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Master's Thesis Regulations Master of Economics (ME) and Master of Business Economics (MBE)

 Master's Thesis Regulations Academic year 2011-2012

  

 

§1. General requirements of the Master's Thesis

The Master’s thesis provides students with an opportunity for independent learning. The following guidelines apply to the development of the Master’s thesis.

a. Academic level

In completing a Master’s thesis, students should demonstrate their analytical and synthetic skills and show that they are capable of independent problem-solving at an academic level. This should also be reflected in the final outcome and in attainment targets.

b. Relevance to the field of study

The subject of the Master’s thesis should be within the field of the student’s programme (ME) or Major (MBE).

c. Credits

The Master’s thesis should account for at least one fifth of the total number of credits required for the programme, with a minimum of 15 credits.

  • Master of Business Economics: 15 credits
  • Master of Economics
    • Major General Economics: 18 credits
    • Major Financial Economics: 18 credits
    • Major Research in Economics: 15 credits
d. Individual versus collective component

Completing a Master’s thesis may involve attending a seminar on research methodology. The Master’s thesis may also be part of a collaborative group project. In that case, each student’s individual contribution should be clearly indicated. If group papers are used, groups should include not more than 4 students. Supervision may also be partly group-based (so-called thesis circles). The group score can also be adjusted on the basis of ‘peer evaluation’.

e. Placements

A Master’s thesis project may involve a work placement. This will be decided by those responsible for the major or programme within which the thesis is being developed. Even if a student goes on placement, the end result of the project should still give evidence of critical reflection and be theoretically underpinned. A placement should always contribute to the Master’s thesis and should therefore also be related to its topic. An unrelated study placement will not count towards the requirements for the Master’s thesis.

f. Assessment breakdown

The weight of the different components in the assessment of the Master’s thesis should be clearly indicated.

g. Written reporting

Written reporting is an integral part of the Master’s thesis. The results reported should be based on properly framed research questions, with due attention paid to the theoretical foundations and to critical reflection.

h. Examiners

The Master’s thesis is assessed by an examining committee. One of these members may be an external examiner, for instance a fellow or a company mentor. The committee assigns a single score, either a consensus score or one based on weighted individual scores.

i. Oral presentation

Upon completion, the Master’s thesis is orally presented and defended. Presentations may be individual or team-based. Poster sessions may also be used.

 

 

§2. Supervisor

Every lecturer in the Faculty can acts as a supervisor. This includes postdoctoral researchers and other PhD holders on a temporary contract. A PhD student cannot act as a supervisor, but can play a role in supervision and be a member of the examining committee.

In principle, the supervisor should be a member of the research group or unit responsible for the student’s major (MBE) or programme (ME). Subject to consent from and in consultation with the Master’s thesis coordinator of the student’s major or programme, a supervisor outside the student’s own major or programme may be appointed, if this is considered useful for subject-related reasons. Even in this case, the thesis topic should be within the field of the student’s major or programme.

 

 

§3. Topic selection and development of the Master’s thesis

The way in which topics are chosen or assigned is determined by the research group or unit responsible for the corresponding major or programme. The same group or unit will also elaborate specific format and structure requirements for the Master’s thesis, in accordance with the general requirements specified under (§1).

For an overview of thesis structure and specific format requirements, please consult one of the pages listed below:

 

If the thesis project involves third parties insisting on confidential treatment of information, the student and the supervisor can guarantee this confidential treatment with this confidentiality agreement. One copy needs to be signed by the third party, another copy needs to be handed in at the Student's Office, so the Faculy is aware of the 'confidential' status of the Master's Thesis.

 

§4. Change of topic or supervisor

If a student wishes to change his / her topic on valid grounds, a formal request should be submitted to the supervisor. Changing or modifying the topic is subject to consent from the supervisor.

If a student wishes to transfer to another supervisor (e.g. for thematic reasons), a reasoned request should be submitted to the Master’s thesis coordinator of the relevant major or programme. Such a transfer is subject to written consent by both the previous and the new supervisor.  

 

 

§5. Submission procedure

The Master’s thesis should be submitted to the Student Office in triplicate and electronically uploaded (pdf and original file).

When submitting the Master’s thesis, the student should include the following documents:

 

Master’s theses submitted after the deadline will not be assessed during the same examination period.  

 

§6. Oral presentation

Upon completion, the Master’s thesis is orally presented and defended. The specific nature of this oral presentation is determined by the research group or unit responsible for the corresponding major or programme.

 

 

§7. Final assessment

Students who fail and moreover receive a fail mark for their Master’s thesis will need to resubmit their thesis. No partial exemptions will be granted in this case.

