course-details-portlet

MIS4900

Master's Thesis -Information Security

Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 30
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2026 / Spring 2027
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English and norwegian
Location Gjøvik
Examination arrangement Master's Thesis and adjusting oral examination/presentation

About

About the course

Course content

The candidate must select a specific problem of relevance to the master's program. The topic must represent a challenge within the specific area, must relate to open questions in state of the art and must require that the student adheres to practices that are common within the area of Information Security.

We strongly encourage problems of relevance from industry and public sector if the candidate has experience here.

The topic must be pre-approved by the supervisor.

Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidates have obtained the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

  • The candidate possesses specialized insight into a research and development area, and relevant academic work to the problem addressed.
  • The candidate possesses knowledge of theoretical background and methods being used in the area of the problem addressed.
  • The candidate possesses extended knowledge of the scientific and technological basis in context of chosen problem, for the entire subject area of the study programme.
  • The candidate possesses insight into how research results are generated and reported within the area of the problem addressed.

Skills

  • The candidate is capable of defining a significant and complex research and development problem within the subject area of the master program, clearly and independently, but with guidance from a supervisor.
  • The candidate is capable of analyzing existing literature, studies, methods, and interpretations associated with own research, with a critical and analytical attitude towards own and others’ work and results.
  • The candidate is capable of documenting the results achieved in an academic project, mastering the terminology of the field.

General Competence

  • The candidate is capable of planning and conducting necessary studies or experiments, organizing and analyzing data acquired, drawing defensible conclusions, and making recommendations based on these.
  • The candidate understands scientific working methods, as well as having extended awareness of ethical issues in research and technology.
  • The candidate is capable of presenting and defending academic work and results in both written and oral form.

Learning methods and activities

  • Project work
  • Seminar(s)
  • Tutoring/Supervision
  • Independent study

Compulsory requirements:

  • Master’s thesis agreement. Signed by the student and the supervisor, and approved by the department.
  • The student must participate in the supervision as a mentee.
  • The student must continuously be able to present project status to the supervisor and demonstrate that the project can be completed according to the current project plan or, alternatively, adjust the plan accordingly to ensure a successful outcome.
  • The student must deliver a number of reports presenting their project status. The exact number, details and deadlines for these deliverables will be presented in the first seminar.

Other:

  • 2 seminars. Attendance is strongly recommended, announced in the Schedule per semester.
  • Spring semester: Seminar no 1 in January, seminar no 2 March/April.
  • Autumn semester: Seminar no 1 in August, seminar no 2 October/November.
  • The master’s thesis agreement to be handed in as soon as possible after passing grade 90 ECTS / IMT4205 has been achieved. For spring semester in January/February, for autumn semester in August/September. Exact deadline announced on first seminar.
  • See course channel in NTNUs Learning System for further details.

Compulsory assignments

  • Delivery of the master's thesis agreement
  • Delivery of the project status reports

Further on evaluation

Re-sit:

  • After failure, a student may submit a new or a revised thesis once. If the student chooses to submit a revised version of the thesis, this must be submitted in the following semester.
  • All compulsory assignments must be completed and approved again.

Forms of assessment:

  • All compulsory assignments must be completed and approved.
  • Project report and oral examination.
  • The project report is given a temporary grade. Individual oral examination/presentation may adjust the grade up or down to the final grade, according to performance.
  • Students must pass both parts to pass the course.
  • Hand-in deadline June 1st (Spring semester) or December 20th (Autumn semester).
  • Master’s thesis grading: Description of grades for master’s thesis Description of grades for master thesis - Knowledge base - NTNU

Mandatory activities from:

  • Mandatory attendance on campus Gjøvik in presentation of thesis and oral examination after delivery. Can be made online based on examiners’ availability. It is also mandatory to attend the entire presentation day.

Other:

  • The thesis must reflect on the sustainability relevance of the thesis based on the UN’s sustainability goals.

Specific conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required:
Information Security (MIS)
Information Security (MISD)

Required previous knowledge

Admission to the master programme "Master in Information Security" (MIS / MISD) is required.

All course work in the study program (90 ETCS/MIS/MISD) must be passed before the work on the master thesis can be started.

A passed grade in IMT4205 Research Project Planning is required before signing up for the master thesis and the master thesis agreement.

Prereq.-courses: IMT4110, IMT4113, IMT4114, IMT4115 in addition to IMT4205

Subject areas

  • Information Security

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Master's Thesis and adjusting oral examination/presentation
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2026

Master's Thesis and adjusting oral examination/presentation
Weighting 100/100 Date Submission 2026-12-21 Time Submission 14:00 Exam system Inspera Assessment

Ordinary examination - Spring 2027

Master's Thesis and adjusting oral examination/presentation
Weighting 100/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment