FARB3900 Bachelor`s Thesis Course description

The students will specialise in a research project based on a chosen research question from the field of pharmacy. The students will gain practical experience of research and develop their skills in using a chosen research method. Work on the bachelor’s thesis is centred on the selected research question and analysis and discussion of the student’s own research results, but it must also include an assessment of the student’s results in relation to publications in the relevant field.

The student must have passed all the courses from the first year of study and may lack a maximum of one passed course from the second year.

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

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge of research work in a selected area in the field of pharmacy
• can describe key scientific methods and different research designs
• is familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of the research method applied in his/her own project
• can explain research ethics aspects of his/her own project

Skills

The student

• can apply research-based knowledge to plan and carry out a methodical and academic project in cooperation with others
• can obtain relevant subject matter and integrate it with his/her own knowledge of the field in his/her project work
• can describe, analyse and discuss the research question and results of the project in relation to other published scientific work
• can carry out independent source searches and use references and source references in a consistent and correct manner
• can discuss, assess and argue for his/her own opinions by taking on the role of both opponent and respondent

General competence

The student

• can combine academic knowledge and relevant results from research and development work in a written thesis
• can reflect orally and in writing on academic and scientific issues

Work and teaching methods include lectures, seminars, group work and group sessions.

The flipped classroom method is used for parts of the course. Digital learning resources will be made available to students in advance, and the time they spend at the university will be used to work on assignments and group work.

The lecturers will propose various topics for the thesis, and the students choose a topic based on their field of interest. The bachelor’s thesis is written in groups of between three and six students and is carried out as supervised group work. The supervisor must approve the project plan. Students are offered up to 12 supervisory sessions per thesis. If the thesis includes laboratory work, more supervision is given to ensure that the activity in the lab is conducted safely.

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• Minimum attendance of 80% at concluding seminars with oral presentations

1) A written thesis in groups of 3-6 students. For groups of 3-4 students, the scope of the thesis should be approx. 10,000 words (+/- 10%) and for groups of 5-6 students, approx. 12,000 words (+/- 10%). The thesis can be written in either English or Norwegian.

2) Individual oral exam of up to 30 minutes Students can take the oral exam in either English or Norwegian.

The written thesis must be awarded a grade of A-E in order for the student to take the oral exam. A preliminary grade is awarded for the written thesis. 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.

Students can appeal the grade awarded for the written part of the exam.

Resit exam: If the bachelor’s thesis is awarded the grade F (fail), the student will be given one (1) opportunity to submit a reworked version.

All aids are permitted for the written part of the exam. The student can bring a copy of his/her bachelor’s thesis to the oral exam.

Grade scale A-F

All answers are assessed by two examiners. An external examiner is used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. When selecting answers for external evaluation, a minimum of 10 percent of the answers shall be included, with no fewer than 5 answers. The external examiner’s assessment of the selected answers shall benefit all students.

• 15 credits overlap with the course FARMA3900 Bachelor’s Thesis