Learning activities
Before the degree project course starts, the student shall identify an appropriate degree project task and formulate a project proposal that can be presented to the examiner for approval. The assignment must be chosen, so that it implies a natural progression of the knowledge and skills that have been acquired within the education, and in a possible specialisation within the education.
The student must write an individual plan for the degree project in which the problem description/assignment and the preconditions for the implementation of the work should be specified. The individual plan for the degree project should include a background including a problem description and scientific aspects/question formulations, purpose(s), goals, delimitations, the relevance of the project, methods and time schedule for the implementation of the degree project. The individual plan shall also include a brief self-reflection where the student accounts for his knowledge to carry out the assignment and the planning for how potential remaining courses, that are required for higher education qualification, shall be completed. The individual plan, for the degree project, shall be approved by the examiner.
The student carries out an in-depth pre-study including discussions of method choice and theoretical background with a literature study that is reported as a part of a draft to a preliminary version of the written degree project report.
The student carries out an individual independent project where knowledge and methods, from the education, are applied.
The student plans and carries out an oral presentation and defence of the own degree project.
The student carries out an oral and written opposition of another student's degree project on the same level.
The student writes and presents a written degree project report, where the student clearly presents and discusses own conclusions in the degree project and the knowledge and the arguments that support them.
The student carries out a self-assessment of the degree project according to the model of "Assessment of the quality of degree project for Degree of Master of Science in Engineering and Degree of Master of Science".
The purpose of the degree project is that the student should apply and deepen knowledge, understanding, abilities, and approaches within the contexts of the education. The degree project should be carried out at the end of the education and imply a specialised study and synthesis of earlier acquired knowledge. In the degree project, both the technical/scientific content and method knowledge are emphasised.
After having completed the degree project, the student shall demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to participate in research and development work, or to work independently in other qualified activities, according to the national qualitative outcomes for the Degree of Master of Science in the Higher Education Ordinance. These include:
- considerably advanced knowledge within the main field of study/the specialisation for the education, including advanced insight into current research and development work,
- specialised methodological knowledge within the main field of study/the specialisation for the education,
- demonstrate the ability to participate in research and development work and so contribute to the formation of knowledge
- demonstrate, with a holistic approach, the ability to critically, independently and creatively identify, formulate, analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information,
- demonstrate the ability to plan and with adequate methods undertake advanced tasks within predetermined parameters, as well as the ability to evaluate this work,
- demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge critically and systematically, as well as the ability to identify the need for additional knowledge,
- demonstrate the ability to, in English, clearly present and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in speech and writing to different audiences,
- demonstrate the ability to, within the framework of the degree project, identify the role of science and the engineer in the society,
- demonstrate the ability to, within the framework of the specific degree project, identify the issues that need to be answered in order to observe relevant dimensions of sustainable development, and
- demonstrate the ability to, within the framework of the degree project, assess and show awareness of ethical aspects on research and development work with respect to methods, working methods and the results of the degree project.
