Master Thesis, MSc in Economics and Business Administration

Study Board of Business Economics

Teaching language: Danish, English
EKA: B150072X12, B150072X02, B150072312, B150072412, B150072512, B150072112, B150072212, B150072302, B150072402, B150072502, B150072102, B150072202
Censorship: Second examiner: None, Second examiner: External
Grading: Approved/Not approved, 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding
Offered in: Autumn, Spring
Level: Master

Course ID: B150072X01, B150072301, B150072401, B150072501, B150072101, B150072201
ECTS value: 30

Date of Approval: 20-03-2018


Duration: 1 semester

Course ID

B150072X01
B150072301
B150072401
B150072501
B150072101
B150072201

Course Title

Master Thesis, MSc in Economics and Business Administration

Teaching language

Danish, English

ECTS value

30

Responsible study board

Study Board of Business Economics

Date of Approval

20-03-2018

Course Responsible

Name Email Department
Anna Lund Jepsen alj@sam.sdu.dk

Offered in

Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding

Level

Master

Offered in

Autumn, Spring

Duration

1 semester

Mandatory prerequisites

Before starting the thesis, the student must have passed at least 60 ECTS.

Compulsory courses and electives. 

The Master's thesis must be placed at the last year of the study programme.

Students starting the Master’s thesis are expected to independently be able to:

  • Choose a problem that is related to development of theory or problem solving in a practical setting.
  • Account for the relevance of the problem and the theory and/or empirical evidence and methods that as a point of departure shall be used to provide a satisfactory investigation of the problem and proposition of a solution respectively development of the theory.
  • Structure and carry out tasks for solving/answering the problem. As a part of this
    - Search for relevant literature and empirical evidence in the library’s databases
    - Select, describe, and critically reflect on the literature retrieved
    - Use methods and techniques that are in the learning goals within the compulsory courses of the profile and, as a part of this, perform critique of theory and empirical evidence employed as well as of results of performed analyses.
  • Communicate clearly and argue independently on an academic level.

Recommended prerequisites

-

Aim and purpose

The objective of the Master's thesis’ is that the student obtains an opportunity to demonstrate that he or she independently and professionally can define, delimit, analyse, assess and solve a problem within the profile's area in a way that is relevant to stakeholders. The thesis problem must be suitable for developing and demonstrating the ability to produce knowledge on a high level and thus allow the student to use scientific knowledge and methods as well as other qualifications acquired in the study programme.

Content

The key areas in the Master's thesis depend upon whether the problem is solved in cooperation with a company or the problem is theoretical with or without empirical analysis.

1) Solving a problem in cooperation with a company.
- Identify and delimit the problem.
- Identify and select relevant theory for problem solving.
- Apply theory and methods for structuring the chosen problem to guide collection of the empirical data, and as a basis for the selection of alternatives.
- Design and complete a study on a high scientific level.
- Analyse a problem, select and recommend alternative courses of action.
- Critical reflection on own analyses and recommendations, including considerations of theoretical and empirical limitations as well possible dilemmas related to ethical and/or sustainability issues.
- Write an abstract in English or another language by agreement with the supervisor.

2) Analysing a theoretical problem (e.g. incongruent theories, documented inconsistencies between theoretical predictions and empirical observations).
- Identify and delimit the problem and research questions.
- Identify and select relevant theories and methods for solving the problem.
- If relevant conduct empirical analyses of the theoretical problem
- In-depth analysis of the theoretical problem.
- Answer the theoretical question and point out theoretical and practical implications.
- Critical reflection on own analyses and recommendations, including reflection on theoretical and empirical limitations as well possible dilemmas related to ethical and/or sustainability issues.
- Write an abstract in English or another language by agreement with the supervisor.

