English   Danish

2025/2026  BA-BISHO9000U  Bachelor project

English Title
Bachelor project

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 15 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Quarter
Start time of the course Second Quarter, Summer
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for Global Relations
Course coordinator
  • Liping Jiang - Department of Operations Management (OM)
Main academic disciplines
  • Globalisation and international business
  • Supply chain management and logistics
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 25-06-2025

Relevant links
Learning objectives
At the end of the course, the students must be able to:
  • Independently formulate and justify research questions
  • Select, combine and apply relevant concepts and theories in relation to specified research questions
  • Select and use relevant quantitative or qualitative methods to answer such research questions
  • Identify and use relevant scholarly literature
  • Formulate and present (orally and in writing) coherently argued answers, combining theory, methodology and data, to the research question posed.
  • Reflect critically on the choice of methods and data as well as the quality of the answers produced
Examination
Bachelorproject:
Exam ECTS 15
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance, see also the rules about examination forms in the programme regulations.
Individual or group exam Oral group exam based on written group product
Number of people in the group 2-3
Size of written product Max. 80 pages
1 student = 40 pages
2 students = 60 pages
3 students = 80 pages.
The page count does not include the front page, declaration of authorship, executive summary, bibliography, and appendices. A Declaration of Authorship must be included in the group project.
Assignment type Bachelor project
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
30 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-point grading scale

The student’s spelling and writing skills are taken into consideration in the overall assessment of the examination performance, but the academic content is given the highest weight.
Regulations regarding the summary The summary in English is part of the grading
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period Spring and Spring
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Re-examination when the ordinary exam is failed is an individual 30 minutes oral exam based on the original project and an additional 10 standard pages supplement.

Make-up examination when ill at the ordinary exam is an individual 30 minutes oral exam based on the original project.

Make-up examination when ill during the writing of the projcet is the same as the ordinary exam.
Description of the exam procedure

Each group must prepare a thesis project proposal using the designated template. The proposal must be reviewed and approved by the thesis supervisor before it is submitted for final approval by the Bachelor Project course coordinator. Once the proposal is approved, students may begin working on their thesis.

 

The exam lasts 30 minutes for an individual student, 45 minutes for a group of 2 students and 60 minutes for a group of 3 students.

 

AI use in accordance with CBS guidelines will be allowed.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

The bachelor project is designed to allow students to apply the academic competencies developed throughout the BS.c. in International Shipping and Trade programme to a well-defined research problem with a clear international dimension.

 

Students are expected to formulate a relevant, researchable problem within the broader field of international shipping and trade. The topic must reflect core themes of the IST programme and demonstrate analytical engagement with theoretical and/or empirical material. Projects may address industry-specific challenges, policy questions, or strategic issues, and must integrate relevant academic literature, theory, and method.

 

The project is written individually or in small groups, under the guidance of an academic supervisor. As part of the preparation, students submit a brief thesis proposal, clarifying the research focus, motivation, relevant theory, methodology and contribution. This also forms the basis for supervision. 

 
Research-based teaching
CBS’ programmes and teaching are research-based. The following types of research-based knowledge and research-like activities are included in this course:
Research-based knowledge
  • Classic and basic theory
  • Teacher’s own research
  • Methodology
  • Models
Research-like activities
  • Development of research questions
  • Data collection
  • Analysis
  • Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
  • Activities that contribute to new or existing research projects
  • Students conduct independent research-like activities under supervision
Description of the teaching methods
The thesis advisor’s role is to engage in a critical yet constructive dialogue with students throughout the development of the thesis project. The initiative always rests with the students, and advising is guided by the students’ questions and input. Based upon these facts, the role of the advisor is as follows:

1. The advisor involves her/himself in discussions concerning issue formulation, phrasing the research question, and choice of methodology and theory.

2. The advisor involves her/himself in discussions about the project as it progresses: s/he shall read and question drafts of the issue formulation and related research question, as well as read and discuss drafts of some individual sections of the project and discuss these with the group. The advisor will not read the entire project at any point in the supervision process.

3. The advisor should not to be viewed as an encyclopedia, dictionary, or editor.

4. The advisor supports teamwork and cooperation in the group.

5. The advisor may not tell the group the name of the external examiner before the oral exam.

6. An advisor may never grant an exemption from any thesis deadlines, or rules and regulations.

7. At the oral exam, the advisor’s role changes from that of advisor to that of examiner. The advisor will evaluate and grade the thesis.

Each group is entitled to a pre-determined number of supervision hours, listed below, depending upon the number of students in the group. The below-mentioned hours include all time used with each advisor, including actual consultation, email reading/writing, preparation for meetings, proposal reading, etc.To benefit the most from these limited hours, plan very strategically how you expect to best utilize your supervision time. As well, always arrive well prepared for your meetings with your advisor!

Number of students Advising Hours
1 person: 7
2 persons: 12
3 persons: 16
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback will be given during supervision
Student workload
preparation 420 hours
exam 0.5 hours
Last updated on 25-06-2025