Course

M60-IR Master Thesis

Credits (ECTS):60

Course responsible:Kirsti Stuvøy

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Course frequency:Yearly

Teaching and exam period:Autumn and spring

About this course

The case of 60 ECTS thesis: The NMBU study regulations provide students with the possibility of writing a 60ECTS thesis. Students wishing to pursue this opportunity must have approval from their supervisor. This option is only feasible for students who perform particularly well in their coursework (average grade B or better). The length of the work distinguishes it from a 30-credit thesis: A 60-credit thesis can be up to 35000 words and the writing process of the 60-credit thesis extends over two semesters. The thesis should reflect a mastering of the status of research in a particular field. Each student is entitled to 60 hours of supervision for a 60-credit master thesis.

Learning outcome

A master thesis is a comprehensive working process. When completed, it provides the student with in-depth knowledge of a specific topic and relevant methods and theories. The student will have independently searched for and assessed various sources. The master thesis will have been structured according to academic standards. The student will have gained experience in planning and implementing a project over a period of more than six months. Throughout this process, the student will have gained specific knowledge, skills and competence:

  • The student will have experience in searching for various sources, including academic literature, reports, etc. reading and assessing them in the relation to a specified issue within international relations.
  • The student will have presented the research topic, including methodology, data collection, analysis and any challenges encountered, to peers in Noragric's thesis seminars for IR-students.
  • Through supervision, the student will have gained insight into the various steps of a research process, including methodical and ethical concerns.
  • If the student has conducted fieldwork and gathered primary data, practical experience will have been gained in assessing sources and collecting data in the field, in addition to analysis and presentation of research results.
  • The student will have gained experience in processing feedback and can critically reflect on the results of the research and the working process.
  • Learning activities

    1. Choice of topic: In the end of January students attend the department's information meeting for students and supervisors. This is an information and inspiration meeting in which potential supervisors present their areas of expertise and possible themes for a master thesis project. Subsequently the student suggests a topic for his/her master thesis and suggests a potential supervisor (within the department). This is the basis on which the department assigns the students with a supervisor. Submission of thesis topic and potential supervisor(s) is conducted electronically in the learning platform Canvas. Deadline: 1 March (2nd semester of master program).

    2. Writing research proposal: As part of the compulsory methods course (EDS312), students are introduced to developing a research proposal. The supervisor approves the research proposal. Deadline for sumbission of research proposal in the learning platform is: 30 June (2nd semester of master program).

    3. M30-IR thesis seminars: These seminars take place in the fourth and final semester of the master program, and are concentrated to a few weeks in spring (media March). In these seminars, the students present their on-going thesis projects and provides constructive feedback to fellow students. The peer-to-peer feedback is key to this seminar. Compulsory attendance is required in at least 3/4 of the seminars. The exact dates for the master thesis seminar is announced when the time schedule for the spring term is available in Time Edit (to be found under course code M30-IR).

    Optional: Students may conduct field work. It is recommended to conduct field work in the autumn semester, i.e. year two of the master degree programme.

  • Syllabus
    Self chosen litterature
  • Assessment method
    Thesis and oral defense counts for 100 % of the grade. A-F.