Learning goals

•Skills in identifying a problem that is relevant for the profile by applying theories and methods that are characteristic of the profile.
•Skills in formulating a well-structured, precise and unambiguous problem which is realistic in relation to the available resources for the project.
•Learning ability and possession of knowledge at a high theoretical level by independently identifying and selecting theory that builds on or extends the knowledge which the student has attained in compulsory courses. The thesis should identify the significant theories and sources within the thesis subject area.
•Ability to communicate complex knowledge by describing the selected theories, explaining why these are important, and discuss the key relations among theories and theoretical concepts.
•Ability to master the profile’s methods for example by conducting empirical research. This can be demonstrated by development and implementation of a research design that applies methods from the profile, answers the research questions and adheres to the ethical standards of the area. 
•Skills in reporting results and in reflecting upon quality and potential for generalization.
•Ability to justify a choice among different alternatives scientifically. 
•Ability to reflect upon the implications of knowledge that has been gained during preparation of the thesis.
•Skills in dissemination to academic colleagues by communicating the results in a clear and well-structured form in a written report and an oral presentation with the University's lecturers as the target audience; as well as to non-specialists by selecting and communicating the most significant components in a concise manner in an abstract.

Literature

Literature reflecting what is known in the scientific field at the time the thesis is written, and which is adequate for the solving the problem.

Teaching Method

The student must list for the activity via the student self-service system. 

Procedure for assignment of supervisor, joint information meetings and other activities in connection the Master’s thesis will be evident from the web page for Master’s thesis on the home page for the study programme on the campus in question. Notice that an information meeting about Master’s thesis is set up. Notice also that the student is expected to prepare for the Master’s thesis in such a way that he or she is ready to give in wishes for subject and supervisor at the deadline.

By working with the Master's thesis, the student shall gain experience in working independently with a complex problem. Therefore, the student's learning primarily takes place through independent work supported by a supervisor. 

The student may not receive payment for the work in connection with their master’s thesis, as a) the activity is an ECTS-bearing activity, and b) the student may receive SU during the study. Reimbursement for some expenses or a monthly payment for confirmed expenses can however be granted during the study. If repayment/reimbursement is received, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure, whether it is taxable or not.  

In connection with the approval of the supervisor agreement, the student has the right to a maximum of one hour of supervision for discussing the problem definition etc. The student has, in addition, possibility for supervision once the supervisor agreement is in place. The possibility for supervision is available for the first examination attempt only.

It is, however, a possibility to have supervision to a limited extent in connection with the reformulation of the supervisor agreement for a possible 2nd or 3rd examination attempt.

Workload

Scheduled classes:

Supervision.
____

The workload of the Master's thesis per student is equivalent to half a year of study = 30 ECTS = 810 working hours. 

Examination regulations

Exam condition - Supervisor agreement

Name

Exam condition - Supervisor agreement

Timing

The supervision agreement must be approved by the supervisor and the profile responsible according to the below stated regulations.

1st examination attempt:

It is a condition for submitting the thesis report for the 1st examination attempt, that the supervisor agreement is approved before submission of the thesis report. If the supervisor agreement is not approved, the thesis report cannot be submitted, and the student will be registered for one examination attempt. The 2nd examination attempt commences.

For approval, the supervisor agreement must contain a preliminary problem statement, which elaborates and explains the problem in such a way that it is possible to assess if it allows the student to demonstrate ability to produce knowledge at a high level within the focus area of the profile. In addition, the supervisor agreement must contain a feasible plan for supervision.


2nd examination attempt:  

It is a condition for submitting the thesis report for the 2nd examination attempt that a new supervisor agreement is approved before submission. The new agreement must contain a revised problem formulation within the same topic. The revised problem formulation must correspond to an additional 3 months of work for instance by additional data collection or analytical/theoretical work. If the supervisor agreement for the 2nd attempt is not approved, the thesis report cannot be submitted, and the student will be registered for one examination attempt. The 3rd examination attempt commences.


3rd examination attempt:

It is a condition for submitting the thesis report for the 3rd examination attempt that a new supervisor agreement is approved before submission. The new agreement must contain a revised problem formulation within the same topic. The revised problem formulation must correspond to an additional 3 months of work for instance by additional data collection or analytical/theoretical work. If the supervisor agreement for the 3rd attempt is not approved, the thesis report cannot be submitted, and the student will be registered for one examination attempt. The student has no further attempts.

