ACIT5900 Master's Thesis Course description

The master's thesis is a specialized individual research project.

In addition to the research and thesis work, there will be a series of workshops on the academic writing and effective communication of the thesis project. Students will develop an awareness of the conventions of academic writing and the writing process and use a range of analytical tools and methods to develop their writing and writing practices as part of writing their thesis.

Robotics and Control;courses:

• ACIT4810 - Advanced Methods in Modelling, Simulation, and Control
• ACIT4820 - Applied Robotics and Autonomous Systems

• Grunnleggende spillteori
• Statisk oligopolteori (Bertrand og Cournot)
• Horisontal (smak) og vertikal (kvalitet) produktdifferensiering
• Dynamisk oligopolteori (gjentatte spill og uformelt prissamarbeid)
• Bedriftsetablering og strategiske etableringshindre
• Nettverkskonkurranse og to-side markeder
• Incentiver og markedsimplikasjoner av FoU
• Markedsføring (reklame og produktposisjonering)
• Auksjonsteori

The 30 ECTs thesis will consist of a condensed research project where focus is on identifying and investigating a problem or challenge in the specialization area and to display good scientific craftsmanship in the pursuit of an answer. Throughout the semester, a thesis is written which will be submitted at the end for assessment.

In addition to the project work, there will be a series of online, asynchronous classes during which students will be provided with a range of analytical tools and methods to help develop their writing skills. Students will also receive formative feedback on draft versions of their texts from the course instructor and their peers, with a focus on the final thesis. 

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

1. a draft of the Introduction and Background chapters of the thesis, including an asessment of any relevant potential ethical considerations 
2. a peer review of another students draft text
3. a Process Memo (reflection on the feedback received)

The thesis project consists of the following:

• A written Master thesis (Length: 15,000-30000 words, using one of the available document templates)
• Individual oral presentation (30 minutes
• Any physical or digital artefact that has been developed by the student as part of the research project. If the student wishes to submit an artefact, the mode of submission must be approved by the supervisor beforehand and the artefact must be made available in such a way to be inspected by the examiners. In the case of a physical artefact, video and images may be used to document the properties of it, eliminating the need for a physical inspection.

The master's thesis is assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• The originality and / or relevance of the issues or research questions to the field of study.
• Clarity in the development of issues or research questions being addressed.
• Documentation and use of relevant theory and research, as well as systematic use of sources.
• Clarity in the relationship between issues / research questions being addressed, the method choices / methodologies employed and the resulting discussions / conclusions.
• Ability to collect, systematize, interpret / deconstruct and present knowledge in a clear way.
• Reflection on ethical issues in the research process.
• Written presentation (clear table of contents, accurate literature references, bibliography and appendices).

Theses are written in Norwegian or English. The oral exam can be taken in Norwegian or English, regardless of which language the thesis was written in.

All exams must be passed in order to pass the course. 

Students can appeal against the grade set for the written part of the exam. If the grade is changed after an appeal against the grade, and the oral exam has already been held, the oral exam must be retaken.

New/postponed exam

In case of failed exam or legal absence, the student may apply for a new or postponed exam. New or postponed exams are offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam. The student is responsible for applying for a new/postponed exam within the time limits set by OsloMet. The Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet.

No prerequisite knowledge required.

Grade Scale A-F.

The written thesis must be awarded a grade of A-E (preliminary grade) in order for a student to take the oral exam. The final grade is set after the oral exam. The grade can be adjusted up or down by one grade based on the oral exam.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge of and insight into the international education field
• has knowledge of and insight into different perspectives on development
• has an overview of research-based knowledge of international education and development

Skills

The student

• is capable of competently explaining relevant topics in the field
• is capable of comparing research-based knowledge of the topic of the course

General competence

The student

• is capable of explaining and problematising relevant theory in the research fields of international education and development
• is capable of using the new knowledge in an independent manner
• is capable of communicating academic issues relating to education and development

Assistant professor Nuno Marques