Course content

The aim of the Master's thesis is for the student to complete a defined and independent research project under supervision following relevant research ethics. The topic of the Master's thesis should be within the topics covered by the Master's program in Public Health and in line with the course description. The topic and thesis question should be developed together with the supervisor(s). Work with the thesis will include planning (designing thesis question and project description) and carrying out the research project; this includes data analysis and writing a project report following ethical aspects, guidelines of research and good scientific practice within the applied research method. More information can be found in the guidelines for the master's thesis at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. These guidelines must be followed. If the master's thesis is written as an article, it should be complemented by a more descriptive document ("kappe") consisting of maximally 7,000 words. If the master’s thesis is written as a monograph, it should not exceed 25,000 words.

Learning outcome

After completing the master's thesis course FH3901, the student is able to:

Knowledge:

• account for different scientific methods and sources in the relevant field
• show specialized insight into the topic of the Master's Thesis

Skills:

• formulate a precise research question
• consider choice of research design and research method best suited to answer the thesis question
• analyze data from a study/experiment
• identify and discuss research ethics in connection with research in general and the thesis in particular
• produce and communicate the results in an academic format using the correct terminology
• present his/her own thesis question and discuss the results in light of relevant research literature

General proficiency:

• complete an independent, defined research project, under supervision while following relevant research ethics within the topics covered by the Master's program in Public Health
• describe an academic project in a clear and well-written report (the Master's Thesis)
• contribute to increased knowledge within the topic of the Master's Thesis

Learning methods and activities

Individual supervision is set to 45 hours. The project description must be approved before the project is started (the project description should be submitted at the end of the second semester). Mandatory attendance at a one-day seminar for Master students (held during the second semester). The Master's thesis can be written in a Scandinavian language or in English.

Compulsory assignments

• Participation at preparation seminars
• Individual supervision at the master's thesis

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

The student must be admitted to the master's programme in Public Health at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. In order to be eligible to submit his/her master's thesis the student must have passed all exams, i.e. compulsory and elective courses worth 75 credits in total.