Teaching - Master's Thesis Financial Economics
- Master’s thesis coordinator
- Concept
- Topic selection and development
- Assessment of the Master’s thesis
- Other specific information
1. Master’s thesis coordinator
2. Concept
The Master's Thesis involves an independent effort to write a thesis. Students develop skills in formulating, modeling and solving economic and managerial problems as well as reporting results, drawing conclusion(s) and formulating recommendations. The development of the thesis requires that students provide a individual contribution through a critical analysis, based on a theoretical and methodological framework grounded in the academic literature relevant to the research topic. The thesis is not purely descriptive but an individually tailored and scientifically grounded analysis, supported by personal empirical work and/or personal insights, and derived from critical reflection and synthesis.
3. Topic selection and development
Thesis subjects are chosen in the first month of the academic year. The student can select a subject from a list of topics proposed by the teaching staff of the department of Accounting Finance and Insurance (AFI). Students can also propose a subject of their own if this is related to the research domain of the department AFI. The proposal has to be handed in to the promotor. It should contain a formulation of the research question(s) and a description of the methodology that will be used. The proposal should also include a brief overview of the academic literature on which the analysis will draw. After discussing the subject with the promotor, the proposal is adjusted and finalized by the student.
The thesis students are supervised by a professor (“promotor”) and/or an assistant. The student should contact the assistant and/or promotor regularly to inform them about progress, hand in parts of the thesis, and to discuss further development. One month before the general thesis submission deadline, a full version of the thesis text should be handed in to the promotor and/or assistant.
4. Assessment of the Master’s thesis
The evaluation committee consists of the promoter and two other FBE members, possibly including the assistant). The thesis will be “defended” orally. The defense consists of a presentation of the results by the student(s) and a Q&A part, each for about half of the total time.
The duration of the defense will be 30 minutes if the thesis is written by one student: the student gives a presentation of 10 minutes and in the remaining 20 minutes the committee will ask questions about the research.
If the thesis is joint work by two students, the defense will take 40 minutes: both students give a presentation of 10 minutes and will be asked questions in the remaining 20 minutes.
The following weights are used in determining the total score on the master’s thesis:
• 80% on the thesis text (individual and collective component in case of a joint thesis)
• 20% on the oral defense
The resulting score can be adjusted according to the individual contributions of the students.
5. Other specific information
Specific thesis information is provided through Toledo (D0O34a| Master's Thesis Financial Economics).
