of their seminar, the student is given permission to commence thesis writing, and is no longer required to organize Advisory Committee meetings.

The Master's Thesis Seminar must be attended by the student's supervisor (and co-supervisor, if applicable), all members of the Advisory Committee, and the Program Mentor who will chair the seminar. The seminar can be attended by other interested individuals as well. While social distancing remains in effect, your seminar should take place via zoom . Should you and your committee wish to make in-person arrangements, please contact room booking services in the building for which you plan to hold your event.

• At least three weeks prior to the desired schedule for the seminar and only after your thesis proposal has been approved by your advisory committee , the student is responsible for arranging the date, time and venue of their Thesis Seminar, ensuring that their Advisory Committee members, Supervisor and mentor can attend. This should be done using a doodle poll .
• When the poll is decided, the student must send an electronic calendar invitation on the McGill e-mail exchange system to their supervisor, exam committee members, mentor, and ipn [at] mcgill.ca . The student will then attach the thesis seminar-related documents to this calendar invite and provide the committee with a zoom link. Please make sure to turn off the "Teams Meeting" link that gets automatically set up on the Outlook invite.

The seminar will take about 45 minutes, and will be followed by a question and answer period. At the end, the Advisory Committee members and Program Mentor will meet in closed session to review the student's file and the student's performance during the seminar, and will determine whether sufficient and satisfactory data is available to commence writing a successful thesis. The decision of the committee will be made by consensus on a pass/fail basis.

Template to be used:

Dear Members of my M.Sc. Seminar Committee:

This is a reminder that my M.Sc. Thesis Seminar will take place on:

Full date and time

The meeting will take place on zoom: insert zoom link

You will find detailed information on the M.Sc. seminar presentation on the following site: https://www.mcgill.ca/ipn/current-students/program-requirements/msc-thesis-seminar .

The following documents are attached:

• Student Transcript - showing that I am in progress to, or have passed three courses and Neur 705
• M.Sc. Seminar Poster

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

In the case of failure, one repeat will be permitted. 

The M.Sc. thesis seminar must be completed at least three (3) months before the end of your third year . Seminars cannot be scheduled during the summer season (July & August).

Important Notes

Neurology and Neurosurgery: Student's presentation of a thesis research seminar. In this seminar, the student shall explain the direction of his/her research and present his/her findings to date. The presentation shall take approximately 30 to 45 minutes and shall be followed by a question period. This seminar will be attended by the Graduate Studies Committee, the student's Advisory Committee, and interested observers.

Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery

• This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
• There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year

Should be in progress to, or have passed three courses and Neur 705: https://www.mcgill.ca/ipn/course-requirements

Approved proposal from the student's Advisory Committee that he/she is ready for the seminar

Department and University Information

Integrated program in neuroscience (ipn).

• The Montreal Neurological Institute
• The Douglas Mental Health University Institute
• Alan Edwards Center for Research on Pain
• Center for Research in Neuroscience
• Center for Research on Brain, Language and Music
• McGill Vision Research
• McGill Department of Biology
• McGill Department of Pharmacology
• McGill Department of Psychology
• McGill Department of Physiology
• The Brain@McGIll

T h e   N e w   S c h o o l

Course catalog, masters thesis seminar, new school for social research: historical studies.

Credits : 3

This course is mandatory for second-year graduate students in history, and is designed to help prepare them for writing their theses. Students will be expected to have already prepared materials for their thesis before taking the class, and should be on course for completing their thesis by the end of the semester.

College : New School for Social Research (GF)

Department : Historical Studies (HST)

Campus : New York City (GV)

Course Format : Seminar (R)

Modality : In-Person

Max Enrollment : 15

Add/Drop Deadline : February 4, 2024 (Sunday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline : April 16, 2024 (Tuesday)

Seats Available : Yes

Status : Closed *

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 2:56pm EDT 5/3/2024

Thesis Proposal

Thesis proposals.

Graduate students begin the thesis process by writing a thesis proposal that describes the central elements of the thesis work.  Those elements vary depending on the type of thesis (research, artistic, or project) that the student plans to write. Students begin drafting the thesis proposal in the course Thesis Proposal Seminar . 

Below, please find detailed information about the following:

• research thesis proposal
• artistic thesis proposal
• project thesis proposal
• formatting your proposal  
• getting your proposal approved  
• submit your proposal  

Research Thesis Proposal

The proposal for a research thesis consists of five sections:

• Thesis Statement Following an optional introduction, the basic function of this section is to articulate a phenomenon that the student proposes to investigate (whether a social event, process, a literary work, an intellectual idea or something else), and the question(s), issue(s) or problem(s) related to that phenomenon that the student plans to address in the thesis. The core of the statement may take the form of a hypothesis that the student will test, of a proposition or argument that the student intends to support, or of a general problem or question the student  will explore. The section puts that basic problem statement in a larger context by explaining its historical origins (where did it come from?) and its intellectual, social, and/or artistic context (what conversation, debate, or line of inquiry does it participate in?). It also describes the sub-questions or themes that constitute the general problem. Students will cite appropriate scholarly, professional and other sources for the ideas, questions and background information contained in the section.
• Research Methods In this section, the student will identify (a) the kinds of information that needed to answer the question(s) raised in the Thesis Statement, (b) the methods the student will use to gather that information, and (c) the strategies by which the student will organize and analyze the information in such a way as to reach and support a conclusion, to construct a sound argument. If the central problem has several facets, the student may need an array of different methods for collecting and analyzing information. Students should be as precise as possible in each stage of the methods statement: Is information needed about the stylistic techniques in a novel, about changes in the poverty rates in Kenya since independence, about the ways children think about nature? Will the student pull out the metaphors in a text, find government reports on household income, interview kids about their experiences in the woods? Will the student deploy statistical forms of content analysis, correlate poverty rates with political changes, interpret themes in children’s stories? Students should reflect on the broad methodological approaches that they propose to use, and cite sources from which they derive their methods and tools. A student's central goal is to demonstrate that they know how to go about answering the question(s) that have been raised. Please note that if students intend to conduct research on living people, they will need to get the approval of the University Committee on Activities Involving Human Subjects (UCAIHS). Before they apply for that approval, students will need to take a tutorial and pass a test on the various regulations. Refer to the  UCAIHS website  for more information.
• Justification and Limitations This section of the proposal should explain the rationale for the thesis and the importance of the topic. Indicate the reasons why this study is important to conduct and whom it will benefit. Identify the limits beyond which the inquiry will not go. For instance, if a student is writing about a historical subject, the student must explain the relevance of the time period selected. Finally, describe the contribution the work will make to the field.
• Conclusion This section should summarize the nature and intention of the student's work. Conclude the discussion and mention any pertinent information which may not have been included above.
• Annotated Bibliography This section consists of a list of books and articles and artworks with accompanying annotations that explain why these readings and other sources are likely to be crucial as the work advances.

