Course content

The master’s thesis consists of an academic text based on an independent research project carried out in the final semester of the program. The course is mandatory as part of the master’s degree. The master’s thesis must be relevant to research in audio pedagogy.

The work builds on the plans the student has developed in the course Project Development. The master’s thesis may take the form of a monograph or an article-based thesis. If writing a monograph alone, the thesis should be between 18,000 and 27,000 words from the first to the last chapter. If two students write a monograph together, the thesis should be between 25,000 and 34,000 words. An article-based master’s thesis consists of two parts: a draft article intended for a scientific journal and an introduction ("kappe") that frames the article. Articles typically range from 5,000 to 8,000 words. If one student writes an article-based thesis, the introduction should be between 5,000 and 10,000 words. If two students write an article-based thesis together, the introduction should be between 8,500 and 13,500 words.

Learning outcome

After completing the master’s thesis, the student should be able to:

• Carry out an independent research project based on a chosen research question that is relevant to the discipline.
• Situate the thesis within a relevant academic context by presenting previous research, discussing key concepts, and establishing a theoretical framework.
• Identify an appropriate method to address the research question, justify the choice of method, apply the method correctly, and reflect on methodological limitations.
• For empirical studies, analyze the collected data.
• Communicate research findings and draw academically sound conclusions.
• Comply with applicable research ethics guidelines.

Learning methods and activities

The student receives supervision from an appointed advisor throughout the process. The advisor and student will discuss the formulation and delimitation of the topic and research question(s), the student’s engagement with the academic literature, methodological approaches and quality, results/findings and their analysis, as well as the structure and design of the thesis. The advisor must inform the student about relevant research ethics guidelines and ensure that all necessary approvals are obtained before the project begins.

Compulsory assignments

• Mandatory guidance

Specific conditions