Master Thesis - Comparative Public Policy and Welfare Studies
Study Board of Political Science, Journalism, Sociology, and European Studies
Teaching language: English
EKA: B450009102, B450009112
Censorship: Second examiner: External, Second examiner: None
Grading: 7-point grading scale, Approved/Not approved
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn, Spring
Level: Master
Course ID: B450009101
ECTS value: 30
Date of Approval: 13-03-2018
Duration: 1 semester
Course ID
Course Title
Teaching language
ECTS value
Responsible study board
Date of Approval
Course Responsible
Offered in
Level
Offered in
Duration
Mandatory prerequisites
Recommended prerequisites
The thesis finishes the degree and students are advised to complete all other courses before writing the master thesis. It is expected that the student begins to plan the thesis project in the semester before the thesis is written, that the student carefully plans the project and allocate sufficient time to finish the project.
Aim and purpose
The thesis demonstrates that the student has acquired theoretical and methodological skills enabling independent formulation, analysis and presentation of academic issues relating to the chosen subject.
Content
The thesis is a comprehensive and thorough analysis of a subject falling within the general field of the degree (Master of Social Sciences in Comparative Public Policy and Welfare Studies).
Learning goals
The student demonstrates the ability to
- Independently identify and formulate a coherent and fruitful research question within the general field of welfare state studies
- Identify and explain the fundamental legal, political, social and/or normative issues pertaining to the chosen subject.
- Describe and discuss legal, political, social and/or normative theories as well as the appropriate methodologies that are relevant for answering the research question.
- Systematically analyse the chosen subject using relevant theories and methodologies, and (in theses with an empirical research question) make use of relevant data.
- Critically discuss and assess the conducted research, including the research process, its conclusions and/or potential social, political and legal implications.
- Synthesise, develop, and/or contribute to knowledge within the general field of welfare state studies.
- Report the findings in a coherent and appropriate academic form with emphasis on clarity, structure, documentation and synthesis.
Literature
Teaching Method
No classes are held. After the approval of a supervision contract students are supervised individually, and may in some instances get supervision in small groups. Supervision may take the form of email correspondence, telephone, webcam and/or meetings. The form and dates for individual supervision are agreed upon with the supervisor. The extent of supervision depends on individual needs but cannot exceed 5 hours of face-to-face, verbal or electronic communication in total (that is, not including the supervisor’s time for preparation). If the thesis has two authors the extent of supervision cannot exceed 8 hours of face-to-face, verbal or electronic communication in total.
It is recommended that supervision is focused on methodological and theoretical issues and particularly relevant discussions. It is also highly recommended that students attend the thesis-writing seminar.
The student states the overall theme of the thesis and a potential supervisor no later than June 2/December 2 in the semester prior the thesis writing. It is optional whether the student wants to name a potential supervisor or not but the student must indicate the thesis theme – otherwise the student will be assigned a supervisor by random. The Head of Studies formally assign supervisors but in so doing, students indicated preferences are hounded to the extant it is possible. All students registered for the master thesis will be informed about their designated supervisor no later than June 15/December 15 in the semester prior the thesis writing.
The student must have a digital supervision contract approved no later than August 15/January 16 in the semester prior the thesis writing. The contract must include a concrete research question and a detailed supervision plan.
Workload
Face-to-face supervision= 5 hours
Collective information meeting and thesis writing seminar = 7 hours
Examination (writing process)= 798 hours
Total= 810 hours
Examination regulations
Exam
Name
Exam
Timing
1st examination attempt:
For students who register for Master’s thesis in the autumn semester, the thesis must be handed in no later than 2 January.
For students who register for Master’s thesis in the spring semester, the thesis must be handed in no later than 1 June.
The supervisory agreement must be approved before submission of the thesis report (see under "examination conditions").
