Master Thesis in Economics, 30 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master programme in Economics

Entry requirements

• Bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen in Economics
• English and Swedish corresponding to the level of English and Swedish in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6 and Svenska 3)

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
- independently plan, carry out, and present a research assignment in the economic disciplinary domain, orally and in writing. This aim comprises being able to:
- identify and formulate a relevant problem and with a well-motivated method achieve the aim of the research assignment,
- search and delineate scholarly literature and write a current research overview of the applicable theory and empiricism in the chosen problem area,
- interpret and analyse, for the chosen issue and purpose, relevant empiricism by means of an economic theory/model,
- demonstrate advanced subject and method knowledge in the chosen field,
- communicate in writing with scholarly stringency,
- orally present, discuss and defend the work with a scholarly and critical approach,
- critically review, evaluate and discuss the work of others with a high grade of scholarly consciousness.

Course content

The course constitutes the independent work that is required for a master's degree in the disciplinary domain economics. The course comprises:
- supervision of the essay teams,
- seminar discussion of the essays. Under supervision, knowledge and skills in economic method are developed to independently formulate and carry out a research assignment in economics. The subject and issue is chosen in consultation with an experienced supervisor. The supervisor helps delimit and organise the essay, and review the contents, formalities and language. The student is trained to independently search, evaluate and refer sources and to use economic method, to argue and analyse a chosen problem, theory and/or empirical data, and to cooperate with others by participation in seminar discussions of drafts and completed essays. The course includes presenting outlines, time plans and drafts, being active in the review of other students' texts, as well as defending one's own essay and giving a critical oral review of another essay at a final review.

Teaching and working methods

The course is carried out as full-time studies, where the working methods are independent work with individual supervision of the essay team and/or group supervision of the essay team and seminars. The essay is normally written in teams of two. In exceptional cases, after exemption from the coordinator, the work is carried out by one individual.

Examination

The course is examined through active participation in seminars, and through presentation and defence of an essay, and a critical review of another essay. Detailed information can be found in the study guide.

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

Department