The committee
The censoring involves 5 people; candidate, external examiner, intern sensor, supervisor and study consultant. Internal sensor is appointed by the Master Council of the Bundle of Internal Sensors. The appointment must normally take place before 15 March in the spring semester and before 15 October in the autumn semester.
External censor
The supervisor is responsible for contacting an external examiner who will agree to evaluate the master's thesis. Sensor shall not have been employed by UiO in the last two years. If the master's thesis has been completed at an external institution, or an employee of an external institution has been the supervisor of the thesis, then an external examiner must not have been employed by the same external institution for the past two years. It is desirable that an external examiner is in place no later than 1 month before submission of the master's thesis. (Usually May 15th/November 15th). The name of the external sensor shall, as soon as the appointment is confirmed, be communicated to the study consultant (Annika Rigenholt).
Master hearing
When an external examiner is appointed, the internal examiner takes over responsibility for the progress of the exam. In consultation with the candidate, external sensor and supervisor, a time for the master hearing is determined. The stipulated time is communicated to the study consultant who arranges room booking, advertising etc. Internal sensor has coordination responsibility, but supervisor must convey the name of the sensor to the internal sensor. There is no requirement for the supervisor to be present at the hearing.
The Master's hearing is open to all, but after the candidate's presentation, and possibly an explanatory question round, the hearing closes and only the sensors and the candidate participate in the closing question. Finally, the sensors determine the grade without others present. This discussion should not extend on time, so that the external sensor within a reasonable time after hearing is over can convey the result to the candidate.
Evaluation of the master`s thesis
Only one form needs to be submitted after the hearing: Assessor protocol
External sensor is responsible for the academic assessment of the master's thesis.
Internal examiner also makes a professional assessment of the assignment, but is also responsible for the fact that the grade is in line with current practice at the department. It may be advisable to discuss characterization with other members of the intern censor pool.
We have 3 types of master's theses at the department.
Long thesis (60 ECTS), short thesis (30 ECTS) and short thesis under the "Lektor Program" (30 ECTS). It is essential that the three theses are assessed on an independent basis and within the practice that exists for each of the thesis types.
Thesis of 60 ECTS is our traditional master thesis. Here we have good experience with how to assess them.
The requirements for the short thesis (30 ECTS) should not be the same as for long. The short thesis, means that the student has shorter time to immerse him/herself in his/her theme. The thesis will therefore, to a lesser extent, be a research project, but rather a form of overview thesis. This means that the presentation of the substance is emphasized heavier than the depth of the academic content, as opposed to the corresponding weighting of a long task. This does not mean that the academic content should not be emphasized, but it may, for example, give more to the creativity of the way the substance is presented than one would normally do on a long thesis.
"Lektor students" have less mathematical-academic background than the other master students. This must be taken into consideration in the evaluation of their tasks. The presentation and dissemination of the substance should count as much as advanced academic content.
Some evaluation parameters are common to all three types of tasks. Structure, consistency, readability and good and correct source references or references must in all cases be in place.
Some of our Master's theses, perhaps especially under the CS program, have clear interdisciplinary features. These tasks shall be subject to the same quality requirements as pure academic tasks. But interdisciplinarity usually means that the professional depth of the subjects included will not be on the same level as pure theses. The strength of interdisciplinary theses will determine if and to what extent the candidate manages the interaction between several fields of study and how this interaction is capable of using knowledge from a field to establish new knowledge in another field.
Sensor fees and travel bill form
Routine for sensor fees and travel bill form.
Protocols and forms
Pdf with all the information and different protocols/assessment forms
Assessor's assessment of Master's projects
Assessment form for assessor (pdf)
Assessment for for assessor (odt)
Supervisor's assessment of Master's projects
Assessment form for supervisor (pdf)
Assessment form for supervisor (odt)