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Artistic Thesis Proposal

The artistic thesis consists of an artistic work and supporting essays, and it is important to conceive of each element as contributing to a coherent whole.  The proposal itself consists of five sections:

• Concept Statement This section includes a brief introduction that forms the framework for the entire thesis and articulates the questions around which the creative project and supporting essays revolve.
• Description of the Artistic Work and Artistic Aims This section describes the major artistic work that will comprise the submitted artistic thesis.  Students may want to refer to particular artistic influences or genres that will inform the work, or describe the aesthetic from which the creative work derives. In this section, students should also: refer to some of the artistic reasons that led to their decision to embark on this particular project; discuss the goals that will guide the development of the work; and provide concrete details about the final form and media of the work  (will it be, for example, a collection of short stories, a novel; an evening of dance an exhibition of paintings, a film, or what?).  If the artwork involves live performance, this section should state whether it will be a public or private event, where the event will be held, and any other details relevant to bringing the project to completion.

This section should provide the reader with relevant historical or critical information to place the central research question in context, and this section should also discuss the key theories, methods, and sources to be used within the research essay.  It should demonstrate that the student knows how to begin answering the question(s) they are posing.  What sorts of things will the student need to find out? What research methods will be used?  What kinds of sources will be reviewed, and how will information from them be used? Who, if anyone, will be interviewed, and what kinds of questions will the subjects be asked?  Students should also reflect, in this section, on the broad analytical approach that will structure their research and identify the school(s) of thought that will inform their investigations. 

• Justification and Limitations This section should explain the importance of the student's work in the context of their particular artistic discipline and discuss how all components of the thesis project taken together as a single project will contribute to the scholarly and artistic fields with which it engages. This section should also discuss limitations, personal and practical, relating to the project and the student’s readiness.  If the project is a film, for example, how much direct experience has the student already had in that field, and how will the student allocate the time to finish the project by the desired defense date? How much is the project likely to cost, and how does the student expect to obtain funding?  What kind of spaces will be needed for rehearsal as well as presentation of the work? 

Project Thesis Proposal

The project thesis includes two major components: (a) an activity (program, intervention, campaign, etc.) designed to address (solve, remediate, improve) a problem, issue or opportunity in the student's domain as a professional or activist; and (b) a written document that describes, rationalizes, analyzes, and assesses the activity. It is not strictly a research study, but rather an exercise in reflective practice. Therefore, the proposal takes a form different from that of the research or artistic thesis proposal. Please note, as well, that a project thesis  must  be not only designed but implemented and evaluated.

• Problem Statement This section of the proposal identifies, describes, and analyzes the problem (issue, need, opportunity) that the student will address in the project. Clearly articulate the nature of the problem: its historical, social and professional context; its dimensions and extent; its impact, and perhaps some previous efforts to address it. Present information that explains the student's understanding of the origins or causes of the problem, to set up the rationale for the choice of a strategy to solve it. At each stage, refer to appropriate scholarly and professional literatures.
• Project Plan Students should spell out their plans for addressing the problem. Students should describe the institutional setting within which the project will take place, as well as the individuals, groups, or organizations with whom they will work. What will the student (and, perhaps, others) do? What resources and strategies will be used? If the student need funds, how will they be raised and disbursed? What schedule will be followed? Be efficient, but concrete and clear in specifying the activities that will make up the project. Identify the professional and theoretical sources of the strategies for the project: What precedents and ideas are the student drawing on? Also, the student should discuss the means by which they will record and report the project activities for the members of the thesis committee. Will the student write a journal, shoot videos, keep material artifacts and documents? Students must be clear about how they intend to document the project. They may also elect to invite the members of their committee to witness the project first-hand.
• Assessment The proposal speaks to three aspects of the assessment process. In all three, students should be concrete and refer to appropriate literatures as sources of their plans. Criteria : First, students should describe and justify the criteria by which they will determine whether the project has succeeded. What are the goals and objectives? What changes does the student want to see in the participants, the organization, the larger world? Methods:  What information will be needed to determine whether the goals and objectives have been met? How will that information be collected and organized? Analysis : How will that information be utilized to describe the project’s success or failure? What sorts of lessons does the student hope to draw from the assessment?
• Justification and Limitations This section of the proposal should explain the rationale for the thesis and the importance of the topic. Indicate the reasons why this study is important to conduct and whom it will benefit. Identify the limits beyond which the inquiry will not go. Finally, describe the contribution the work will make to the field.
• Conclusion This section should summarize the nature and intention of the work. Conclude the discussion and mention any pertinent information which may not have been included above.

