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 should 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 are specified. The individual plan for the degree project shall include a background including a problem description and scientific aspects/question formulations, purpose(s), goals, delimitations, the relevance of the project, methods and a time schedule for the implementation of the degree project. The individual plan shall also include a brief self-reflection where the student accounts for her/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 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 his or her degree project.
The student carries out an oral and written review of another degree project on the same level.
The student writes and presents a written degree project report, where the student clearly accounts for and discusses own conclusions in the degree project and the knowledge and the arguments that underspin 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 shall apply and deepen knowledge, understanding, abilities, and approaches within the contexts of the education. The degree project shall be carried out towards the conclusion 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 completed degree project, the student shall demonstrate such 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:
- overview over and advanced knowledge within the main field of study/the specialisation for the education, including understanding in current research and development
- advanced method knowledge within the main field of study/the specialisation for the education.
- ability to integrate knowledge and with overall view critical, independently and creatively identify, formulate, and analyse, assess and handle complex phenomena and issues also with limited information
- ability to identify independently issues and formulate questions and to plan and with adequate methods carry out qualified assignments within given time frames, and to evaluate this work
- ability to orally and in writing clearly present and discuss own conclusions and the knowledge and the arguments on which they are based, in speech and writing to different audiences
- ability to within the main field of study for the education make assessments considering relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects and show awareness of ethical aspects on research and development work with respect to methods, working procedures and results of the degree project
- ability to within the framework of the degree project identify and demonstrate an insight into the possibilities and limitations of the science, its role in the society and the people's responsibility for how it is used including the engineer's role in the society
- ability to identify the need for additional knowledge and to take responsibility for own knowledge development.
