Swedish name: Masteruppsats, tredje året
This syllabus is valid: 2021-01-04 and until further notice
Course code: 3FH087
Credit points: 15
Education level: Second cycle
Main Field of Study and progress level:
Public Health: Second cycle, contains degree project for Master of Arts/Master of Science (120 credits)
Grading scale: Three-grade scale
Responsible department: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health
Established by: Programme council for Master Programmes in Public Health, 2020-11-18
The purpose is for the student to independently conduct a scientific project. In this course, the student shall demonstrate the ability to independently plan, carry out and present their project within a public health-related subject, both orally and in writing. This includes formulating a thesis question and aim, selecting the appropriate methods for the collection and analysis of data, and also presenting and discussing the results in relation to scientific articles and other relevant pieces of literature. The course provides the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills acquired during the other courses of the public health programme. The thesis can be either a systematic literature review, a study protocol or an empirical study.
Knowledge and understanding
After completing the course, students shall be able to:
Skills and abilities
After completing the course, students shall be able to:
Judgement and approach
After completing the course, students shall be able to:
Applicants to the course need at least 90 credits within the main field of study Public Health at second-cycle level, of which 20 credits must be in research methodology, and also English proficiency equivalent to English B/6 from Swedish Upper secondary education.
The thesis work is introduced during the programme's autumn semester. The various parts of the thesis course are presented at this time. The student will have the opportunity to discuss the choice of topic and aim for the thesis with teachers and other students in groups. A supervisor for the student's thesis project is appointed before the course starts. The thesis work is then carried out mostly over the duration of the course, i.e. the latter part of the spring semester.
The student is entitled to individual supervision for the duration of the course. The thesis is presented at a concluding seminar where another student acts as an opponent. The student shall in turn act as an opponent for a thesis presented by another student in the same fashion. Attendance for a set number of thesis seminars is compulsory. The final meeting between the student and supervisor takes place at the end of the course (after the seminar).
In addition to a written master's thesis, the examination has four parts that are required for the grading of the course: 1) a written master's thesis plan, 2) attendance during thesis seminars, 3) an oral presentation and discussion of the thesis, 4) an oral opposition for another student's degree project. Grading for these four parts is done by awarding one of the grades Pass or Fail. Grading for the written master's thesis is done by awarding one of the grades Pass with distinction, Pass or Fail.
The following grades are used to grade the course as a whole: Pass with distinction, Pass or Fail. For a grade of Pass, the student must achieve a grade of Pass on all five parts of the examination. For a grade of Pass with distinction, the student must achieve a grade of Pass with distinction on the written master's thesis and a grade of Pass on the remaining four parts of the examination.
The grade of Fail is given to students who (i) have failed to achieve a grade of Pass on the four parts described above and/or (ii) have been given a grade of Fail on their written master's thesis
For a student in situation (i) above, the next opportunity to present their thesis is at a seminar the following semester, and also supplementary assignments if necessary. For a student with a failed written thesis but a grade of Pass on the other four parts, the university rules for course examination are applied in the following manner. The student is entitled to three examinations in total. For the thesis course, this means that the first examination takes place when the student submits the thesis (final version) for assessment by the examiner. If the thesis is given the grade of Fail, the student can then submit up to two revised versions of the thesis and have them assessed by the examiner. Please note that the student is only entitled to supervision during the course, i.e. until the conclusion of the course in May. If a student does not achieve a passing grade on their thesis after submitting three versions, as described above, the student will have to re-register on the thesis course and be assigned a new supervisor. The student will then take the course under the same conditions as other students taking the course. If the student does not achieve a passing grade on the thesis course after completing the course twice, the student cannot re-register on the thesis course again.
Under special conditions, the examiner has the right to decide on other forms of examination. A student who has received a pass grade may not retake an examination. As such, it is only allowed to supplement a failing grade to a pass. Supplementation to achieve a higher grade is not allowed. A student with a grade of Fail who has submitted two versions of the thesis has the right to request and have another examiner appointed, provided there are no special circumstances to prevent such an appointment. Written requests are submitted to the Director of Studies.
Deviations from the course syllabus' examination may be made for a student who has been subject to a decision granting pedagogical support due to a disability. Individual adaption of the examination form shall be considered based on the student's needs. The form of examination is adapted within the framework of the expected learning outcomes of the course syllabus. At the student's request, the course coordinator shall promptly decide, in consultation with the examiner, on the appropriate form of examination. The decision shall then be communicated to the student.
Under special conditions, students can request a change of supervisor. Written requests should be submitted to the Director of Studies.
The literature list is not available through the web. Please contact the faculty.