HGO4090 – Master Thesis 60 Credits
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The master thesis constitutes independent academic research and the core of the master`s degree programme in Human Geography. Students are required to have a member of the academic staff as their supervisor. Seminars and workshops are organized to assist students in developing their master thesis projects.
Getting started on a master’s thesis
Learning outcome
Working on the master’s thesis will prepare you for carrying out independent academic work, give you experience in the use of methods in practice, and enable you to gain practice in linking theory to empirical evidence.
Admission to the course
Admission to the course is dependent on admission to the master’s degree programme in human geography.
Students with admission to the programme must each semester register which courses and examinations they wish to sign up for in StudentWeb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see degrees and programmes of study and admission to study programmes.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
You must have passed the examination in HGO4011 - Philosophy and Methodology of Human Geography and two of the theory courses.
Teaching
This course is run as a series of seminars and workshops to assist students in developing their master thesis projects. In year 1, we have workshops that will help you to identify and develop your master thesis topic. In year 2, the workshops focus on strategies for managing the data analysis and writing process.
At the workshops you will meet different members of staff and talk through your ideas and challenges. The workshops are a good opportunity to get to know your fellow students’, you can find ‘thesis buddies’ to share your ideas, drafts and even to form writing collectives.
The same workshops apply for both HGO4090 and HGO4080. Students are expected to participate in all workshops. The workshops are scheduled in the semester page.
SUPERVISION: Students will receive individual supervision by a member of the academic staff, the supervisor. Supervisors will be suggested for all students in the second semester of the master’s degree programme following the submission of a concept note. External co- or main supervisor must be approved by the programme
Compulsory instruction and coursework
You are required to submit a concept note in the 2nd semester of programme. Failing to do so will delay the identification of potential supervisors. The completed and approved compulsory activity will be valid for the entire period the course is offered.
Absence from compulsory tuition activities
If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory tuition activities, your absence may be approved or the compulsory activity may be postponed.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
The length of a 60-credit master’s thesis is maximum 40 000 words +/- 25% including everything (cover page, summary, table of contents, preface, reference list, annexes, figures, acronyms, etc.). Theses that exceed this limit will be rejected, and a new submission deadline will apply. If there is a need to deviate from the word limit, the student must, together with his/her supervisor, apply to the head of studies three weeks before the submission deadline. The application must be academically justified.
Once the thesis has been graded, an adjusting oral examination will be held on the thesis and its topic.
?
A master’s thesis that is not passed may be resubmitted only once, and then within the agreed time and in revised form. A master’s thesis that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.
If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Examination support material
All exam support materials are allowed during this exam. Generating all or part of the exam answer using AI tools such as Chat GPT or similar is not allowed.
Language of examination
The master’s thesis can be written in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
The oral examination will be held in Norwegian or English.?
The oral examination will be carried out within eight weeks of the submission deadline. This is calculated from the last possible submission date, irrespective of whether the thesis is actually delivered earlier.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.