Format of the Proposal

All thesis proposals should conform to the following specifications:

• Title Page The title should be reasonably succinct, but descriptive enough to convey the nature of the thesis; the title page should include your full name, the date of submission, and your adviser’s name.
• Length The thesis proposal should be approximately 8 pages, excluding the annotated bibliography. Remember that this is a proposal, not the thesis itself; tell us what you propose to do and how, don’t do it.
• Annotated Bibliography This bibliography should contain brief commentaries on no fewer than 10–15 relevant source works.

The Approval Process for the Thesis Proposal

The Thesis Proposal Seminar (TPS) Students write their thesis proposals while enrolled in the Thesis Proposal Seminar (CORE-GG 2401, a 2-credit core requirement offered every spring). Throughout that semester, students work closely with their Adviser and Instructor to draft an acceptable proposal. When the proposal has received approval from both the Thesis Proposal Seminar instructor (Gallatin reviewer) and the adviser, the student is allowed to move on to their thesis research. The three steps of the approval process are outlined below.

• TPS Instructor/Reviewer Approval The Thesis Proposal Seminar instructor serves as the Gallatin reviewer of the thesis proposal. A student must receive a grade of ‘Pass’ in the Thesis Proposal Seminar for the proposal to be considered ‘reviewer approved.’ If the student’s proposal is not finished at the end of the semester, the student will receive a grade of 'Incomplete' in the course and will have until June 15th to submit the proposal before moving on to thesis research.
• Adviser Approval Students work closely with their advisers over the course of the semester to produce a proposal that the adviser can approve. Once the adviser agrees that the proposal is ready, students submit their final proposal via the online Thesis Proposal submission form . The Thesis Proposal submission form allows students to provide Gallatin with additional information about the courses, internships, independent studies, jobs, and other experiences that have prepared the student for their thesis work.
• MA Program Approval Once the M.A. Program verifies adviser approval of the proposal and the student has passed the TPS, the MA Program updates the student record to show that the Thesis Proposal requirement has been satisfied.

The deadline for submitting an adviser approved thesis proposal online is June 15.

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Master'S Thesis Seminar

MA THESIS SEMINAR FOR POLITICS STUDENTS

Required capstone course for students in the M.A. and M.A in international affairs programs. Support for thesis-writing process.

Course Information

Spring 2022, nicole m simonelli, sanford c gordon, summer 2022.

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Master Thesis Seminar.

This seminar shall deliver guidance and feedback for students’ work on their Master Thesis, as a supplement to regular thesis supervision. It shall secure standards of scientific working, help in focussing research work, and shall provide advice in content related question. A special goal is to develop feedback skills and to enhance awareness of students in regard to potential problems through giving feedback to their peers.

Coordinator

Dr. in  Julia Schmitt, MSc

Further Lecturers

Prof. Dr. Erik G. Hansen Andres Alcayaga, MSc

Winter and Summer

Process and contents

The seminar is organized around short presentations (approximately 20 minutes) of the state of the students’ thesis work. Based on these presentations questions and feedback will be issued by others in the class. There are basically three types of presentations each student shall give:

• Exposé ideas: intended phenomenon to be studied, motivation and aim, research questions, first literature review, innovative content, preliminary conceptual frameworks, theory to be used, planned method, preliminary structure of master thesis                     
• Exposé draft: in addition to the revised contents of the first presentation, also, a more elaborated literature review, expected results and the final structure of the master thesis should be presented
• Intermediate results of master thesis: results of the literature review, first results and structured analyses, theory, conceptual framework (about 2/3 of the master thesis should be finalized)

Teaching Methods

• Short presentations (approximately 20 minutes) of the state of the students’ thesis work, given by master thesis students
• Additional theoretical input (short presentations) from the seminar lecturers about specific topics that will help students in developing and improving their master theses
• Discussions and feedback: critical questioning, feedback and input from seminar instructors for further development, peer feedback from other master thesis students
• Exposé presentation draft 1 (35%)
• Written final exposé (35%)
• Presentation of intermediate results (30%)

Compulsory attendance

Literature (Selection) to be announced

Johannes Kepler University Linz

Altenberger Straße 69

4040 Linz, Austria

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• Fachbereich
• Economic Policy and Quantitative Methods
• Master Thesis

Master Thesis and Thesis Seminar

To complete your master studies you have to complete both the Master thesis and the Master Seminar.

Requirements

• To be eligible for the Master Thesis, you must have completed  at least 60CP

Finding an advisor

• To find a thesis advisor, you must typically contact a professor yourself. It is sensible to choose an advisor, whose seminar you have attended. The thesis advisor can usually be  any member of the professor group

Registration

• Master Thesis registration must be done with the examination office . To do so, please visit the examination office during their office hours.
• There you will receive a form.  This form must be filled out and signed by your thesis advisor . The topic of the thesis must be written on the form. After your advisor signs the form, you must return it to the examination office  at the next possible office hour  for master students

Thesis submisson

• You will have  18 weeks  to complete the Master Thesis. Please note that there are special office hours at the examination office for the thesis submission.

Supervisor Allocation Process at the Finance Department

• The Finance Department allocates supervisors by application. This application process is independent of the examination office and does not replace the usual registration procedure. Please find more information on the Finance Department's website: https://www.wiwi.uni-frankfurt.de/abteilungen/finance/studium/masterarbeiten.html

Further information on the Master Thesis can be found in §36 of the academic regulations (see  links and downloads ) and in the  examination office's instructions .

Please inquire detailed information on deadlines and the registration process in the course catalogue (QIS/ LSF) entry of the Thesis Seminar in each semester.

In order to complete your studies you must also complete  the Thesis Seminar along with your Master Thesis .

