Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree, 180 credits. The course is only available to students within the MIEX programme and the IFM programme.

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is for students to develop the ability to carry out and report scientific investigations by carrying out integrated and advanced independent work.

On completion of the course the course participant will be able to:

· give an account of and discuss different theoretical and methodological starting points

· independently and critically analyse and discuss various theoretical and empirical phenomena

· identify problems, and investigate and analyse them with the starting point in different perspectives and methodological frames of reference

· independently and with personal insight, carefully undertake practical investigatory- and research work with a scholarly basis

· present an argument verbally, in writing and visually in an objective, interesting and persuasive manner

· communicate the benefits of the research findings in a clear and persuasive manner to individuals and organisations outside the intended target group

Content

Within the framework of an independent project, the participant will test and choose different ways of finding, limiting, and studying problems, as well as ways to transmit findings to the customer/commissioner. The ability to carry out scientific investigations includes the ability to discover possibilities, identify problems, collect relevant information, formulate problems, and solve them with the aid of scientific methods. To do this, many skills are required, such as methodological knowledge, the ability to think in terms of models – making conscious and explicit simplifications – and the ability to recognise and treat problems from different perspectives and starting points. The ability to report scientific work means being able to write lucid and interesting reports, as well as being able to report and discuss the material orally. Both the work itself and the resulting information about the findings should be adapted to the problem and the user. The independent project is normally carried out in teams of two. The final work should be a completed whole.

Instruction

The course in given in English. The largest share of the course consists of independent work in teams. Teaching takes place in the form of seminars, lectures, and guidance

Assessment

Evaluation is made primarily through judgment of the final version of the Master's thesis, but judgment is also made of other activities, such as presentation and defence of course reports, criticism of and comments on the work of other participants, and contributions to discussions.

Grading System: VG Pass with distinction (A-B according to the ECTS system), G Pass (C-E according to the ECTS system), U Fail (F according to the ECTS system).