About this course

The course is designed to lead to the development of a project proposal for the master’s thesis in M-ECON/M-EEG/M-GEP. The master’s thesis is an independent and scientific research project in which students are expected to examine a specific research question in depth. It is important to begin early with the process of selecting a topic, and, if relevant, identifying both a company to collaborate with and a writing partner.

The course covers the following topics: guidelines for writing a master’s thesis, formulation of a research question, preparation of a project proposal, management of research data, data protection and research ethics, as well as referencing, citation, and plagiarism. Together, these elements provide a solid foundation for planning a master’s thesis in accordance with research ethics standards.

After submitting a preliminary project outline in the middle of the semester, each student will be assigned a supervisor for the master’s thesis.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, the student is expected to achieve the following learning outcomes, divided into knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

  • has an overview of the state of knowledge within their chosen topic
  • has fundamental knowledge of research design for a master’s thesis
  • has knowledge of research data management, data protection and research ethics, the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and principles of referencing, citation, and plagiarism
  • is familiar with different research designs and data collection methods in economics

Skills

The student

  • can identify relevant scientific articles and justify a relevant research question
  • Write a research proposal for a master’s thesis
  • can formulate researchable research questions and construct testable hypotheses
  • can write a short literature review
  • can identify relevant data sources, either accessing existing data sources or through a plan to collect their own data
  • can demonstrate insight into the methods used to compile and analyze the data

General competence

  • can apply their knowledge and skills to develop and present an independent research project
  • can communicate academic reasoning related to literature, research design, and methodological choices

  • Learning activities

    M0-ECON runs over one semester. During the autumn semester, the course includes lectures, a seminar with student presentations of research questions, assignment of a supervisor, meetings with the supervisor, and the writing of a project proposal. For students planning to write their master’s thesis in the autumn semester who have not yet completed the course, a self-study version of the course will be offered in the spring semester.

    The master’s thesis is typically written individually. Students who wish to collaborate with another student must obtain approval from the course coordinator. The project proposal submitted in this course should be prepared individually unless collaboration has been approved.

  • Teaching support

    There will be weekly lectures during the first half of the semester. The lectures will not be recorded. Around the middle of the semester, a workshop will be held in which students present their proposed research question and data collection plan. During the second half of the semester, students are recommended to have two meetings with their assigned supervisor. Exchange students will be invited to an online seminar to present and receive feedback on their proposed research question and data collection plan around the middle of the semester. Exchange students are expected to follow the same timeline as other students.

  • Syllabus

    The course literature consists of selected book chapters and journal articles, to be provided at the beginning of the course.

  • Prerequisites

    The course is reserved for students who have been admitted to the Master program in M-ECON, M-EEG or M-GEP at the School of Economics and Business at NMBU, and who have completed several of the most important courses in the master's degree.

  • Assessment method

    Pass/fail based on the project proposal, which is assessed according to the project proposal template.

    Project description Karakterregel: Passed / Not Passed

  • About use of AI

    Full use of AI is allowed, but must comply with NMBU's AI guidelines.

    Descriptions of AI-category codes.

  • Examiner scheme

    The project proposal is assessed by the course coordinator and the assigned supervisor.

  • Mandatory activity

    Participation in the workshop on topic selection and research questions, where students present their master’s thesis ideas, is mandatory. For exchange students, digital meetings will be arranged.

    Mandatory activity are valid for one semester only. Students who wish to retake the course must complete the mandatory activity again.

  • Notes

    Submission of a signed master’s thesis agreement to the supervisor and the study administration at the School of Economics and Business: The signed agreement between the student and the supervisor must be submitted to the faculty by email (post-hh@nmbu.no) by 1 December for theses written in the spring semester.

    In exceptional cases, students may choose to write their master’s thesis in the autumn semester. In such cases, the signed agreement between the student and the supervisor must be submitted to the faculty by email (post-hh@nmbu.no) by 1 May.

  • Teaching hours

    Two hours per week during the first half of the semester.

  • Admission requirements

    The course is reserved for students who have been admitted to the Master program in M-ECON, M-EEG or M-GEP at the School of Economics and Business at NMBU, and who have completed several of the most important courses in the master's degree.