GRA 1950 Master Thesis - for students admitted autumn 2015 and 2016
GRA 1950 Master Thesis - for students admitted autumn 2015 and 2016
This is the course description for master thesis for students admitted autumn 2015 and autumn 2016.
The final opportunity to deliver a final thesis for students who were originally registered for this course code is September 1st 2020.
Students who want to deliver a master thesis after this date, will have to register for the current active course code and do a full new thesis process, with ordinary fees.
In the course of the MSc Programme, all students are required to write a thesis. A thesis of 30 ECTS is a requirement for master degrees (Masterforskriften §6). The thesis work consists of thesis seminars, guidance, a thesis proposal, a preliminary thesis report, and the final thesis.
Each Associate Dean is responsible for approving the thesis topic and thesis advisor. In addition, the Associate Dean is responsible for thesis seminars in the programme.
The thesis work forms a process where students are given the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their MSc studies in conducting a scientifically based research..
Students are expected to treat a broadly formulated problem and prepare and submit a report, which will contribute to a solution of the problem and/or provide a sound basis for decision-making within a given time and resource framework.
At the end of the master thesis process, students should demonstrate that they have in-depth knowledge of the major subject/field of study, including deeper insight into current research and development work. This includes deeper knowledge of methods in the major subject/field of study.
They should also have developed a capability to contribute to research and development work.
In the master thesis project, the student should demonstrate skills in formulating a research question, systematically, critically, and methodologically collect and compile data relevant to the research question, show proficiency in academic writing, and communicate reserach results,
Through the process of writing a master thesis, the students should demonstrate the capability to use a holistic view to critically, independently and creatively identify, formulate and deal with complex issues.
An important part is counsciousness of the ethical aspect of reserach, and the ability to conduct conduct the research according to existing norms for research ethics.
The thesis is normally written in groups of two students. Students who wish to write their thesis individually, may apply to the Associate Dean of their programme.
The thesis is written in English.
Students will be introduced to research methods in research methodology courses. In addition, the Associate Dean will arrange a thesis seminar (minimum 10 hours) introducing possible topics and advisors. An oral presentation may be a part of the thesis seminar and account for a part of the grade of the preliminary thesis report. Students are expected to participate in the thesis seminars and to have individual/group guiding (10 hours) by the thesis advisor.
Students are responsible for selecting a topic/problem area, which is suitable for a thesis related to their major in the MSc programme. Students need to fill in a thesis registration form, and have the topic and advisor approved by the Associate Dean. Please see the Student Portal (at.bi.no) for detailed information on thesis work.
The Schedule
Thesis seminars are held in the 2nd and/or 3rd and/or 4th semester.
The students must submit a thesis registration form.
The preliminary thesis report should be submitted by January 15th in the fourth semester.
The final thesis should be submitted no later than September 1st of your final year. An extension is only given by approval of the Dean and must be supported by relevant documentation. Read BI’s Academic Regulations carefully for more information on thesis extension and late submission.
Students are expected to devote time in the third semester for working on the preliminary thesis project. The remaining work on the thesis is in the 4th semester. Once the final thesis has been graded with a passing grade, this will cover 30 ECTS credits.
Associate codes for student registration:
GRA 1951 Thesis seminar participation
GRA 1952 Preliminary thesis report
GRA 1953 The final thesis
This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam elements will get a lower grade or may fail the course. You will find detailed information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades when the course starts.
The thesis registration form has a separate exam code (pass/fail).
The preliminary thesis and the final thesis are continuous assessment (100 %) where the preliminary thesis accounts for 20 % of the grade and the final thesis accounts for 80 % of the grade.
Both the thesis registration form and the continuous assessment (preliminary thesis + final thesis) must be passed in order to get a passing grade in the course.
Resit examination
In case of “Fail”, the student may: 1) write a new thesis, or 2) rewrite the thesis and attain a maximum grade of E.
If you choose to write a new thesis, a full tuition fee for a whole semester will be charged.
If you choose to rewrite your thesis, the ordinary retake fees will apply.
Please see Academic regulations for further information.
All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have spesific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.
| Assessments |
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Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Grouping: Group/Individual (1 - 2) Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Thesis Registration Form (pass/fail). Separate exam code. The thesis registration form must be passed in order to obtain a final grade in GRA 1950. Exam code: GRA19501 Grading scale: Pass/fail |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 20 Grouping: Group/Individual (1 - 2) Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Preliminary thesis report (part of continuous assessment). An oral presentation may be a part of the thesis seminar and count as a part of the grade of the preliminary thesis report. Exam code: GRA 19502 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 80 Grouping: Group/Individual (1 - 2) Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: The final thesis (part of continuous assessment). The final thesis, with the preliminary thesis project attached, is evaluated by the thesis advisor and an external grader. Students may be called upon to orally defend their thesis. In case of “Fail”, the student may: 1) write a new thesis, or 2) rewrite the thesis and attain a maximum grade of E. If you choose to write a new thesis, a full tuition fee for a whole semester will be charged. If you choose to rewrite your thesis, the ordinary retake fees will apply. Please see Academic regulations for further information. Exam code: GRA 19502 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 30 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 800 hours.