EDU4490 – Thesis
Course content
During the final semester, students are required to write a Master’s thesis of 50-80 pages. Students are guided in their work by a supervisor who is appointed by the Department of Education with expertise in the particular topic under investigation.
Data for the thesis are collected in the country/countries under investigation and depend on the issue under investigation. Quota students should preferably undertake field work in their country of origin. Norwegian students are encouraged to undertake data collection outside of Norway or on a comparative basis with Norway.
Students are assisted in developing the proposal for their thesis through a special writing course and a particularly designed advanced research methods course. The proposals are finally developed in a series of thesis research seminars that form part of the teaching of EDU 4300 on Targeted Issues in Comparative and International Education. Field work cannot be undertaken until the thesis proposal and research instruments have been approved.
Learning outcome
The thesis is an independent piece of research that will demonstrate the student’s research and analytical competences within the field of Comparative and International Education.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
The Comparative and International Education Programme is open to all students who fulfil the basic requirements above. The main target groups are international students, for example students under the 'Quota' Programme (developing countries), NOMA scholarship students from developing countries, partner institutions, Erasmus students and NORDPLUS students. Norwegian students are also encouraged to apply.
Students must have completed all other courses in the programme in order to receive supervision and hand in their thesis.
Only students who have been admitted to the course may submit their thesis.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students must have completed all other courses in the programme in order to receive supervision and hand in their thesis.
Teaching
The supervisor(s) will guide the student in the work on the thesis in individual tutorials. Each student has the right to a maximum of 30 hours of supervision. This includes the supervisor’s time for preparation and 10 hours of face to face supervision. The amount of time for supervision remains the same in case of co-supervision by several supervisors.
A tutoring agreement form, which can be obtained at the Department of Education, must be completed and signed by both supervisor(s) and student.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
Students must have completed all other courses in the programme in order to receive supervision and hand in their thesis.
The exam consists of a written and an oral part. The oral exam aims at discussing and clarifying issues arising from the written thesis.
The provisional grade by the external and internal examiners is tested against the student's performance during the defence of the thesis.The final grade will normally deviate only one grade from that of the written thesis, but the full scale will be applied.
The commission is comprised of two members, one of whom is external. The supervisor is not included as a commission member. The supervisor will only participate during the commission meeting and will provide the comission members information connected to students work or guidelines the supervisor has given to the student. The supervisor does not participate in deciding the final grade of the thesis. The two commission members will jointly agree on a grade. If there is a disagreement amongst the commission members, a new commission will be arranged. Students will receive the grade immediately after the oral examination is completed.
UiO's rules for proper use of sources and citations
Language of examination
The examination language is English.
Grading scale
The final grade is based on an overall evaluation of the two exam-parts. The oral exam will take place within 8 weeks after submission of the thesis.
The final grade for the thesis is based on an assessment of the written work and the performance of the candidate in the oral defence. Grades are: A, B, C, D, E and F(ail).
If the commision judges the thesis to Fail, the student is not permitted to sit for the oral defence. The student is, however, permitted to hand in a revised thesis that will be evaluated by a new commision .
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.