Master Thesis in Computer Science

F2026

Computer Science

Master Thesis

Mandatory

English

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

Registration is happing through STADS Online Student Service within the announced registration period, as you can see on the Study administration homepage.

30

Henrik Bulskov (bulskov@ruc.dk)

Maja Hanne Kirkeby (majaht@ruc.dk)

IMT Registration & Exams (imt-exams@ruc.dk)

U60065

The thesis academically concludes the study program. It should be done in the area of computer science, as specified in section 2 “The programme's objective, employment and competency profile”. The objective of the course of study is to carry out a substantial academic task, which fulfils the study program’s scientific standards. Through working on the thesis, the student should develop thorough knowledge of a topic of his or her own choosing. This must be within the parameters of the academic field of study and must be based on the relevant scientific literature of the field. The thesis must further develop the student’s ability to independently structure his or her own work processes, including the ability to plan, organize, and create a substantial academic work as well as the ability to identify the need for the independent acquisition of new knowledge, and the ability to communicate his or her work in a clear and intelligible fashion.

The master thesis is supported by supervision. Students will have a supervisor assigned. The aim of supervision is to support the project work through feedback and constructive critique to help the group or individual progress with their project work. No later than 14 days after having been assigned a supervisor, students must contact supervisor for the purpose of agreeing on a plan for the supervision process.

What can I expect from the supervisor?

• The supervisor's primary task is to provide professional feedback on your thesis work

• You can expect the supervisor to have professional insight into your thesis topic

• Information about the supervision rules and framework of the programme

• Theses in computer science often involve the collection of empirical data or software development. The supervisor can help comment on your design for empirical data collection or software design.

The extent of guidance and feedback?

• As a starting point, you can expect up to about 15 hours of supervision for a one-person thesis.

• The supervision can be grouped as one-hour supervision meetings or fewer meetings of longer duration.

• The supervisor has up to one hour of preparation time for supervision meetings.

Use of generative AI aids in the exam

For project reports 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 should be included as part of the methodology section. 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.

In the library’s guide, you can find more information on how to cite AI and how to account for your use of GAI, as well as RUC’s guidelines for the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI).

To be decided by the student/s and the supervisor.

Study Effort

The Master's thesis is worth 30 ECTS credits, amounting to 810 hours of work. Expect to allocate approximately:

• 15 hours for preparation for supervisor meetings
• 15 hours for supervisor meetings
• 45 hours for exam preparation
• 735 hours for writing the thesis report, including literature search, possible group meetings, etc.

It is recommended that you contact your supervisor as soon as possible after assignment to arrange a plan for the supervision process.

As a general rule, you can expect up to around 15 hours of supervision for a single-person thesis (about one hour per week over a semester).

Learning Activities:

• Project work
• Supervision-
• Independent work, individually or in study groups

The thesis will be survey evaluated by the IMT department.

The framework and practices for supervision are outlined by the Study Board for Computer Science and Digital Transformation. In the framework, you will find information on what you can expect from your supervisor, norms for supervision hours, the thesis contract, and important dates related to your thesis submission. You can find the supervision practice here (in Danish), along with other guidelines, such as guidelines for granting support for study trips, co-assessors at exams etc.

After completing the thesis, students will be able to:

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

• know and understand the academic genre and the academic target group to which the master’s thesis is addressed.

• use and master scientific theories and methods while working with a defined, professional and relevant research question.

• identify scientific research questions.

• analyse, categorize, discuss, argue, reflect and evaluate on a scientific basis.

• critically address and choose scientific sources, literature, theory and methods.

• discuss and participate in academic argumentation.

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

• independently initiate, manage and complete a long-term academic research and writing process.

• identify and take responsibility for their own professional and written language development and specialization.

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: 2-4 students.

The oral exam is individual for students who have written the thesis alone or students who 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: 40,800-192,000 characters, including spaces.
For 2 students: 40,800-192,000 characters, including spaces.
For 3 students: 40,800-204,000 characters, including spaces.
For 4 students: 40,800-204,000 characters, including spaces.

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

The master's thesis must include an abstract.
The abstract can either be written in English or Danish.
The abstract is included in the overall assessment.

Time allowed for the exam including time used for assessment for:
1 student: 30 minutes.
2 students: 60 minutes.
3 students: 75 minutes.
4 students: 90 minutes.

Writing and spelling skills in the thesis are part of the assessment and will count for 5 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 exam is an oral examination based on the thesis.

The exam will begin with each student giving a brief presentation of up to 5 minutes, followed by a dialogue between the examiner and the students.

Assessment Criteria

The evaluation of the exam will focus on the extent to which the student can:

• Demonstrate research-based knowledge within selected subject areas, along with an understanding of and reflection on the placement of their thesis research within the academic field.
• Formulate scientific research questions and critically engage with scientific knowledge.
• Justify and critically reflect on the chosen research question, as well as scientific theories and methods, in relation to this question.
• Meet all formal requirements for the thesis.