Guidelines related to theses in the MSc Programme
Objectives and learning outcomes
During the master programme, the students should perform an independent work (thesis); an in-depth study of one or several related issues. Through the independent work the students should develop their analytical skills and acquire a deeper understanding of theoretical and/or empirical possibilities and challenges within the chosen subject area. The students should also acquire training in thinking and working independently; individually or in collaboration with a fellow student. During the work on the thesis the students should analyse and consider various information sources from a critical viewpoint and make use of these in order to structure and formulate academic arguments. The work must be performed in accordance with the prevailing research ethics. All in all the independent work should prove understanding, reflection and development.
Scope, topic, collaboration
The thesis in the MSc Programme is equivalent to a workload of one semester/ 30 ECTS credits. The thesis should be related to the chosen major. It is for the supervisor to decide whether a topic can be acknowledged as part of the chosen major.
The thesis can be written by a student individually, or by two students collaborating on a thesis. Collaboration is recommended. Collaboration between more than two students is not permitted.
Application for a supervisor
All students have the right to supervision. Supervisors are assigned following an application process. The deadline for applying for a supervisor is October 15 for supervision during the following spring semester, and March 15 for supervision during the following fall semester.
The student(s) should suggest the topic for the thesis in the application. Two students who would like to collaborate should send a joint application. The student(s) will be notified of the assigned supervisor no later than December /May.
In exceptional cases supervision may be granted to students applying after the deadline, for instance in the case of CEMS-students who should start the work on the thesis in the spring semester, but who were not able to apply for a supervisor before the deadline because he/she had not yet been granted a place in the CEMS programme. Assignment of supervisors to other students applying after the deadline will depend on the faculty’s capacity, and cannot be guaranteed for the following semester.
The general rule is that a supervisor is assigned for one specific semester. An eventual prolongation of the supervision period must be made in agreement with the supervisor and may depend on the progression on the thesis.
Guidelines for supervision
Due to variations between different subject areas and different forms of theses, NHH has not set an exact norm as to the extent of the supervision. It might be suggested that three supervision sessions could be considered as standard (session here implying a relatively thorough discussion between the student(s) and the supervisor). The first session should be held after the supervisor is assigned, and should include a discussion of the topic and disposition. The next session should be held when the work is in progress, and should aim to give correction and feed-back on the work so far. The third and last session should be held when the work is approaching the end. There might be additional contact between the student(s) and the supervisor between the sessions, related to minor questions, but not to the same extent as the sessions. The plan for the supervision should be laid during the first supervision session.
Supervisors are accredited 35 hours for an individual thesis and 45 hours for a thesis representing the joint work of two students. This number of hours includes perusal of drafts, supervision sessions and grading of the final thesis.
The thesis should be an independent work under the management of the student(s). This means that it is the responsibility of the student(s) to take the necessary initiatives in order to ensure satisfactory progress in the work.
This implies that the student(s) should:
- Make the initial contact with the supervisor in order to agree on the first session, as early in the semester as possible.
- Listen to the advice and the direction provided by the supervisor.
- Regularly inform the supervisor of the progress in the work.
- Be well prepared to the supervision sessions.
- Adhere to any deadlines that the supervisor and the student(s) have agreed on, for instance deadlines for handling in drafts.
- Adhere to the general rules and regulations related to the master thesis.
The supervisor’s contribution may include:
-Guidance regarding the choice of topic and formulation of research questions
- Approval of a topic as part of the chosen major
- Discussion on hypotheses and methods.
- Guidance related to search of literature and data.
- Guidance related to an appropriate plan of progression and evaluation of the students’ progression as compared to the plan.
- Discussion on the thesis’ structure, disposition, language, documentation etc
- Discussion on results and the interpretation of these.
- Feed-back on drafts, provided that these are handed in within the deadlines set by the supervisor and the student(s) in agreement.
- Guidance related to ethical questions related to the work.
The student(s) and the supervisor should alert one another if it should prove necessary to cancel or change an appointment and in the case of longer absences that might affect the communication.
Resources
In addition to the courses in the master programme and the assigned supervisor, the Library and NHH’s IT-resources are the main resources available for students. NHH does normally not grant any economic contributions related to theses in the master programme.
For students who would like to perform surveys as a part of the thesis, NHH offers free access to an online survey tool, Qualtrics. Contact the Student and Academic Affairs Office for more information.
Rules and regulations
The students should adhere to certain guidelines regarding the layout and the submission of the thesis.
The students are obliged to adhere to NHH’s regulations, including the Regulation for examinations at NHH §§ 9 and 10, concerning the use of sources and citations in accordance with the regulations, as well as attempts to cheat.
Complaints
If the student(s) should find that the supervision is not satisfactory, they can ask to be assigned another supervisor. Such complaints should be sent to the Student and Academic Affairs Office. The Dean of Master Programmes will decide upon the matter, in agreement with the department.
If the supervisor should find that the student(s) do not comply with the obligations as stated in these guidelines in a satisfactory way, or if the supervision relations should in some way become problematic, the supervisor can approach the department’s curriculum coordinator and ask to be released from the supervision obligation. The department will be responsible for an eventual assignment of another supervisor.
If the supervisor and the student(s) due to academic reasons agree that another supervisor should be assigned, they should approach the department’s curriculum coordinator.
The students have the right to receive an explanation of the grade awarded on the thesis. A demand for explanation of the grade must be submitted to the supervisor, at the latest three weeks following the grade being published, cf. the Act relating to Universities and Colleges, section 5-3.1.& 2. The grade may be appealed in accordance with the Act relating to Universities and Colleges, section 5-3.4.
Formal errors related to the thesis or the grading of the thesis may be appealed in accordance with the Norwegian Act relating to Universities and Colleges section 5-2. Appeals on formal errors are settled in the Appeals Committee for NHH.
Students who have comments as to the programme, thesis or supervision that they wish to communicate to the Dean and the Master Programme Board, are welcome to send these to pmu@nhh.no.