This means that you should hand in your Master Thesis in the  same semester  in which you participate in the Thesis Seminar. To ensure this, you have to  register your Master Thesis at least 18 weeks before the end of the semester . Therefore, it is not possible to start your thesis all year round, to ensure that you can participate in the thesis seminar. For participating in the Thesis Seminar in:

• Summer Semester: you must register your Master Thesis approximately between the 1st of February and the 24th of May with the Examination Office
• Winter Semester: it is approximately between the 1st of August and the 22nd of November

The exact deadlines may move by a day or two each year and can be found in the QIS description of the Thesis Seminar.  Additionally, the examination office can provide more information on this matter.

Signing up for the Thesis Seminar

• You need to  register for the Thesis Seminar separately at the beginning of each semester
• In a first step, you will be asked to fill out a research registration form and in a second step to sign personally a registration list. You will find the deadlines and information on both registration steps in the QIS description of the Thesis Seminar for the semester in which you intend to write
• Please note that the registration is possible even if you have not registered your Master Thesis yet. However, if you do not register your Master Thesis within the stated time frame, your Thesis Seminar registration will be void and you will have to repeat it next semester again

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Master Thesis Seminar

Course Description This course introduces students to the importance of writing and develops their critical reading, thinking, and writing skills necessary for successful participate in that work. At the end of the seminar students will have finished their master's thesis concept based on 1) recommendations on how to research and write a thesis and 2) the critical discussions following their own presentations.

Learning Objectives Students will be able to design, plan, and carry out research necessary for the master thesis. The end result will be the ability for students to write effectively and communicate individual research findings in the thesis document. Attention will be given to:

• formulating the research question
• research objectives
• structuring the thesis
• planning the research
• effective writing

Instructors Prof. Dr. Egon Smeral

Semester Offered Fall, Spring

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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Finance Group

Writing a master thesis in finance.

Students who would like to write a Master thesis in the area of Finance must have completed the Financial Economics concentration, and have attend either the Hauptseminar Corporate Finance or the Hauptseminar Financial Economics. It is recommended that students take as many finance electives as possible prior to registering for a Hauptseminar. The courses "Finance Theory" and "Advanced Corporate Finance" are mandatory. The purpose of the Hauptseminars is to introduce students to academic research and scientific writing, and the requirements for writing a master thesis in Finance.

To complete the master program in four semesters, we recommend the following semester plan.

Most thesis topics will be of an empirical nature. Therefore, good econometric skills are essential. The course Econometric Methods is highly recommended. Familiarity with statistical software, such as Stata, R or SAS, is also important. Since most relevant literature is in English, it is recommended to write the master thesis in English, but this is not a necessity.

Master Thesis in Corporate Finance (Adam / Elendner)

If you are interested in writing a master thesis in the area of Corporate Finance, contact Prof. Adam, Prof. Elendner, or one of their assistants to discuss a suitable thesis topic and expected completion time, after you have completed the Hauptseminar. Currently we offer theses topics in the following areas.

• Corporate Risk Management
• Mutual Funds
• Behavioral Corporate Finance
• Debt Financeing, e.g., Syndicated Loans, Mittelstandsanleihen
• Credit Rating Agencies
• Financial Regulation

You should budget at least six months for completing your thesis. It is also possible and encouraged to write a thesis jointly with another fellow student. This is not only more stimulating than writing by yourself but you can also benefit from economies of scale.

Master Thesis in Financial Economics (Stomper)

If you are interested in writing a master thesis in the area of financial economics, contact Prof. Stomper or one of his assistants to discuss a suitable thesis topic.

Before you can start working on your thesis, you have to attend the "Master Thesis Seminar - Financial Economics" in order to present/develop your ideas and to write a research proposal (i.e. the seminar paper). Students with suitable research proposals will obtain approval to write their theses according to their proposals.

To apply for admission to the seminar, please send your CV and transcript (i.e., your academic record) to [email protected].

In general, master theses in financial economics will be replication exercises. If an empirical or experimental analysis is to be replicated, then the replication must be done in STATA or R. We will specify which of the two software packages ought to be used in any particular case. If the replication concerns a theoretical paper, then the thesis will analyze a particular specification of the model in the paper. Any programs written/datasets used must be submitted with the thesis in electronic form. In replicating an experimental analysis, students will not conduct experiments, but rather work with data from previous experiments.

To pick a thesis topic, consult the following webpage: http://www.aeaweb.org/aer/issues.php Of the papers listed on the above page, any papers with a focus on financial economics (broadly defined) are suitable picks for a replication exercise leading to a HU master thesis in financial economics. Of course, the replication must be doable. For example, a replication of an empirical or experimental paper requires data access. To assess whether a replication is doable, students need to look at the appendices, data sets, etc. linked to a given paper on the AER webpage.

After obtaining a thesis topic the next step is to write and orally present a research proposal (60 min). Proposals take place on Mondays, 14-16 pm, in DOR1-304. During the presentation you should explain why your topic is important, what new insights could potentially be gained from your thesis, and discuss your research methodology. It is important to clearly state the research question and to demonstrate the feasibility of your project. After a successful presentation you can submit the form „Anmeldung zur Masterarbeit“ to the institute's secretary, Mrs. Bulwahn, and begin writing your thesis.

Master theses must be submitted in bound format (2 copies) by the due date to the Prüfungsamt. Each master thesis must include a DVD containing the thesis, all data used, computer programs, and pdf files of all references. Further information about how to write a thesis can be found here .

Exceptional Master theses will be nominated for the David-Kopf Hochschulpreis. See www.david-kopf.com for details.

In addition, you can participate in the following master-thesis competitions:

• International Competition of Master Degree Thesis on Economics and Finance

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General Information

The Finance Area will offer seminars for students every semester. There is a centralized allocation procedure for seminar topics in the Area of Finance.  On this website you can find information on the centralized allocation procedure of seminar topics. The actual topics, formal requirements and supervision specifics are subject to the policies of the individual chairs. Please refer to the respective chair websites for more information in these regards.

