General provisions

The course is only available to students within contract education programmes on Master's level. The course syllabus was approved by the board of the Department of Business Studies on delegation from the Faculty of Social Sciences and takes effects as of 2012-01-16.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 credits. The course is only available to students within contract education programmes on Master level.

Learning outcomes

1. To develop your capacity to understand and discuss different methodological and scientific starting points.

2. To acquaint you with various approaches to data collection and analysis.

3. To build your skills in analysis and discussion of different empirical and theoretical phenomena.

4. To give you hands-on experience in identifying research problems and in analysing these problems based on various perspectives.

5. To develop your capacity to carry out scientific research.

6. To enable you to communicate the results of your research in speech and writing.

7. To heighten your awareness of the consequences of the choices you make when formulating your question, and collecting and analysing data.

Content

Within the framework of the thesis, you will explore different ways of finding information, defining the scope of a project and doing research, as well as different ways of communicating the results. The thesis work includes defining a problem, discussing method and theoretical approach, collecting information, presenting your thesis and writing and rewriting your thesis. Students will work in pairs to write the thesis.

Instruction

The course is given in English. You will work in pairs to do most of the assignments. The course consists of compulsory seminars, lectures and tutoring.

Assessment

Your performance in the course will be evaluated mainly on the basis of the final thesis, but class participation and thesis defence are also taken into account. Grades will be given in accordance with the Swedish grading system. The following grades will be used: VG (pass with distinction), G (pass), and U (fail). In order to pass the Master's Thesis course, students need to complete all mandatory course elements and to hand in an approved thesis within the prescribed time limit. The grade VG (pass with distinction) requires that the thesis has been duly discussed at the final seminar, and that it has been submitted within the prescribed time limit.

Uppsala University takes cheating and plagiarism seriously, and disciplinary action will be taken against any student suspected of being involved in any sort of cheating and/or plagiarism. The disciplinary action takes the form of warnings and limited suspensions.

Note: Only completed courses can count toward a degree.