EPN-V2

MAVITD5900 Master Thesis Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Masteroppgave
Study programme
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Physiotherapy for Children and Adolescents
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Physiotherapy for the older adult
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Rehabilitation and Habilitation
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Nursing; Clinical Research and Professional Development
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Physiotherapy for Musculoskeletal Health
Master's Programme in Health Sciences
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Occupational Therapy
Weight
50.0 ECTS
Year of study
2021/2022
Programme description
Course history

Introduction

Under supervision, the students will conduct an independent research or development project, or a literature summary. Students can choose to write the master’s thesis individually or in pairs. On application, large, interdisciplinary innovation projects can be written in groups of up to four students. Students can also apply to write the master’s thesis with students from other specialisations if they so wish, provided that the scope of the master’s thesis is the same. If more than one student work on the master’s thesis together, each student’s contributions must be documented. The thesis can be written as a monograph or as a scientific article on a specialised topic.

Development of the project description in preparation for the master’s thesis is part of the course MAVIT4070 Research Design and Project Description, 10 ECTS credits.

Required preliminary courses

All other compulsory and elective courses in the programme must be passed before the student can submit their master's thesis for assessment.

Learning outcomes

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 advanced knowledge of their area of specialisation and can analyse academic problems to identify the need for research and professional development
  • has in-depth knowledge of the research process

Skills

The student

  • can analyse relevant theories and issues to initiate and carry out a limited research or development project
  • can use relevant methods for research or development work in their own work
  • can analyse and deal critically with various sources of information and use them in scholarly arguments in their own research or development project
  • can carry out an independent, limited research or development project in accordance with the approved project description and the applicable norms for research ethics

General competence

The student

  • can communicate relevant issues, analyses and conclusions from their own research or development work to both the general public and academia
  • can contribute to new thinking, innovation processes and evidence-based practice in the health services and in health-promoting work

Teaching and learning methods

Work and teaching methods used in the course are self-study, three to six master’s seminars with presentations, and an offer of 20 hours’ supervision per thesis, regardless of whether it is written individually or in a group.

The seminars are an arena for sharing experience from all stages of the project work. Students will take part in academic discussion and practise structuring and wording academic argumentation and communicating constructive criticism. Presenting their work, giving feedback to fellow students, and receiving feedback from fellow students and teachers, are important parts of the seminars.

The supervision agreement is signed by the students and supervisors at the start of the supervision.

When a group of students work together, an overview of each student’s individual contribution must be enclosed with the assignment.

Course requirements

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

  • Three oral presentations (up to 20 minutes) at the master’s seminars

Assessment

The master’s thesis written by one or two students. Large, interdisciplinary innovation projects can be written in groups of up to four students on application. Individual oral examination where the grade can be adjusted.

The content and scope of different forms of master's theses:

  • Monograph: The scope of a monograph thesis is up to 25,000 words.
  • Scientific article: The thesis must include a manuscript in the form of at least one article that is in accordance with the author guidelines for a relevant scientific journal, and a supplementary memo/introductory chapter to the article-based thesis ('kappe') that elaborates on the theoretical and methodological considerations underlying the article. The layout, structure and scope of the article must comply with the guidelines of the journal in question, and the introductory chapter to the article-based thesis can be a maximum of 10,000 words.

The thesis can be written in English or a Scandinavian language (Norwegian, Swedish or Danish).

The written thesis must be awarded a grade of A-E (preliminary grade) in order for a student to take the oral examination. The final grade is set after the oral examination. The whole grade scale can be used when setting the final grade.

An individual oral examination lasting up to 40 minutes based on the master’s thesis. The candidate gives a 10 - 15 minutes presentation of their master’s thesis at the start of the oral examination.

Students can appeal against the grade set for the written part of the examination in accordance with the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges.

Permitted exam materials and equipment

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grading scale

Grade scale A-F.

Examiners

All examination papers are assessed by two examiners. One examiner must be external. A supervisor is not allowed to be an examiner for the theses of students he or she has supervised.