General Timeline

To enable the common allocation procedure, there is a fixed timline when it is possible to start writing a seminar paper and when to apply for topics. For a general timeline of this process please refer to this document . Note that the timeline cannot be changed due to individual requirements, e.g., due to time spent abroad or internships. As you can see in the document, it is possible to write the seminar and the master's thesis within one semester both in HWS and FSS.

Prerequisites

You must have successfully completed at least one FIN 5XX course offered by one of the chairs of the Finance Area in order to participate. We typically can consider exam grades from the first exam date of the semester ending just before the start of the seminar. As most topics require to work empirically, some knowledge of statistics and econometrics is useful and participants should be motivated to undertake empirical work. You should write your seminar paper in English.

How Topics are allocated

The allocation of topics is carried out jointly for the participating chairs. Once the application period starts, you will be required to fill out an online application form indicating your contact details, your grades in FIN XXX courses as well as your preferences regarding the different topis offered. The assignment is competitive and based on the average grade of your FIN XXX courses and your priority list from the application form.

It can happen that some students that apply in a given semester cannot be assigned a topic.  If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available seminar slots, preference will be given to students with (in this order): higher semester counts, special program requirements and better average finance grades.  Note that the probability that you will be assigned a topic will depend on your semester count, your grades as well as the number and characteristics of other applicants. There is generally no guarantee to be able to complete the MMM program within 4 semesters with the exact course combination of your choice.

FIN 604 – Stata in Finance

Most of the topics in Finance require you to work empirically. If you apply for an empirical seminar topic at a chair of the Finance Area and your knowledge about STATA and financial databases is limited, you should also take the course FIN 604 – Stata in Finance that provides you with basic knowledge about programming with STATA and the use of financial databases. Please consult this website for more information. The tutorials typically take place around the start date of the writing phase.

Learning Goals and Outcomes

Students will learn how to independently work on a research paper. Thus, the seminar paper also serves as preparation for a master thesis. Furthermore, students learn how to present research results and how to contribute to scientific discussions. In an examplary seminar, students will present their own paper, discuss another student's paper, and participate actively in the classroom discussions. The detailed set-up of the seminar sessions is subject to the individual chairs' policies.

Process Guide and Schedule

What average grade do i need to surely get assigned one of the topics.

We cannot share information about the necessary grade as we do not know it ourselves in advance. The probability to be assigned a topic will not only depend on the FIN XXX grades but also on the number of applicants, the number of topics and the number of applicants with very high semester counts as well as how popular the topics on your preference list are in general. The assignment of a topic cannot be guaranteed.

I will still be doing an Intership (or going on vacation) for some time during the seminar writing phase. Will I still manage to write a good seminar paper?

We highly recommend to plan sufficient time to work on your seminar paper. Especially for empirical papers, the time constraint is generally very binding. Most students that don't work for the entire alloted time decide to not submit a paper (and thus fail the seminar) or don't manage to obtain very good grades.

Do I need to be present in Mannheim during and after the seminar?

Whether you need to be present physically before the submission deadline depends on chair and advisor specific policies as well as the chosen topic. E.g. some databases may only be physically accessible in Mannheim, and some advisor may only be willing to supervise in person. Not being in Mannheim for very few days right at the start of the seminar in early January typically is not an issue, as you could already start reading literature on your topic and think about the research question conceptually also from a remote location.

Are there mandatory meetings after the submission?

Yes, typically there will be at least one major presentation session after the submission of the papers.

Can I choose to work for 6 or 8 weeks on the paper?

No. The specific deadline will be determined by the chair and/ or the type of the topic.

Contact Person

Kai mäckle, m.sc..

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Master's thesis

Master's Thesis is a part of Master's degree in other fields than technology and Master's thesis in technology / architecture is a part of Master of Science in Technology /Architecture degree.

The aims and place of the thesis in degrees

During the studies, students gradually gain the skills they need to write the thesis. In order to graduate, you should master the learning outcomes set for your degree and thesis.  

The aim of the Master’s thesis is that 

• the student is well familiar with his/her field and especially the field of his/her thesis topic  
• the student possesses the skills necessary for applying scientific knowledge and methods or the knowledge and skills required for independent and demanding artistic work 
• the student has good communication and language skills that can be applied in his/her field and other applicable fields 

Students mainly complete the Master’s thesis during the second year of studying for the Master’s degree; it is part of the advanced studies in the degree programme. You must have graduated with a Bachelor’s degree or your Bachelor’s thesis must be approved before you can start working on the Master’s thesis and drawing up the supervisory plan with your supervisor.  

The goals of theses based on learning outcomes. As you work on your thesis, your research skills, knowledge of the subject matter in the field, academic language and communication skills as well as your scientific debating skills are enhanced through peer learning and supervision, and via the discussion you conduct with previous research. Working on the thesis means practising independent research in accordance with good scientific practice. Your faculty or degree programme defines the form of the thesis more closely (see the section on your faculty).

The stages of the Master’s thesis are outlined below

Academic guidance and counselling.

Writing a Master’s thesis starts with participation in the thesis seminar and deciding on the topic. You will be assigned at least one supervisor – the responsible supervisor – who supports your work in matters related to the content and research process throughout the thesis process. The responsible supervisor is familiar with the assessment criteria of theses and discusses them with you. If the thesis has two supervisors – the responsible supervisor and the other supervisor – at least one must be well familiar with the topic of the thesis and both should hold degrees at least on the same level as the thesis in question. A person who is not a member of the University community may also act as a supervisor based on his/her expertise in the field.

The supervisor(s) and the student draw up a supervision plan that defines the rights, responsibilities and duties of the parties and the duration of the supervisory relationship. In the supervisory situation, a common understanding of the academic requirements of the thesis and of good scientific practice is also formed. The timing of supervision and the stages of the thesis process are also agreed upon. The supervisory plan also defines the target time of completing the thesis, which also gives an indication of the length of the supervisory relationship.

