Masters Thesis, 30 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master´s Programme in International and European Relations

Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen within political science, international relations, economics, history, geography, law, media studies, sociology and other social sciences - and for students with other disciplinary backgrounds who can demonstrate an ability to develop their potential in the subject area.

English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (English 6/B).

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to

• conduct individual, original research on a topic in International and/or European Relations at the Master´s level;
• write and submit a Master’s thesis, reporting the findings of original analysis, and demonstrate extensive knowledge and mastery of the topic;
• defend and discuss her own research in an open seminar, and
• critically evaluate and discuss somebody else’s work.

Course content

The central themes of the course are:

• under supervision of an academic advisor, the preparation, design, conduct, and presentation of independent research;
• defence and opposition at open seminars.

Teaching and working methods

The course offers supervision in regular individual meetings. Seminars for collective review by staff and students may be organized. Students are expected to be well prepared for tuition sessions and to have delivered reading materials well in advance of meetings, or in keeping with instructions of the supervisor. Language of instruction is English.

Activities which constitute elements of examination are mandatory.

Examination

This course is examined through presentation and defence of the student’s own thesis, and opposition on another student’s thesis, and mandatory seminars.

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