Master Thesis

F2026

Social Entrepreneurship and Management

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

Sameer Ahmad Azizi (saazizi@ruc.dk)

Christine Revsbech (crevsbech@ruc.dk)

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

U60226

The objective of the Master’s thesis is that the student demonstrates knowledge and proficiency in using scientific theories and methods during the work with a defined, academic and relevant research question in the field of social entrepreneurship, social enterprises, social innovation, CSR, sustainability, social economy organization and/or management.

The master’s thesis is a major independent study project that is problem-oriented, exemplary and participant-managed. The master's thesis consists of a time-limited and targeted academic process where a problem is formulated, analysed and worked with.

Parts of the dissertation analysis or methods chapter can consist of 1-2 academic articles, book chapters, papers or the like, which are self-authored (i.e. written by the author of the dissertation). The contributions should at least appear as ready for submission. It is thus not a criterion that the work has been published or is in review. This format of Master's thesis is only possible to write individually, not in a group. All other curriculum requirements are the same for this format of thesis as for an ordinary dissertation.

The master thesis is supported by supervision and thesis seminars. There will be three seminars during the semester with the aim of allowing students to share and develop dimensions of their master thesis with their peers. The seminars are coordinated by a teacher from the programme and relies on active participation of students.

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 progress with their project work. The supervision is centred around the students’ problem formulation and under concern for the students’ freedom to choose theories and method within the frame of the module’s project description.

Students are expected to independently manage the project, which includes taking the initiative to meet with the supervisor and to send an agenda and reading instructions prior to supervision meetings. The students are also expected to engage in a dialogue on agreement and expectations with regards to the collaboration with the supervisor. The number of supervision hours depends on the group size and are specified in the project work guidelines, which are shared on Moodle.

Competency reflection: A competency reflection must be submitted with the project on all modules. The details about the competency reflection are specified in the project work guidelines. It is an individual reflection on the learning and competency development through the course of the studies. It has the aim of supporting students in articulating their competency development and progression throughout the programme. It is meant as a tool that the students can use to create an overview and construct and overview of their progression from one semester to the next.

The details about the competency reflection are described in the project work guidelines.

There is no common syllabus for thesis work. Students themselves select relevant literature for their project work.

Study intensity

Outline

The master thesis corresponds to 30 ECTS = 810 working hours per student.

Working hours related to specified activities:

• Competency reflection: 3 hours
• Supervision meetings 5,5-12 hours, depending on number of students in the group, excluding preparation
• Thesis seminars: Three workshops of 4 hours each
• Exam: The total exam time depends on the number of students in the group

Teaching and learning activities

• Project work
• Supervision
• Peer feedback
• Competency reflection report
• Homework individually/in study groups

The thesis is evaluated by a survey by the end of the semester.

Project and group formation takes place in the third week of the semester. A detailed programme and description can be found on moodle.

After completing this activity, students will be able to:

• Present and critically assess research-based knowledge in the subject area of social entrepreneurship and management, including understanding and reflection on the positioning of the student’s own thesis study in the academic field.

• Define, apply and motivate a problem-oriented research question related to social entrepreneurship and management.

• Select, apply and critically evaluate research methods in a study within the field of social entrepreneurship and management.

• Select, present and justify a research design based on relevant philosophies of science.

• Distinguish, discuss and reflect on theories within the field of social entrepreneurship and management, and hereby demonstrate theoretical overview, depth and conceptual clarity in an independent analysis of cases and/or questions related to social entrepreneurship and management.

• Independently initiate, manage and carry out a project on a complex interdisciplinary research question in a reflective and critical manner.

• Communicate research-based knowledge to peers and practitioners.

• Critically assess and reflect on own learning as a knowledge generator and facilitator.

• Communicate the thesis in an academic, coherent and original manner, which expresses a personal understanding of the topic, and shows ability to analyze and synthesize information from relevant sources and integrate this into an original argumentation.

• Use primary and secondary sources critically, correct and transparently and in accordance with academically recognized standards for citations and references.

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: 120,000-150,000 characters, including spaces.
For 2 students: 145,000-200,000 characters, including spaces.
For 3 students: 170,000-225,000 characters, including spaces.
For 4 students: 195,000-250,000 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.

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

It will be assessed to which degree the student demonstrates:

The assessment of the project report will be based on the extent to which it:

• Demonstrates ability to define, apply and motivate a problem-oriented research question and a research design in a study within the areas of the programme
• Demonstrates ability to select, apply and critically assess philosophies of science, theory and empirical research methods in a study and analysis in the area of social entrepreneurship
• Demonstrates ability to select and argue for the choice of relevant theories for the research problem
• Conducts the research planned in the selected research design
• Conducts a relevant and reflective analysis of to answer the research question
• Demonstrates critical reflection on the strengths and weaknesses of the selected research design and choice of theories
• Demonstrates skills in academic referencing in-text and according to academically acknowledged referencing standards in order to ensure proper academic argumentation and transparency.

The oral performance is assessed to which degree the student demonstrates:

• Ability to present and critically reflect upon the problem formulation, research design, analysis and findings of the project
• Ability to conduct a discussion of all elements of the project report including the theories and research literature used in the project

For master thesis 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 see more about how to cite AI and how you can account for your use of GAI.

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.

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. Read the guidelines here.