Your work process is the core of the supervision process. Supervision supports your learning process and your growth as an academic expert. You are in charge of your motivation and working and the way the thesis process advances. Faculties take care of the equal distribution of supervision work and including supervision in the teachers’ work plans.   

The faculty also defines the practices applied if any changes, conflicts or problems arise in the supervisory relationship.

Theses done in pairs or groups 

Doing the thesis with another student or in a group is agreed with the supervisor. If the thesis is undertaken by a pair or a group, each student must be able to demonstrate his/her share of the work because the thesis is fundamentally about practising independent scientific work. The thesis is assessed for each student individually. 

Language of the thesis

The language of the thesis is either Finnish or the main language of the student’s degree programme. The supervisor of the thesis decides on the use of other languages than the ones mentioned above. 

A student studying in an English-language degree programme may write his/her thesis in Finnish. However, if the student wants his/her academic record to show that he/she has earned the degree in English, it may be required that the thesis is also written in English. 

If the student has not demonstrated language and communication skills in his/her field in the Bachelor’s degree, they are demonstrated in the maturity test related to the Master’s thesis. The demonstration of language skills in relation to the thesis is described in more detail in the section on the maturity test.

The thesis seminar

To support working on the thesis, a thesis seminar or other teaching and activities that aid the thesis process are organised.   

In the thesis seminar, students especially gain peer supervision and peer learning skills as well as those on academic writing, information seeking and scientific debate. The seminar guides and supports working on an independent thesis and the parts it consists of, such as defining the research problem, outlining the topic, and structuring and reporting the research results. In the seminar, students also learn about the assessment criteria of the thesis. As far as possible, you should strive to complete your thesis in the seminar. 

If the curriculum of the degree programme does not include a seminar on the Master’s thesis in the fields of technology, other means of supervision must ensure that students receive sufficient support for writing the thesis and learning research skills. 

Adherence to good scientific practice

Learning outcomes related to good scientific practice are included in all theses. Review the guidelines on good scientific practice and consult your supervisor if you need further guidance. As part of the process of facilitating the writing process, the supervisor should ensure that you are familiar with good scientific practice and able to work accordingly. 

Also remember the accessibility of the thesis.

The originality checking of a thesis 

During the writing process, you may use the originality check tool found on your supervisor’s Turnitin section on Moodle. It will give you a comparative report on your text that will help you evaluate the appropriateness of your citation practices. You can always ask your thesis supervisor for advice on interpreting the comparison report.

The student and the thesis supervisor agree about the point when the thesis is ready for the official originality check and the subsequent actual assessment. You enter the text of your completed thesis in the originality checking software after which the supervisor reviews the originality report. After the supervisor has checked the originality report, you may submit the thesis for the actual assessment process. 

Finding a thesis placement - Commissioned theses  

You may do your Master’s thesis as a commissioned study for a principal that can be a company or another body. A thesis is a scientific study that is assessed on the basis of academic criteria and it must be completed within the target time. The supervisor and examiners at the University are responsible for the academic guidance and assessment of the thesis. The principal may appoint a contact person who may also participate in the supervision of the thesis. The principal must also be aware of the academic nature and publicity of the thesis. You, the reponsbile supervisor and the principal agree on the topic, schedule and objectives of the thesis.  Make a written agreement with the principal on any fee paid to you. 

The University has drawn up a checklist for the first meeting on a commissioned thesis on issues that should be covered in the meeting.

Copyright of the thesis 

Copyright issues are also related to the publicity of the thesis. The student is reponsible for the contents of the thesis and ascertaining his/her rights to it. The author of a thesis that is intended for publication must have full copyright to the thesis, including any pictorial material, tables or other material, or have the right to publish such material online. 

Further information on copyright is available on the Library’s Open Access guide and on the following websites:  https://libguides.tuni.fi/opinnaytteet/julkaisuluvat_tekijanoikeus

• ImagOA: Open science and use of images: a guide on the Aalto University website http://libguides.aalto.fi/imagoa_eng

Publicity of the thesis and processing confidential information

Under law, the thesis is a public document (1999/621). A thesis becomes public as soon as it has been approved. After a thesis has been approved, it cannot be modified in any way. Confidential information cannot be included in a thesis. Publishing the thesis or its parts elsewhere, eg as articles, does not change the publicity requirement.  

If confidential information is processed in relation to the thesis, its use should be agreed with the supervisor and the possible principal in advance. The actual thesis should be written in a manner that allows publishing all of its parts. The possible confidential information should be incorporated in the appendices or background data that are not published. The separate data is not archived at the University.   

Other help and support during the writing of a thesis

You are not alone with your thesis. Support is available, for example, on information searching and data management as well as writing and making progress . Support is offered by the University’s joint counselling services, Language Centre and Library and Data Service.

Maturity test

Purpose of the maturity test .

With the maturity test, the student demonstrates his/her familiarity with the field of the thesis and his/her Finnish or Swedish language skills. (Government Decree on University Degrees 794/2004). See below for information on other languages.  

If the student has already demonstrated his/her language skills in the Bachelor’s degree, he/she only demonstrates his/her familiarity in the field of the thesis in the maturity test.  

Language of the maturity test 

If Finnish or Swedish language skills are to be demonstrated in the Master’s degree studies, the language of the maturity test is defined as in the Bachelor’s degree. 

If a student is not required to demonstrate his/her language skills in the Master’s degree, he/she takes the maturity test in the language of the thesis.  

Form of the maturity test 

In a Master’s degree, the abstract of the thesis serves as a maturity test. 