If the thesis is not handed in by the deadline, if the thesis is rejected and not graded, or if the assessment of the Master’s Thesis 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 for the 2nd examination attempt. Before submission of the thesis, a renewed supervisory agreement within the same topic must be approved (see under "examination conditions"). The deadline for handing in the thesis 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 Master thesis has been assessed and the result is a non-passed grade (-3 or 00).
If the thesis is not handed in by the deadline, if the thesis is rejected and not graded, or if the assessment of the Master’s Thesis 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 for the 3rd examination attempt. Before submission of the thesis, a renewed supervisory agreement within the same topic must be approved (see under "examination conditions").
The deadline for submission of the thesis is 3 months after the deadline for submitting 2nd attempt if the thesis is not handed in by the new deadline or if the thesis is rejected without grading. If the thesis is given a non-passed grade (-3 or 00) after assessment of the 2nd attempt, a deadline for submitting the thesis for the 3rd attempt will be set 3 months after the grade has been published.
Rules
-3 is not allowed, 00 is not allowed
Tests
Exam
Name
Exam
Form of examination
Master's thesis
Censorship
Second examiner: External
Grading
7-point grading scale
Identification
Student Identification Card - Exam number
Language
English
Duration
The master thesis is by default written in the fourth semester of the study program. Preparations with regards to choice of subject field, course enrolment, and indication of preferred supervisor begin in the third semester. Each year in mid-May/December an information meeting will be organized explaining the formal set-up of the master thesis.
Length
It is expected that the thesis counts between 60 and 80 pages and it must not exceed 192,000 keystrokes (80 pages of 2,400 keystrokes, including spaces but excluding abstract, table of contents, footnotes/endnotes, appendices and bibliography). The number of keystrokes must be indicated on the front page.
Theses written by two students must not exceed 312,000 keystrokes (130 pages of 2,400 keystrokes).
If the thesis has more than one author, the students are individually responsible for an explicitly specified part of the thesis. All authors share responsibility for the introduction, the summaries and the conclusion.
The thesis should be provided with a summary (in English). The summary should be no more than 2 pages (of 2,400 strokes). The content of the summary is included in the overall assessment of the thesis.
Assignment handin
The thesis must be handed in electronically via SDU Assignment.
ECTS value
30
Additional information
Examination conditions:
A. Before starting the thesis, the student must have passed at least 60 ECTS.
B. In order to participate in the ordinary exam and potentially subsequent exam attempts the student must have an electronic supervisory agreement approved by the designated supervisor and the Head of Studies.
1st examination attempt:
It is a condition for submitting the thesis for the 1st examination attempt, that the supervisory agreement is approved. If the supervisory agreement is not approved, the thesis cannot be submitted, and the student will be registered for one examination attempt. The 2nd examination attempt commences.
The agreement must include a research question which is elaborated to an extent that allows the supervisor to judge if the student potentially can fulfill the goals of the course. Moreover, the agreement must include a detailed supervision plan
2nd examination attempt:
It is a condition for submitting the thesis for the 2nd examination attempt that a new supervisory 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 supervisory agreement for the 2nd attempt is not approved, the thesis 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 for the 3rd examination attempt that a new supervisory 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 supervisory agreement for the 3rd attempt is not approved, the thesis cannot be submitted, and the student will be registered for one examination attempt. The student has no further attempts.
Comments:
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.
Prerequisites
| Type | Prerequisite name | Prerequisite course |
|---|---|---|
| Exam | B450003112, Supervisory agreement | B450003101, Master Thesis - Comparative Public Policy and Welfare Studies |
EKA
B450009102
Supervisory agreement
Name
Supervisory agreement
Form of examination
Participation
Censorship
Second examiner: None
Grading
Approved/Not approved
Identification
Student Identification Card - Exam number
Language
English
Duration
-
ECTS value
0
Additional information
-
EKA
B450009112
External comment
NOTE - This course is identical with the former course 97013001, Master Thesis - Comparative Public Policy and Welfare Studies.
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.