Master Thesis (45 ECTS)

F2026

Chemical Biology

Experimental Master Thesis

Elective

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.

45

Frederik Diness (diness@ruc.dk)

Frederik Diness (diness@ruc.dk)

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

U60741U

The master thesis is an interdisciplinary thesis based on the academic/professional intersection between the programme’s subjects. The student can thus choose to prepare an interdisciplinary Master thesis that covers the entire programme. The exemplary nature of the master thesis ensures that the students acquire knowledge, skills and competences that they can use in a wider context than the master thesis itself. The students are free to choose the contents of the master 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. The process is supported by one or more academic supervisors. The supervisor(s) help to ensure that the thesis work meets the requirements of the study regulation.

In the thesis report, the student must document knowledge and skills in using scientific theories and methods while working with a limited, academic and relevant research question. The student must document skills in analysing, categorising, discussing, arguing, evaluating and reflecting on a scientific basis as well as being able to choose and relate critically to sources, literature, theory and methods used in the master’s thesis. The master thesis must demonstrate the students’ proficiency in communicating about an academic study to colleagues and to demonstrate competences in initiating, managing and completing a long-term academic study and writing process.

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.

Master Thesis 45 ECTS / 1215 hours

• Master Thesis Seminar: 4 hours

• Exam and assessment: 1 hour

• Supervision: 25 hours

• Report writing: 225 hours

• Literature search: 175 hours

• Practical project work (laboratory, model design, analysis, field work): 735 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.

• Research-based knowledge of selected subject areas and understanding of and reflection on how one’s own thesis research fits into its academic context

• Knowledge of the academic genre and the academic target audience for which the master’s thesis is intended

• Proficiency in using and mastering scientific theories and methods while working with a specific, academic and relevant research question

• Proficiency in identifying scientific issues

• Skills in analysing, categorising, discussing, arguing, reflecting and evaluating on a scientific basis

• Skills in critically viewing and selecting scientific sources, literature, theory and methods

• Skills in discussing and participating in academic argumentation

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

• Skills in using experimental methods in a research process

• Competences in independently initiating, managing and completing a lengthy academic research and writing process

• Competence to identify and take responsibility for their own professional and written language development and specialisation

• Competence to select, adapt, improve or design experimental methods in problem solving processes, teaching and working environment.

master's thesis exam based on the written product and the oral exam

The master's thesis can be written individually or in a group. Permitted group size: 2-3 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's 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's thesis and the oral performance.

The character limits of the master's thesis are:
For 1 student: 48,000-180,000 characters, including spaces.
For 2 students: 48,000-180,000 characters, including spaces.
For 3 students: 48,000-192,000 characters, including spaces.

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

The master's 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 the exam including time used for assessment for:
1 student: 45 minutes.
2 students: 90 minutes.
3 students: 110 minutes.


Writing and spelling skills in the thesis are part of the assessment.

Permitted support and preparation materials at the oral exam: Outline on maximum one A4 size-page and presentation material.

Assessment: 7-point grading scale
Moderation: External examiner

Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam

The project is evaluated on the basis of the students ability

• to discuss and analyze the selected subject areas

• to understand and reflect on their own thesis research and how it fits into an academic context.

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

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

• to critically view and select scientific sources, literature, theories and methods

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

• to use experimental methods in a research process

The assessment of the oral exam is based on the student’s ability to

• to meet the criteria mentioned above

• to clearly present and communicate the scientific content of the project

• to engage in a scientific dialogue and discussion with the supervisor and assessor and whether the performance meets all formal requirements for the written og oral exam.

Regarding the use of generative AI at the exam

For project reports, bachelor's projects and master's theses, generative AI aids (GAI) are permitted in the work with the exam if the use is declared.

You must clearly declare how you have used generative artificial intelligence (GAI). This can be included as part of the methodology section or as a short statement at the end of your report. This means that you must describe how you have used GAI, e.g. for the preparatory work on the project, to ask questions and search for information, to receive feedback and criticism on your text, to carry out proofreading or to improve language and readability. It is important that you actively relate to your choice of tools in this way, as it is part of the entire process of creating the project, and thus part of your scientific method and professional communication.

The use of any specific text that is GAI-generated requires citation, just as when using all other sources from which direct quotations are used.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) must always take place within the framework of Roskilde University's ‘Guidelines for using generative artificial intelligence in written exams. In the library's guide, you can see more about how to cite AI, how you can account for your use of GAI, and Roskilde University’s Guidelines - https://libguides.ruc.dk/AI.

However, ordinary spell checking and other language suggestions, such as Word or other word processing programs, as well as programs for writing minutes and transcription, are permitted in all written exams and do not need to be declared.