Submitting the thesis for assessment

When the thesis is nearing completion, the student discusses the final stage with his/her supervisor. The student and the supervisor agree on the pre-examination of the thesis and any corrections that are still needed. After the pre-examination and the final corrections, the supervisor gives the student permission to submit the thesis for assessment. The student feeds the final version of the manuscript to the originality checking software in a manner provided by the supervisor who will check the originality report. The originality check of the thesis should be completed before the thesis is submitted for assessment.  

When you submit your Master’s thesis to assessment in the publication archive Trepo you also ensure that the originality check of the thesis has been done and that your supervisor has given you permission to submit the thesis for assessment. The student also decides what kind of a publication permission he/she gives to the thesis. Note that you must be registered as present in order to submit a thesis on Trepo.

The student should let the supervisor know when the thesis can be retrieved from Trepo. The student receives a message from the Library within a few days of submitting the thesis for assessment. The assessment deadline is calculated from the date of the email sent to the supervisor. 

Assessment and grade of the thesis

The responsible supervisor proposes examiners either at the start or the end of the thesis process. Use this form to make the proposal 

Thesis supervision plan (Master’s thesis) and proposal of examiners

Examiners of a Master’s thesis  

The supervisor(s) of the thesis may also act as the examiners of the thesis if they fulfil the requirements stipulated in the Tampere University Regulations on Degrees.  According to Section 28 “At least one of the examiners must be employed by Tampere University”. Both examiners must have completed at least a master’s-level degree."

The thesis examiners have 21 days to review the thesis after it has been submitted for evaluation.  The results on theses submitted for examination during the period from 1 June to 31 August may take longer to be published. For justified reasons, the dean may make an exception to the deadline. Such exceptions must be communicated to the students in advance.   

Master’s theses are assessed with a grading scale from 0 to 5.  The grades are 1 (sufficient), 2 (satisfactory), 3 (good), 4 (very good) and 5 (excellent). Assessment criteria given by the faculties can be found at the bottom of this page.

Students will receive the examiners’ statement and grade proposal by email to their tuni.fi email address. Students will then have seven (7) days to provide a written response to the examiners’ statement. The countdown begins when the email is sent to the student. A possible written response is addressed to the student’s faculty and will be reviewed by the dean. The dean will assess whether there is reason to reconsider the grade or whether he or she will confirm the final grade based on the examiners’ statement. The dean can also appoint an additional examiner to review the thesis or bring the matter before the Faculty Council.  

If a student does not provide a written response, the dean will confirm the final grade of the thesis based on the examiners’ statement. If a student is satisfied with the assessment outcome, he or she can expedite the process and the entry of the thesis on his or her academic record by immediately informing the faculty thereof by email. The procedure for providing a written response does not apply to theses counted towards the degree of Licentiate of Medicine.

A student cannot submit a new thesis to replace an already approved one.  

Appealing against thesis assessment

A student dissatisfied with the assessment outcome of a master’s thesis (or equivalent) can submit a written appeal (request for rectification) to the relevant Faculty Council within 14 days of receiving the results.

An appeal can be delivered in writing or by email.

Postal address: Tampere University, FI-33014 Tampere University, Finland

Street address: Kalevantie 4, campus information desk, 33100 Tampere, Finland

Email: tau [at] tuni.fi (tau[at]tuni[dot]fi)

Electronic archiving and publishing of the thesis 

According to a decision by the National Archives of Finland (AL/11085/07.01.01.03.02/2016) on the permanent electronic preservation of universities’ theses and Tampere University’s information control plan that is based on it, Tampere University’s Master’s theses are permanently archived. All theses are electronically archived. The Library is in charge of archiving theses and dissertations on the University’s publication database. 

All theses are public and saved in the University’s publication database. According to the University’s strategic alignment on open science, all theses and dissertations are openly published unless the publisher’s conditions prevent it. All theses may be read with the Library’s computers and online if the student has granted permission to publish the thesis on the internet.     

After approval, all theses are stored in the comparison database of the originality checking software.  

Open Faculty of Education and Culture (EDU)

Open faculty of information technology and communication sciences (itc), open faculty of management and business (mab), open faculty of medicine and health technology (met), open faculty of social sciences (soc).

Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) constitute the Tampere Universities community. Our areas of priority in research and education are technology, health and society. Tampere University: +358 (0)294 5211 Tampere University of Applied Sciences : +358 (0)294 5222

Navigation auf uzh.ch

English Department

Quicklinks und sprachwechsel, main navigation, master thesis (30 ects).

Some information is available on the website of the Faculty of Arts . Below, you find the most important guidelines for Master Theses at the English Department. However, we strongly encourage you to read the Faculty guidelines as well.

Template Cover Master Thesis (English) (DOCX, 56 KB)

You may also wish to consult the section on extending deadlines (only possible in cases of force majeure) .

Whom Can You Choose as Your Supervisor?

• The Master Thesis is usually supervised by a professor .
• Other members of staff holding a PhD degree are also allowed to supervise Master Theses. Note, however, that they are not obliged to do so.
• To find out what types of topics individual instructors may be interested in supervising , you can consult their homepages. You can find links to all instructors' homepages on the UZH English Department's Staff List .

When to Contact Potential Supervisors?

Make sure to contact a potential supervisor prior to booking the Master Thesis online - ideally at the end of the preceding semester, but no later than:

• August 5 if wishing to book the two-semester module in the fall semester;
• January 5 if wishing to book the two-semester module in the spring semester.

When and How Do I Book the Master Thesis?

• The Master Thesis must be booked online , during the module booking period .

By When Do I Need to Submit?

• December 1 (for the fall semester);
• June 1 (for the spring semester).

Template Cover Master Thesis (German) (DOCX, 56 KB)

• Note that your supervisor may ask you to submit the Master Thesis earlier than this (e.g. mid-November for the fall semester).

How Long Should the Master Thesis Be?

