Entry requirements

Accepted to the MA Programme in Economics, in addition to a minimum of 75 ECTS credits completed within the programme.

Learning outcomes

After having completed the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• Identify and phrase a scientifically relevant question within the field of economics.
• Choose, motivate and apply a scientific method in relation to the question posed in the thesis.
• Structure his or her work and draw conclusions based on own work and previous research.
• Apply economic theories on economic issues.
• In English transmit his or her conclusions in a well-written thesis.
• Orally and in writing evaluate other scientific works and come up with constructive points of view, in addition to presenting his or her own work.

Content

The thesis work goes through a number of steps in accordance with a specified schedule. The students are to write their theses individually. The first step is for the students to identify their own questions. Based on this, they are then to contact potential supervisors by themselves.

After about two months' work, a mandatory thesis seminar is held. The students are to upload their memos on the Student Portal prior to this seminar. These memos should indicate how the thesis is progressing and provide a clear picture of the purpose and outline of the thesis (about 10-15 pages). Preliminary results may also be included in this memo. During the seminar, the students present their thesis memos, followed by a discussion. The other students are expected to participate actively in this discussion.

A more or less finished manuscript is uploaded on the Student Portal and is then presented at a seminar roughly one month prior to the end of the semester. This manuscript is regarded as a work in progress and does not have to be complete. It should, however, make up about ¾ of the final thesis. The manuscript may not be presented if the supervisor deems it to be significantly inadequate. The manuscripts are dealt with in a mandatory final seminar, where each student is to defend his or her own work and critically examine the work of the other students. Each student is then - based on the seminar discussions and the comments made by the supervisor - allowed to finish his or her thesis.

Participation in every single seminar is mandatory.

Finally, the finished thesis is to be uploaded on the Student Portal by the end of the semester. The students are also to make minor adjustments after consultations with the supervisor, and then send him or her the final version.

Instruction

The teaching portion consists of supervision, a lecture on methods and two mandatory seminars (a thesis seminar and a final seminar).

Assessment

The theses are graded using specific grading criteria. The grading criteria are available at the start of the course.