Master Thesis (MT in this document) is a final compulsory activity in almost all JP programmes. A Master Thesis is usually considered as a compilation work for the achieved learnings along the duration of the studies at the partner Universities.
The following sections provide detailed guidelines for the design of the MT at each stage of the JP development.
To identify
similarities and disparities amongst the different partners, please consider
the information included in the Joint Programme Design Filtering
Tool
JP Design Phase
During the initial design stage of one joint degree program, the partner universities must reach a consensus on the following aspects:
A. Duration (ECTS) of the Master Thesis
- JP Universities must agree on the number of ECTS of the MT. In most cases, the MT covers one full semester (30 ECTS).
- The equivalence of ECTS to average effort is also to be clarified (25-30h/ECTS).
- It is recommended that a common calendar describing the stages of the MT is made available to the students (enrollment, selection/assignment of topic, selection/assignment of supervisor, deadlines for delivery of the documents, presentation dates…).
B. Supervision of the Master Thesis
- JP Universities must agree on the supervision rules for the MT (see also the comparison table). Usually one academic mentor is assigned/selected from the University where the MT will be done, however, multiple supervisors from more than one University is also possible/recommended (excepting in Poland, where no co-supervision is allowed), although in some other cases it is also compulsory to have the degree awarded.
- Each University must foresee how the supervision activities will be recognised to each supervisor.
C. Place of development of the Master Thesis
- Generally, students will decide where her/his MT is going to be developed. However, in some cases, specific rules may apply for it (f.i. one semester in University A, one semester in University B, and MT in University C…).
- On occasions, the MT can be performed inside a company, with an additional company supervisor. In this case, it is necessary to make sure that safety rules, confidentiality conditions, and access to the premises is guaranteed.
D. Enrolment to the Master Thesis
- Generally, students will enrol similarly as for their previous courses. However, in some cases, some additional conditions must be fulfilled (see also the comparison table):
● Having passed/enrolled all remaining courses (MT should be a final activity that cannot be done before the completion of the remaining compulsory/elective courses). Exceptions to the general rule shall be clearly stated.
● In some cases, prior to enrolment, it should be also necessary having allocated/registered a topic for the MT.
- Usually, each MT shall be done individually, but exceptions can occur.
JP Development Phase
During the development of the JP, the partner universities in charge of each MT for each student should make public and clear information on the following aspects:
A. Topic of the Master Thesis
- The University must facilitate to the students a list of available proposals for the MT, including, at least, title of the proposal, and supervisor of the proposal (name, address, and Department).
- Eventually the University must foresee a procedure for new proposals being available (f.i. because of an idea of the student or a company need…).
- If the MT is to be developed in a company, it is also important to highlight this information in the proposal.
- Eventually, a MT topic must require some sort of validation from the remaining partners.
- A common UNITE! platform to generate MT proposals may facilitate the implementation of this important part of a JP.
B. Contents of the Master Thesis
- The University must facilitate to the students the expected/desired structure of the MT including:
● Compulsory content to be considered (f.i. Aim, Scope, Requirements Background, State of the Art, Methodology, Sustainability implications, Economic implications, Conclusions, Future work…).
- The University must facilitate the students with the format/templates for the required documents (f.i. cover page, logos...).
- A common UNITE! comprehensive document valid for all types of MT would be welcome.
C. Monitoring of the Master Thesis
- In case that the procedures for the MT in the selected University require some intermediate stages (intermediate documents, aso.), this information, including deadlines should be made easily available to the students developing the MT.
D. Presentation of the Master Thesis (see also the filtering tool with the Comparison table (Annex)):
- The presentation of the MT will be usually done at the host University (see also the comparison table).
- If an additional presentation/defence is also required at the home University, this shall be clarified to the student in advance of the start of the MT.
- The decision about the date/time to perform the presentation shall be made available to the students in sufficient advance.
- It is encouraged that in the evaluation panel, academic staff of the partner Universities is also present.
- Face to face presentations are preferred in front of online presentations, however, due to the fact of being different Universities in the JP, online presentation can also be thought of as a usual way of presentation.
- The duration and formats for the presentation must have been clearly available to the students. It should be encouraged poster, video, physical/virtual prototypes to support the presentation.
- Public presentations are preferred but, in case of confidentiality issues, also non-public presentations can be foreseen.
E. Grading of the Master Thesis
- The grading of the MT will usually follow the rules of the host University (see also the comparison table since some exceptions may occur with some partners (f.i. Graz or Polito)).
- It is important to clarify the transformation of the MT grading into the scale of the partner Universities.
After the Presentation of
the Master Thesis
Following the completion of the MT, it is highly encouraged to:
A. Property Rights and Exploitation of the Master Thesis
- The IPR protection and potential exploitation of the results of the MT should be encouraged.
- The custody of the MT is the responsibility of the host University according to their specific rules.
- A copy of the documents of the MT shall also be available to the remaining partner Universities, except that confidentially rules may apply.
B. Dissemination rules for the Master Thesis
- The results of the MT, except when they are under confidentiality issues, are encouraged to make available to the public.
- A common UNITE! platform to make the results available, and for promotional purposes, should be considered.