Master Thesis (60 ECTS)

E2023

Environmental Science

Master Thesis

English

Read about the Master Programme and find the Study Regulations at ruc.dk

Læs mere om uddannelsen og find din studieordning på ruc.dk

Tilmelding sker via STADS-Selvbetjening indenfor annonceret tilmeldingsperiode, som du kan se på Studieadministrationens hjemmeside

Registration through STADS-Selvbetjeningwithin the announced registration period, as you can see on the Studyadministration homepage.

60

Per Meyer Jepsen (pmjepsen@ruc.dk)

Per Meyer Jepsen (pmjepsen@ruc.dk)

INM Registration & Exams (inm-exams@ruc.dk)

U60105

The master thesis is an interdisciplinary research project. The exemplary nature of the master thesis ensures that students acquire knowledge, skills and competences that can be used in a broader context than the master thesis itself. Students choose the topic of the master thesis within the framework of the study regulation and its objectives. The ability to critically assess the quality of their efforts and their own acquired knowledge in relation to a given research question is an important objective of the problem-oriented thesis work. In the thesis report, the student must document knowledge and skills in using scientific theories and methods while working with a well-defined, academic research question. The master thesis will document the student’s proficiency in communicating an academic subject to colleagues and demonstrate competences in initiating, managing, and completing a long-term academic study.

The exemplary nature of the master’s thesis ensures that the students acquire knowledge, skills and competences that they can use in a wider context than the master’s thesis itself. The students are free to choose the contents of the master’s thesis within the framework of the study regulation and its objectives. The ability to critically assess the quality of their own efforts and their own knowledge base in relation to a given research question is an important objective of the participatory and problem-oriented thesis work.

Students themselves select relevant literature for their project work.

Master Thesis 60 ECTS / 1620 hours

• Master Thesis Seminar: 4 hours

• Exam and assessment: 1 hour

• Supervision: 35 hours

• Report writing: 250 hours

• Literature search: 200 hours

• Practical project work (laboratory, model design, analysis, field work): 1090 hours

• Exam preparation: 40 hours

All master thesis’ processes will include ongoing dialogue-based (oral) evaluation between the students and the supervisor. Both students and supervisors are expected to provide constructive feedback and viewpoints during the process. Feedback concerning the academic content and progression, process and collaboration. When the master thesis is handed in, there will also be an evaluation through a questionnaire in SurveyXact concerning the master thesis process and the master program in general. The Study Board will handle all evaluations. Furthermore, students can, in accordance with RUCs ‘feel free to state your views’ strategy through their representatives at the study board, send evaluations, comments or insights form their project process to the study board during or after the master thesis process.

The student must attend the preparatory thesis seminar. Information available on study and moodle.

After finishing the master thesis, graduates will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge that integrates the subject of the thesis into the broader academic context, including the integration of the underlying theory and combination of the results of the thesis into the present state-of-art

• identify relevant scientific questions within the scope of the thesis as well as skills to integrate relevant scientific theories and methods

• identify, select, modify, invent, design and apply relevant experimental (or survey) methods

• generate, analyse and evaluate scientific data and to combine such data to integrate it in existing scientific theory

• formulate scientific texts and participate in the scientific discussions

• independently plan, manage and execute long-term academic research projects and communicate the findings in a proper, relevant and professional way to experts within the field, as well as to colleagues from other fields and to a broader public

• take responsibility for own professional development and specialisation.

Master thesis exam based on the written product and the oral exam

The master thesis can be written individually or in a group. Permitted group size: 2-4 students.

The oral exam is individual for students that have written the thesis alone or students that have requested an individual exam. All other oral master thesis exams are conducted as group exams.

The assessment is individual and based on the student's individual performance.
The assessment is an assessment of the master thesis and the oral performance.

The character limits of the master thesis are:
For 1 student: 48,000-192,000 characters, including spaces.
For 2 students: 48,000-192,000 characters, including spaces.
For 3 students: 48,000-204,000 characters, including spaces.
For 4 students: 48,000-204,000 characters, including spaces.

The character limits include the cover, table of contents, summary, bibliography, figures and other illustrations, but exclude any appendices.

The master thesis must include a summary.
The summary can either be written in English or Danish.
The summary is included in the overall assessment.

Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment for:
1 student: 60 minutes.
2 students: 120 minutes.
3 students: 150 minutes.
4 students: 180 minutes.

Writing and spelling skills in the thesis are part of the assessment and will count for 10 percent.

Permitted support and preparation materials at the oral exam: All.

Assessment: 7-point grading scale
Moderation: External examiner

Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam

The oral presentation can include new extra findings that has been discovered after handing in of the final report.

Assesment criteria:

The thesis is evaluated based on the students ability to

• discuss and analyze the selected subject areas and understand and reflect on one’s own thesis research and how it fits into an academic context

• use and master scientific theories and methods while working with a specific, academic and relevant research question

• analyze, categorize, discuss, argue, reflect and evaluate complex data on a scientific basis

• critically view and select scientific sources, literature, theory and methods,

• write in accordance with academic text norms and for an academic target group

• use experimental methods in a research process

The assessment of the oral exam is based on the student’s ability to meet the criteria mentioned above and their ability to

• demonstrate proficiency in communicating an academic subject, by communicating relevant self-chosen parts of the study

• clearly present and communicate the scientific content of the thesis

• engage in a scientific dialogue and discussion with the supervisor and assessor

Furthermore, whether the performance meets all formal requirements in regard to both for the written og oral exam.