Usually, the Master Thesis is between c. 20,000 and 30,000 words (not counting the bibliography). Note, however, that supervisors may accept theses that are shorter or longer. In other words, if in doubt, discuss the question of length with your supervisor.

Please also consult the following documents:

• Linguistics: Manual for Writers of Papers in English Linguistics
• Literature: Literature Guide

How Much Supervision? And What If I Don't Hear Back?

You are expected to conduct most of your research for the Master Thesis independently. However, supervisors will of course be happy to provide a certain level of guidance.

• At the start of the supervision process, you should discuss the mode of supervision with your supervisor (e.g. Will there be regular meetings? How often are you allowed/supposed to contact your supervisor?)
• Should you encounter any major problems, then please make sure to get in touch with your supervisor as early as possible!

Usually, supervisors at the UZH English Department will try to respond to your queries within 48 hours (working days, i.e. not counting weekends).

Should you not not hear back from your supervisor within three to four working days, then please send them a short reminder.

If you still do not hear back from your supervisor after your second message (within three to four working days), you should contact the advisor of studies at [email protected] .

Organizing the Master Thesis: Two Examples

The Master Thesis is, usually, a two-semester module. Accordingly, the following examples cover the two most common cases.

• ideally contact your supervisor at the end of the fall semester in the previous year, but no later than January 5, to find out whether they are willing to supervise your topic;
• book the Master Thesis during the module booking period of the spring semester (end of January/early February);
• submit the Master Thesis no later than on December 1 (or earlier, if your supervisor has given you an earlier submission date).
• ideally contact your supervisor at the end of the spring semester in the previous year, but no later than August 5, to find out whether they are willing to supervise your topic;
• book the Master Thesis during the module booking period of the fall semester (end of August/early September);
• submit the Master Thesis no later than on June 1 (or earlier, if your supervisor has given you an earlier submission date).

If you would like to submit your Master Thesis at the end of the first semester, then the corresponding deadlines would apply (i.e. June 1 for the spring and December 1 for the fall semester).

Module Description

Weiterführende informationen.

• Prospective Students
• First-Semester Students
• Advanced Students

• Comenius University
• Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics

Department of Applied Informatics  

• Introduction
• For Applicants
• Master program in Cognitive Science
• Courses for 2-IKV

Master's thesis seminar 2-IKV-921a

• 1.1 Schedule
• 1.2 Syllabus
• 1.3 Course requirements and grading

The purpose of this interdisciplinary course is to provide support to students writing their master thesis in the fields of cognitive science. Students are expected to develop the concept for their master’s thesis, present and discuss their plans for their theses, issues and problems. The course provides room both for presentations and discussions. It also includes participation in the MEi:CogSci conference.

Learning outcomes: After the course, you should be able to: (1) to formulate and follow a scientific question relevant to cognitive science, (2) to plan, conduct, document and present scientific work, (3) to write an extended scientific abstract, (4) to defend your research and constructively deal with critical commentary, (5) to constructively participate in a peer-review process, (6) to get involved in collaborative work in physical and virtual environments, (7) to engage in scientific discourse, (8) to communicate your expertise in order to contribute constructive criticism to the work of others.

Course requirements and grading

• 40% - quality of the master thesis concept (following the template provided) - to be submitted until April, 30th.
• 30% - oral presentations of your thesis in the seminar (shorter and longer)
• 20% - activity during the semester, peer feedback, participation in peer reviews of extended abstracts (for the conference)
• 10% - active participation at MEi:CogSci conference (including the talk)
• Overall score: A > 90%, B > 80%, C > 70%, D > 60%, E > 50%, otherwise Fx.

Your studies

Master thesis/degree project.

Every programme concludes with a thesis/degree project. This is something that you write at the end of your studies and is for many the way to enter the world of work. During the work with the thesis/degree project, you get the help of an examiner and a supervisor at Chalmers. If you choose to do your thesis/degree project in collaboration with a company, you need a responsible supervisor there as well. You will receive information about what applies to your programme from your Student Guidance Counsellor or Head of programme/Director of Master's programme.

Regulations and learning objectives

Here you can read more about the regulations and learning objectives applicable for your thesis/degree project. Regulations and learning objectives differ depending on what you are studying.

Regulations

Chalmers regulations for theses/degree projects are based on the goals formulated in Chalmers lokala examensordning (in Swedish) and in the regulations for the theses/degree projects.

Master of Science in Engineering, Master of Architecture, Master of Science

Learning objectives.

In the learning objectives you find valuable information that you can benefit from throughout your thesis/degree project. You can for example read about:

• Examination
• Conditions for starting the thesis/degree project
• Implementation
• Student responsibility

Regulations for the use of AI tools in thesis work

Here you will find Chalmers regulations for the use of AI tools in your thesis work.

Find a thesis/degree project

You most often find a thesis/degree project yourself in consultation with your supervisor. You can get support from your Head of programme/Director of master's programme or the department where you write your thesis/degree project.

Chalmers master thesis portal

In Chalmers master thesis portal you will find available projects announced by both external parties and projects at our departments.

Application forms – thesis/degree project

The application forms apply to students on both bachelor of science in engineering, shipping, civil engineering and master's programmes. To be able to start the process with your thesis/degree project, you must fill in the web form "Thesis application form" and have it signed by the examiner and Head of programme/Director of master's programme. You must do this well before your estimated start date.

For more information and link to forms

Digital work card and signature

A digital work card containing e-publishing agreements. Create your digital work card using Adobe and submit it to the department where you completed your thesis.

Find your digital work card

Instructions - handling of the digital work card, instruction - how to make a digital signature, master's thesis at the department of technology management and economics (tme), information regarding master's thesis at tme, students presentation of master thesis during spring 2024.

Presentation of master thesis

Schedule per institution of students presentations of master thesis

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Quick links.

• Conference Brochure
• Tentative Program