AGDK14007U Master´s Thesis

Volume 2018/2019
Education

Thesis models for students at Global Development:

Thesis – classic format

A thesis of maximum 80 pages (+ an additional 50 % per extra group member) with the following main components:
• An introduction giving an account of the theory and methods employed, outlining the academic background for the study and its relevance for the context of Global Development.
• Main section in which the empirical material is analyzed with respect to the selected theories and relevant contexts.
• A conclusion.

Internship based thesis

A thesis of maximum 80 pages (+ an additional 50 % per extra group member). The thesis must include the following main components, the order and scope of each to be decided in collaboration with the supervisor:
• An introduction giving an account of the theory and methods employed; outlining the academic background for the study and its relevance fo the context of Global Development.
• A consultancy report primarily addressed to an external party, in which a problem from the project-oriented work (internship) is analyzed. This report is to be supplemented by a brief introduction, in which the format defining the consultancy report is justified.
• A paper, in which a theme or challenge relevant to the project-oriented work (internship) is discussed, targeted for an academic audience.
• A paper on methods and ethics, giving an account of a methodological and/or an ethical problem that is especially significant for the fieldwork and the project

Academic article

A thesis of maximum 60 pages (+ an additional 50 % per extra group member) with the following main components:
• An introduction giving an account of the theory and methods employed, outlining the academic background for the study and its relevance for the context of Global Development.
• One article. The article must be targeted for a specific scientific journal. Students must enclose guidelines for the chosen journal.
• A policy brief aimed at a relevant target audience (ministry, company, NGO, research institution, think tank).
• A paper on methods and ethics, giving an account of the methodology chosen and one or several ethical problem that is especially significant for the project.

The maximum group size is 4 students. The thesis is defended in an oral defence of approx. 45 minutes (incl. voting). The defence is always individual and is based on the entire thesis + its components.

Content

Objectives for the MSc thesis:

- Formulating, defining and operationalising a social science issue in relation to global development in a broad sense. The thesis is prepared on the basis of the courses and other teaching activities (including courses merited from other study programmes) covered by the MSc in Global Development programme.
- Choosing, discussing and applying relevant theoretical and empirical approaches to anthropological, economic or political science issues (at the MSc programme level) of relevance to the selected analysis and the associated empirical data.
- Documenting and explaining the analysis conducted and accounting for its strengths and weaknesses.
- Providing a logical, clear and linguistically correct presentation of the selected issue and its clarification.
- The thesis is defended in an oral defence based on the student's written presentation. In connection with the oral defence, the student must demonstrate a command of the methodologies applied in connection with the preparation of the thesis, and must be able to account for the issue of the thesis and its clarification in a clear and comprehensible manner.

Learning Outcome

Objectives for the MSc thesis:

- Formulating, defining and operationalising a social science issue in relation to global development in a broad sense. The thesis is prepared on the basis of the courses and other teaching activities (including courses merited from other study programmes) covered by the MSc in Global Development programme.
- Choosing, discussing and applying relevant theoretical and empirical approaches to anthropological, economic or political science issues (at the MSc programme level) of relevance to the selected analysis and the associated empirical data.
- Documenting and explaining the analysis conducted and accounting for its strengths and weaknesses.
- Providing a logical, clear and linguistically correct presentation of the selected issue and its clarification.
- The thesis is defended in an oral defence based on the student's written presentation. In connection with the oral defence, the student must demonstrate a command of the methodologies applied in connection with the preparation of the thesis, and must be able to account for the issue of the thesis and its clarification in a clear and comprehensible manner.

Supervision
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 820,5
  • Guidance
  • 4,5
  • Total
  • 825,0
Credit
30 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral defence, 1 hour
20 min presentation by the student.

In case of a group thesis the students have an additional 50 % time per extra student for the presentation as well as the total duration of the defense.

For further details please see common part of the curriculum for the Faculty of Social Science: http:/​/​socialsciences.ku.dk/​students/​regulations/​curricula/​Curriculas_common_part_-_maj_2017.pdf
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

- The thesis is defended in an oral defence based on the student's written presentation. In connection with the oral defence, the student must demonstrate a command of the methodologies applied in connection with the preparation of the thesis, and must be able to account for the issue of the thesis and its clarification in a clear and comprehensible manner.

The thesis´ written part and the oral exam are given approximately equal weight for the final grade.