About this course

Master's students in International Relations write a master thesis on a topic within the field, approved by their supervisor. Supervisors are assigned in the spring during the first year of the master's program (second semester). Students have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of social scientific methods and theories covered in the master's program to develop their thesis topic. The master thesis is an independent academic work on a topic within the field of International Relations.

The length of the master thesis should be a minimum of 20.000 words and a maximum of 28.000 words.

For their master thesis, students independently search for a topic and relevant sources, and discuss this with their supervisor. Students independently search for data material to inform their empirical analysis, including when relevant both quantitative and qualitative material. Students must develop a good understanding of the kind of data needed to study their chosen topic. Students may conduct fieldwork and add interviews and/or observations to their data, but this is not required. If students conduct fieldwork, it is required that the supervisor approves the research proposal prior to the travel to the field. Research ethical concerns and considerations related to any master thesis topic are to be addressed. In cases where fieldwork includes the collection of personal sensitive data, the student registers the project with the Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research (sikt.no). You find additional information on the use of personal data in your master thesis on the NMBU website: www.nmbu.no/en/students/use-personal-data-your-degree-thesis.

The case of 60 ECTS thesis, see also separate course description: The NMBU study regulation provides 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).

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 researched and assessed various sources. 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 competencies:

  • The student will have experience researching for various sources, including academic literature, reports (from governments, NGOs, think tanks, etc.), media publications (traditional and social media), etc, and when relevant, field work and interviews.
  • The student presents the research topic, including core concepts, theories, methodology, form of data collection, analysis, and reflected on challenges encountered during the process to peers during the thesis seminars for master students in the International Relations program.
  • Through supervision, the student will have gained insight into the various steps of a research process, including the writing of a research proposal, deciding on form of data collection and identifying relevant sources, conducting analysis and discussion of relevant ethical concerns of the research process.
  • 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 the analysis and presentation of research results based on unique data.
  • The student will have gained experience in processing feedback, engaging in discussion with supervisor and peers, and can critically reflect on the results of the research and the working process.

  • Learning activities

    1. Choice of topic and supervisor: During the spring term of the first study year, master's students in International Relations receive information about the master's thesis, including the selection of a topic and a supervisor. Students submit proposals for the topic of their master's thesis and potential supervisors affiliated with the IR program/department in mid-March. This serves as basis for assigning supervisors to the students.

    2. Writing research proposal: Students learn how to write a research proposal in the compulsory methods course (EDS312). Developing the thesis topic is an independent, student-driven process, and the student discusses with the supervisor research question, approach, methods, etc.. In the contract signed between student and supervisor, the project's theme, approach and data material is described.

    3. MASTER Thesis seminars: In the fourth and final semester of the master's program (spring parallell) students attend the master thesis seminars. Students present their thesis projects and discuss conceptual, methodological and analytical question as well as ethical concerns pertaining to the master thesis work. Students provide constructive feedback to fellow students. Attendance is therefore required in at least 3/4 of the seminars. The seminars are concentrated to a few weeks in spring (February/March). The exact dates for the master thesis seminars are 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.

  • Teaching support

    Supervision: Students sign a contract with their supervisor where they describe the topic and approach chosen for the thesis project. The supervision contract and shared expectations regarding the responsibilities of both the student and the supervisor govern the supervision relationship. The student is responsible for maintaining contact with the supervisor. The main supervisor must be employed at the Department of international environment and development studies (Noragric), while the co-supervisor can be from another department at NMBU or at another university, as agreed with the leader of the master's program in International Relations.

    Research Proposal: Writing a research proposal is an integral part of the thesis process and is a topic of the supervision process.

    NMBU Library and Learning Center: At the NMBU Library students can request support for their individual search for relevant sources and the use of reference managers such as for example End Note. The NMBU's Learning Centre is available for consultation on academic writing. Information about drop-in hours and sign-up for individual consultation is available at the NMBU Library in the Veterinarybuilding.

  • Syllabus

    The readings for the master thesis is based on independent search for literature and discussions with supervisors.

    Nygaard, Lynn P. (2017) Writing Your Master Thesis. From A to Zen. London: Sage Publications.

  • Assessment method

    REGISTRATION: When signing up for your thesis, NMBU rules and regulations apply. At NMBU there are two registration deadlines: 15 September and 1 February.

    SUBMISSION OF THESIS: Prior to submission, the thesis manuscript must be approved by the supervisor. The master thesis is submitted in Wiseflow. You find instructions about submitting your thesis on the NMBU website: www.nmbu.no/en/students/degree-thesis-nmbu

    THESIS DEFENSE & INFORMATION TO EXAMINERS: The master thesis is concluded with an oral examination. The NMBU study regulation stipulates that the oral defense of the thesis shall take place within six weeks after the submission of the thesis. The supervisor selects an external examiner, som godkjennes av fakultetet, and identifies a date for the thesis defence. During the defence, the student gives a 15-20 Minute oral presentation of the thesis. Subsequently the student answers questions from the external and the internal examiner (supervisor) and engages in a discussion of the research, strengths and weaknesses of the thesis. The presentation and the subsequent discussion can result in an adjustment of the final grade for the thesis, yet the written thesis work is the main part of the assessment. The oral presentation of the thesis is not graded separately. The final grade is announced to the student and included on the transcript of grades.



    Master thesis with oral defence Karakterregel: Letter grades Master thesis Karakterregel: Letter grades

  • About use of AI

    Use of artificial intelligence is allowed (K3), but must follow the norms set out in the university policy, the NMBU guidelines for Use of Artificial Intelligence.

    Descriptions of AI-category codes.

  • Examiner scheme

    The examination committee comprises an internal examiner (usually the internal supervisor) and an external examiner, approved by the Faculty of Landscape and Society. In the case that the student has had an external co-supervisor, the internal main supervisor becomes the internal examiner.

  • Mandatory activity

    Research proposal submitted to supervisor by 1st October (third semester of the master program).

    Compulsory attendance in M30-IR thesis seminar in spring fourth semester is required in at least 3/4 of the seminars.

    Students that are submitting their thesis in fall, should contact the course responsible about the seminars.

  • Teaching hours

    IR Master thesis seminars: 8 master thesis seminars á 2x45 Minutes are conducted in the spring, concentrated in March.

  • Admission requirements

    Only International Relations program students can submit a master thesis in International Relations.