SHI 3615 Bachelor Thesis in Shipping

APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/2014

SHI 3615 Bachelor Thesis in Shipping


Responsible for the course
Eirill Bø

Department
Department of Strategy and Logistics

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
15

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
The Bachelor thesis is a major independent project in which students will demonstrate that they can enter an issue in the Shipping discipline and resolve this in an integrated and effective way. Bachelor thesis is a mandatory part of the programme, and can be written in groups of two or three students. In special cases, a student may be granted to do individual work.

Learning outcome
The objective of the course is to train students to plan and carry out an independent research project within a certain time limit. The result is to be presented as a bachelor thesis that must meet scientific criteria concerning form and content.

Acquired Knowledge
After completed Bachelor Thesis students should have:

  • Acquired an understanding of the complexity of shipping business.
  • An understanding of the significance of liabilities regarding owning and operating a vessel for the different stakeholders.
  • An understanding of transportation modes, know how to operate a port and understand how international logistics work.

Acquired Skills
After completed Bachelor Thesis students should be able to:
  • Prepare a written report demonstrating analytical and strategic skills related to commercial, juridical and organizational aspects of the shipping industry.
  • Demonstrate skills in evaluating and communicate shipping investment proposals including possible trade off decisions.

Reflection
Students shall be aware of the major role of the shipping industry in world trade and be able to reflect on the trade offs between profitability and environmental issues.

Prerequisites
Students are required to have in-depth knowledge of various subject areas and disciplines within their specialization. They also need to have a basic knowledge of research methods in the social sciences

Compulsory reading

Recommended reading

Course outline
While working on the bachelor thesis, students are expected to develop a deeper insight into their chosen subject area. The students can choose an approach based on practical shipping brokerage, a legal approach based on sources of law or a logistics approach. The thesis may also be based on a combination of these subject areas.

Computer-based tools
Courses may be offered in the use of statistics programs (SPSS or equivalent software) and in information searches in the library.

Learning process and workload
Students are expected to take an independent approach to this study. It is therefore expected that students prepare their work as the basis for discussion ahead of the seminars.

The student needs to fill in a thesis registration form indicating possible topics/problem area and a thesis advisor is then appointed. Students are entitled to 3 hours of personal guidance by the thesis advisor. The student is responsible for contacting the advisor for personal tutorial.

The course duration is one semester including common lectures, 3 seminars and personal guidance. The student is responsible for contacting the tutor for personal guidance. Students are supposed to be prepared for lectures and seminars, so that they can take active part in class by presenting or hand in material. Guidelines for writing Bachelor thesis are to be found on the web-site @BI.

Up to three hours of tutoring is offered each group of students collaborating on the same Bachelor thesis. The seminars are mandatory and students not attending and does not participate according to curriculum must be prepared for oral hearing.

Activity
Hours
Participation in public lectures 2 x 8 hour
16
Participation in library information
2
Preparation for seminars
30
Work with submissions
80
Participation in seminars, 3 x 2 hours
6
Working with Bachelor thesis
263
Individual counseling
3
Recommended use of hours in total
400

The project idea and chosen methods must be authorized by the tutor before submitting the Bachelor thesis.



Examination
The students will submit their Bachelor’s Thesis at the end of the course.
The Bachelor’s Thesis may be written individually or in groups of up to three students.


Examination code(s)
SHI 36151 - Bachelor's Thesis, counts for 100% towards the grade in SHI 3615 Bachelor's Thesis in Shipping Management, 15 ECTS credits.

Examination support materials
All support materials are allowed.

Re-sit examination
Re-sit examination is offered at next scheduled course.

Additional information