Master Thesis - Experience Based

The master's thesis is an individual task carried out under faculty supervision. The student chooses a topic within the chosen field of study, formulates a research problem, and potentially formulates a list of more specific research issues, questions or hypothesis. The work is to be research-oriented. Through the thesis the student should demonstrate competence in describing, analysing and concluding in relation to the chosen research problem. In the case of hypotheses use, these must be tested through use of relevant statistical methods. The thesis must provide new knowledge based on existing knowledge in the field. The master's thesis documents that the student has sufficient competence in analyzing actual research problems. The work must be carried out in compliance with established ethical norms and practice within the research community.

Knowledge: - Have advanced knowledge within the chosen topic of the master's thesis - Have developed analytical competence through use of appropriate methods on research issues General competence: - Have competence in carrying out a focused research project in accordance with established methodological requirements - Exhibit understanding, self-reflection and maturity in the field Skills: - Be able to disseminate findings from a major research project and have developed good understanding of the field's relevant terminology - Be able to develop research topics, analysis, and provide analytically founded conclusions

Guidelines for work on the master's thesis: 1. The master's thesis is to be written individually or in cooperation with maximum one more student. 2. A thesis draft plan is to be handed in through Fronter before September 15th in autumn term of the second academic year. 3. The supervisor is promptly allocated after approval of the thesis draft plan around the end of September or beginning of October. 4. A final project draft must be approved and sent in at the latest by November 30th in the third term. The project draft must be signed by both the student and the supervisor. A specific document formulae is to be used for this purpose. 5. A written contract between the supervisor and the student must be signed showing a plan for progression and counseling. This contract is signed after the project draft has been approved. 6. An obligatory thesis project seminar is arranged in January or February of the fourth term. The program for the seminar is announced at the start of this term. 7. The size and length of the project should reflect whether it is written individually or by two students. Individual thesis reports should be about 80 pages long whilst thesis reports written by two students in cooperation should be about 120 pages long. The actual length of the thesis is to be agreed upon with the supervisor. The report is to be written using 12 point letter size and 1,5 line spacing. 8. The thesis shall contain an abstract on a single A4-size page in the chosen language of the dissertation. If the chosen language is Norwegian, an abstract in English on a single A4-size page must be included. An abstract is placed after the acknowledgements in the thesis report. The abstract must contain the following: research problem, theory use, method, and main findings. 9. The thesis should be submitted as one file in readable pdf format in a tailormade fronter room for hand-ins for master theses. The student's name must be provided on the front page according to the template for master thesis 10. For each year, there are two deadlines for submitting the master thesis, the last ordinary exam date of the spring term and of the autumn term Mandatory assignments: The final project draft must be approved and handed in to the administration within November 30th during the third semester of the study. The project draft must be signed by the student and the supervisor. A specifc document is to be filled in for this purpose.The written contract between the student and supervisor concerning progression and counselling, must be signed after the project draft has been approved.