Tests

Exam condition - Supervisor agreement

Name

Exam condition - Supervisor agreement

Form of examination

Compulsory assignment

Censorship

Second examiner: None

Grading

Approved/Not approved

Identification

Student Identification Card - Date of birth

Language

Danish, English

Duration

-

Additional information

-

EKA

B150072X12
B150072312
B150072412
B150072512
B150072112
B150072212

Exam - Master Thesis with oral defense

Name

Exam - Master Thesis with oral defense

Timing

1st examination attempt:
For students who register for Master’s thesis in the autumn semester, the thesis report must be handed in no later than 2 January. The oral defence will take place no later than 31 January. 

For students who register for Master’s thesis in the spring semester, the thesis report must be handed in no later than 1 June. The oral defence will take place no later than 30 June.

The supervisor agreement must be approved before submission of the thesis report (see under "examination conditions").

If the thesis report is not handed in by the deadline, if the thesis report is rejected and not graded, or if the grade of the Master’s thesis after the oral defence results in a non-passed grade (-3 or 00), the student will be registered for one attempt, and a deadline for the 2nd examination attempt will become effective.

2nd examination attempt:
Three months are given to prepare the thesis report for the 2nd examination attempt. Before submission of the thesis report, a renewed supervisor agreement within the same topic must be approved (see under "examination conditions"). The deadline for handing in the report for the 2nd attempt is 

1 September/1 April if the thesis has not been handed in by the deadline or if the thesis has been rejected without grading.
1 October/ 1 May if the oral defence has taken place.

If the thesis report is not handed in by the deadline, if the thesis report is rejected and not graded, or if the grade of the Master’s thesis after the oral defence results in a non-passed grade (-3 or 00), the student will be registered for one attempt, and a deadline for the 3rd examination attempt will become effective.

3rd examination attempt:
Three months are given to prepare the thesis report for the 3rd examination attempt. Before submission of the thesis report, a renewed supervisor agreement within the same topic must be approved (see under "examination conditions").

The deadline for submission of the thesis report is 3 months after the deadline for submitting 2nd attempt if the thesis report is not handed in by the new deadline or if the thesis is rejected without grading. If the thesis failed after the oral exam for the 2nd attempt, a deadline for submitting the thesis report for the 3rd attempt will be set 3 months after the date when the oral defence took place.

If the thesis report is not handed in by the deadline, if the thesis report is rejected and not graded, or if the grade of the Master’s thesis after the oral defence results in a non-passed grade (-3 or 00), the student will be registered for one attempt, and all examination attempts have been used.

Tests

Exam - Master Thesis with oral defense

Name

Exam - Master Thesis with oral defense

Form of examination

Master's thesis with oral defence

Censorship

Second examiner: External

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Student Identification Card - Date of birth

Language

Danish, English

Duration

See information under Timing and Additional information.

Length

See information under Additional information.

Assignment handover

Not relevant.

Assignment handin

In SDU-assignment in Blackboard.

ECTS value

30

Additional information

The report may be written in Danish or English in agreement with the supervisor and in accordance with the profile description. 

The thesis may be prepared either in a group of two students or individually. Students writing the report in a group also carry out the oral defence as a group. The assessment of the performance at the exam must be done for each student individually. The examiner ensures that the oral defence is conducted in such a way that individual assessment of the performance of each student can take place. The Academic Study Board may grant permission to individual oral examination if a student applies for this and gives a reason for the application. 

The thesis report including supplementary material shall be submitted through SDUassignment in blackboard. The front page shows the title of the thesis in English and in Danish (if relevant). The thesis report is to include an abstract in English or another language agreed upon with the supervisor. The abstract may be no more than 3 pages in length. The front page must show the title of the thesis in English and in Danish (if relevant). For formalities, please refer to "Guidelines for formalities for written assignments” (find link on the exam page for the study programme.

The length of thesis report needs to be adequate for the content. The report is normally 60-80 standard pages (excluding table of contents, bibliography and appendices) in length for an individual student and 90 - 110 standard pages for two students. There is no requirement to state who is responsible for the individual sections of the report. 