The different components of the Master’s thesis are assessed by at least three examiners, i.e. the supervisor, the tutor and a third examiner. Each examiner gives an individual mark and the average of these three marks yields the final score for the Master’s thesis.

If final assessment contains both a group score and an individual score, a number of scenarios are possible: for each scenario it needs to be determined whether the student passes or fails and, if necessary, which part needs to be resubmitted in August. These scenarios are described in the following table (all marks out of 20).

 

 

Group score Indiv. Score Total Score Final assessment To be resubmitted in September Comment
≥10 ≥10 ≥10 Pass n.a.  
≥ 10 < 10 ≥ 10 Fail Individual component The group work does not compensate for deficiencies in the individual work.
≥ 10 < 10 < 10 Fail Individual component The group work does not compensate for deficiencies in the individual work.
< 10 ≥ 10 ≥ 10 Pass n.a. The individual work compensates for deficiencies in the group work.
< 10 ≥ 10 < 10 Fail Extensive individual component While the individual work is satisfactory, it fails to compensate deficiencies in the group work.
< 10 < 10 < 10 Fail Extensive individual component  

 

 

 

§8. Assessment criteria

In completing a Master’s thesis, students should demonstrate their analytical and synthetic skills and show that they are capable of independent problem-solving at an academic level. The final product should show evidence of critical reflection and should be theoretically underpinned. The assessment criteria were determined on the basis of this description. They are used in discussing the project’s final outcome and determining the score. Subsequently, strengths and weaknesses can be communicated to students interested in individual feedback.

In assessing the Master’s thesis, five levels are distinguished

  • Fail (equivalent to< 10/20)
  • Satisfactory (equivalent to 10-13)
  • Good (equivalent to 14-15)
  • Very good (equivalent to 16-17)
  • Excellent (equivalent to 18 or more)

 

1. RESEARCH PROPOSAL

 

 

Criterion Description Fail Satisfactory Good Very good Excellent N.a.
Motivation The student motivates the topic and identifies gaps in the literature as well as the topic’s scientific and / or practical relevance            
Aim The research proposal clearly outlines the central aim or problem, the central research questions and the expected results            
Work plan The proposal contains the relevant theoretical frameworks and research methods. The proposal should also include a clear work plan (stages, milestones)            

 

 

2. RESULTS

 

 

Criterion Description Fail Satisfactory Good Very good Excellent N.a.
Theoretical positioning The ‘state-of-the-art’ in the research literature is accurately represented, with particular attention to theories and concepts relevant to that particular field            
Research quality The research method enables the student to answer the research questions accurately. It is sufficiently verifiable and there are clear indications of validity and reliability            
Critical reflection The results are based on sound analysis rather than on mere speculation. The thesis includes critical reflection on the results.            
Relevance to society and/or business economics In interpreting the results, the student is capable of highlighting their relevance to society and/or business economics            

 

 

3. PRESENTATION OF RESULTS

 

 

Criterion Description Fail Satisfactory Good Very good Excellent N.a.
Argumentation The text is objective, well-structured and intelligible. The reader is given an insight into the relationship between research questions, method and results            
Format The thesis is well written, using appropriate language and style. The text follows the standard research paper format.            
Oral presentation During the presentation, the student manages to capture the essence of the results and their scientific and/or practical relevance            
Dialogue, discussion During the discussion with the examiners, the student responds to questions convincingly. The student’s arguments are clearly based on the results presented in the Master’s thesis.            

 

 

4. ATTITUDE AND MOTIVATION

 

 

Criterion Description Fail Satisfactory Good Very good Excellent N.a.
Analytical skills The student is sufficiently familiar with research criteria and is aware of their importance. He / she manages to apply these criteria in the study            
Attitude The student is able to work independently and accurately. The student is clearly motivated to learn            
Cooperation The student participates actively during meetings and meets commitments. He / she incorporates the feedback given by the supervisor, tutor and fellow students and makes an effort to share knowledge with others.            

 

 

 

§9. Language of the Master’s thesis

The language of the Master’s thesis is English.

 

 

§10. Thesis access

The contact details of students who have achieved a score of at least 14/20 for their Master’s thesis will be released to the press. Students who do not wish this information to be made available should complete a form at the Student Office when submitting their thesis.

The Master’s thesis will be made available in the library and through Libis, provided a score of at least 14/20 was achieved.

If the student has submitted the confidentiality agreement (see§3 ) when handing in the Master's thesis, the Master's thesis will be marked ‘confidential’ and will not be available for consultation.

 

 

§11. Key dates

Dates for submission and oral presentation of the Master's thesis