• Demonstrate the ability to independently produce a qualified piece of research that applies relevant Data Science methods for business and society and fulfils the standards of academic writing
• Document in-depth knowledge about the thesis's subject area, including the thesis topic's business and/or societal context.
• Formulate a research question that has relevance to the Data Science methods and steers the research process
• Motivate the choice of Data Science methods, prior literature and/or theory used to address the research question
• Document the analysis through the selection and processing of primary and/or secondary data sources and/or the development of instantiations of a problem solution
• Discuss the quality of the analyzed sources or solutions, including their suitability and validity in terms of providing answers to the research question
• Explain and evaluate the overall coherence between the research question, the selection and use of theory (if any), the applied Data Science methods, the analysis, the conclusion, and the generalizability of their findings to business and/or societal context
• Discuss the findings of the thesis in the overall context of the existing body of knowledge, either along the theoretical or business perspectives

The master’s thesis is the final assignment required to complete the Data Science study programme. The subject of the thesis must be within the programme profile’s particular academic identity and theoretical field(s).

The thesis is to be motivated by a problem in business, information technology and/or policy/law that is relevant to the Data Science study program. The problem is to be addressed through acknowledged research methods including, but not limited to, the use of empirical and computational research methods.

Students identify a potential topic and develop their research approach under the guidance of a supervisor. Finding a supervisor is in the responsibility of the students (see my.cbs.dk).  Students embark on independent research activities over multiple months in which they also successively write up their work. 

The supervisor can be used to give feedback at multiple stages of this process, for example, on the topic delimitation, planned methodology, thesis structure, as well as on drafts of individual chapters of the thesis. Supervisors are not supposed to review drafts of results and conclusion sections of the thesis before the final hand-in deadline.   

Article-based Master's thesis

The Article-based Master’s thesis is an option for students whose research is suitable for academic presentation and allows students to demonstrate their research skills and contribute to their academic field. It is particularly relevant for students considering further academic study or a research career. This format includes an extended summary and an article manuscript ready for submission to a peer-reviewed journal or academic conference within the study program’s core scientific field.

The extended summary provides context and explains the research process and should be 15-30 standard pages long (excluding table of contents, foreword, summary, reference list, and appendix), depending on the article’s complexity. For joint theses, the length increases. The combined length of the summary and manuscript must not exceed 80/120/160 pages, depending on the number of students.

The article manuscript must conform to the chosen academic outlet’s guidelines and be ready for submission. Most outlets require a length between 5,000 and 12,000 words. Submission may occur after the oral defense.

The manuscript must be solely written by the student(s). After the oral defense, the supervisor and student(s) may consider further editing for submission, at which point the supervisor’s co-authorship will be discussed.

Main Category of the Course:

• Data Science
• Business economics
• Communication
• Management of Information and Knowledge Management
• Information Systems