Alternatively, the students can write their report in the paper-based format. In this case, the students write a scientific paper in accordance with the standards for submission to scientific journals, conference proceedings or edited book volumes. This paper represents the central part of the paper-based thesis report. In addition to the paper, the students should write an introduction and a reflection chapter, where they position the paper within the broader literature relevant to their study profile, and consider the implications that their paper carries for relevant stakeholders. Together the full report (the introduction, the paper, the reflection, and the reference list) should not exceed the page limitations set above. The paper-based format is meant for students who have throughout their study demonstrated strong research skills. It can only be pursued upon approval from the profile coordinator and the supervisor.
 The thesis report may be rejected in case formal requirements to a large extent are not fulfilled. Examples could be lack of resume or bibliography. Another example is if the number of pages in the report to a large extent deviates from the required number of pages. The supervisor decides a possible rejection. In this case, the grade will be “rejected” and an attempt has been used.

The oral defence lasts a maximum of 1 hour for the one student and 1½ hours for two students, including grading. The oral defence shall commence with a brief (maximum 15 minutes for one student, 25 minutes for two students) presentation of the most significant conclusions reached in the thesis and the theoretical and empirical bases form them. After the presentation, the student(s) is/are examined with the report and the presentation as a point of departure.

Grading is based on an overall assessment of the report and the performance at the oral defence. The grade is given on the basis of the extent to which the thesis report and the oral defence together fulfil the objectives that are described in the goals description in the above. The abstract is considered in the grading of the thesis. Grading will take place according to the Danish 7-step scale. An external examiner participates in the exam. Spelling and writing skills are considered in the grading of the thesis in accordance with the regulations contained in the curriculum.

The Academic Study Board can allow that 3 students prepare the Master’s thesis as a group. The Academic Study Board decides on the basis of a statement from a possible supervisor assigned by the person responsible for assigning supervisors. It must be evident from the statement that the project is sufficient to carry work for 3 students. For 3 students, the report can be maximum 140 pages (excluding table of contents, bibliography and appendices). 2 hours is set aside for the defence.

Prerequisites

Type Prerequisite name Prerequisite course
Exam B150072X12, Exam condition - Supervisor agreement B150072X01, Master Thesis, MSc in Economics and Business Administration

EKA

B150072X02
B150072302
B150072402
B150072502
B150072102
B150072202

External comment

NOTE - This course is identical with the former course 93451x1 / Esbjerg: 9345111 Kolding: 9345121 Odense: 9345131 Slagelse: 9345141 Sønderborg: 9345151 Master Thesis - MSc in Economics and Business Administration.
Used examination attempts in the former identical course will be transferred.
Courses that are identical with former courses that are passed according to applied rules cannot be retaken.

The student is automatically registered for the first examination attempt when the student is registered for a course or course element with which one or more examinations are associated. Withdrawal of registration is not possible, and students who fail to participate in an examination have used one examination attempt, unless the University has made an exemption due to special circumstances. 
If a student does not meet the established university prerequisites for taking the exam, he or she has used one examination attempt, unless the University has made an exemption due to special circumstances.

Courses offered

Offer period Offer type Profile Education Semester
Fall 2018 Mandatory Accounting and Finance MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Brand Management and Marketing Communication MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Change Management (sidste optag februar 2017) MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Communication Management and Leadership MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management - Accounting Combination MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management - Organization Combination MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Global Marketing and Consumer Culture MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Global Marketing and Innovation Management (sidste optag februar 2017) MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Global Value Chain Management MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Human Resource Management (ikrafttræden pr. 1. september 2017) MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Human Resource Management (optag før pr. 1. september 2017) MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory International Business and Management (ikrafttræden pr. 1. september 2017) MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory International Business and Management (optag før 1. september 2017) MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory International Business and Marketing (ikrafttræden pr. 1. september 2017) MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory International Business and Marketing (optag før 1. september 2017) MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Management Accounting - Combination 1 MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Management Accounting - Combination 2 MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Management Accounting - Combination 3 MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Management of Innovation Processes MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Market Anthropology (ikrafttræden pr. 1. september 2016) MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Market Anthropology (ikrafttræden pr. 1. september 2017) MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Marketing, Globalization and Culture MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Strategic Entrepreneurship MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Strategy and Organization (ikrafttræden pr. 1. september 2017) MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4
Fall 2018 Mandatory Strategy and Organization (optag før 1. september 2017) MSc in Economics and Business Administration | Master of Science (Msc) in Economics and Business Administration | Esbjerg, Soenderborg, Slagelse, Odense, Kolding 4