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2012/2013  KAN-KAN_CMENG  Master's Thesis

English Title
Master's Thesis

Course information
Language English
Exam ECTS 30 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course coordinator
  • Henrik Sornn-Friese - Department of Innovation and Organizational Economics
Main Category of the Course
  • Finance
  • Globalization, International Business, markets and studies
  • Management
  • Supply Chain Management and Logistics
  • Marketing
  • Organization
  • Financial and management accounting
  • Corporate and Business Strategy
  • Economics, macro economics and managerial economics
Last updated on 30-08-2012
Learning objectives
After having completed the Master’s thesis process, the student must be able to:
• Handle an iterative process in which processing of knowledge and drafting the problem statement are interrelated.
• Draft a problem statement that facilitates control and structure in the student’s work on the thesis and its content.
• Argue the wording of the questions that are answered in order to solve the problem.
• Explain and evaluate the methods used in answering questions and solving the problem.
• Select and process the theory used in the drafting of the problem statement and questions, analysis and conclusion.
• Argue the relevance of the theories used.
• Select and process primary and secondary sources used to document analysis and problem solution.
• Explain and evaluate the overall relation between: drafting the problem statement, choice and application of theories, collection and processing of empirics, and conclusion.
• Explain the overall relation from a theoretical science perspective.

The grade 12 is awarded in cases where the Master’s thesis meets the following requirements to an excellent degree, i.e. with no or only few deficiencies:

• The thesis is governed by a student-developed problem statement which is relevant to the programme.

  • The thesis is delimited to the effect that its analyses and discussions are relevant, necessary and adequate to answer the problem.
  • The problem statement, delimitation, outline, analysis and conclusion are consistent to the effect that the answer is logical in relation to the problem statement.
  • The thesis contains a discussion of and reason for the choice and omissions with respect to subject delimitation, theories, methodology and empirics (if empirics are included).
  • The thesis provides critical reflection on the selected theories, methodology and empirics (if empirics are included) and assesses their applicability in answering the problem statement.
  • The thesis is consistent to the effect that the choice and application of theories and empirics interact and complement the production of knowledge (applies to empirical theses).
  • Allegations made in the analysis and conclusion are documented and/or argued.
  • The analysis includes deliberations on the degree to which the results of the thesis resemble and/or deviate from other similar surveys in the field.
  • The analysis focuses on a delimited problem, i.e. provides an in-depth analysis and creates a synthesis on the basis of theories and empirics, where relevant.
  • The thesis demonstrates the student’s understanding of connections within the context of the subject, puts its results in perspective and generalises them to the effect that they can be transferred to other similar situations in other contexts.
  • The thesis is based on relevant (research) literature.
  • The thesis discusses the premises of the theories and the impact of those premises on the knowledge that can be created (applies “especially” or “only” for theoretical theses).
  • The thesis contributes a new perspective, e.g. by applying a known theory on previously unexamined empirics or new (combinations of) theories applied on a known problem.
Prerequisite
The Master thesis must be the last element finalizing the programme.

Registration for the Master's Thesis must be no later than 15 March on student's fourth semester.

Examination
Oral exam based on a written thesis
Oral exam based on a written thesis:
Type of test Thesis
Marking scale 7-step scale
Second examiner External examiner
Exam period Summer Term
Aids Open Book, Written Aid is permitted
Duration 60 Minutes
Before being allowed to register for the exam on the thesis, all other exams on the programme must have been passed. This means that a) the grade point average for the exams in the 1st academic year is 02 without rounding up, b) all elective courses have been passed, and c) all exam grades included in the grade point average are 00 or above.
Examination
Examination in the Master’s thesis is conducted as an external oral exam based on the written work.
The Master’s thesis must be max. 70-80 A4 pages if written by one student, and max. 110-120 pages if written by two students.
The oral defence lasts one hour, including grading, per student. The Study Board lays down more detailed guidelines for the oral defence on www.e-campus.dk
The Master’s thesis must be accompanied by an abstract of the work (max. one A4 page), written in English.The abstract is taken into consideration at the assessment stage.
At the assessment stage of the Master’s thesis, emphasis will be placed on the student’s spelling and style.
Students from English-medium concentrations must write the Master’s thesis in English. Students from Danish-medium concentrations have the option of writing their thesis in English if they wish. If the thesis is written in English, the abstract must be written in Danish.
The assessment is carried out by the supervisor (if there are two or more supervisors, only the primary supervisor participates) and an external examiner. The grade awarded will reflect a holistic assessment of the thesis (including the abstract), the oral defence, and the student’s spelling and style – although more emphasis will be placed on the academic content. Students may write the thesis either on their own or in collaboration with another student. The oral defence is individual.
Make-up and re-examinations in the Master’s thesis. If the student has submitted the thesis individually or together with another student but falls ill before the oral defence, a new oral exam based on the submitted thesis will be organised as soon as possible. If students do not pass the regular exam relating to the Master’s thesis, they have the option at the re-take of either resubmitting the thesis in a revised form or of submitting a new thesis on a new basis. This decision is taken in consultation with the supervisor/ examiner.
Course content

The thesis block comprises the preparation of a written thesis (the Master’s thesis), which serves as a test of the student’s ability to engage in in-depth study and independently describe, analyse and process a complex issue at Master’s level. The topic delimitation of the Master’s thesis must be approved prior to the start of thesis supervision. At the time of approval, a deadline for submission of the thesis is also determined together with a plan for supervision. The student chooses the subject of the thesis from within the concentration’s overall theme and academic profile or within a minor. Under special circumstances, the Study Board may approve an exemption from this provision. While working on the Master’s thesis, the students are entitled to receive a pre-determined amount of guidance from their supervisor. Students who choose to write an individual thesis are entitled to 21 hours of supervision whereas students who write together with another student will be given 32 hours of supervision.

The Master’s thesis must be max. 80 standard pages (one standard page consists of 2275 characters including spaces) if written by one student, and max. 120 standard pages if written by two students. Ifthestudent does not hand in the Master thesis thesistothe deadline, there will be setanew deadline of3 monthsand a revised subject of the Master Thesis.
Teaching methods
The students have the right to supervision - for more details see the above.
Further Information

For the concentrations with an international focus there is a requirement of an international perspective in the master thesis. 
Last updated on 30-08-2012