Create the best framework for the Master’s thesis

Among other things, the 2015 study progress reform means that students must now complete their Master’s thesis faster than ever. This can be a challenge for both the student, the supervisor and the department. However, it may also be a good opportunity to reflect on how you can improve the Master’s thesis process under the new framework. The Department of Political Science has done so. For the past two years, the department has held an annual Master’s thesis day for all future Master’s thesis students - with great success. The Master’s thesis day takes place in November - well before the students must select their topic and supervisor.

“The Master’s thesis day aims to get the students to begin developing their ideas for their Master’s thesis early on, because it results in a much better thesis process,” says Master’s thesis coordinator Lars Thorup Larsen. “The event also has a social purpose, because the students get a chance to interact and give feedback on each other’s ideas. In this way, they learn to draw on each other from the start. And hopefully that helps build a form of team spirit in relation to the Master’s thesis.”

A comprehensive programme

The Master’s thesis day takes place on a Saturday in November from 9:00 - 17:00. This year, nearly half of the department’s approx. 200 future Master’s thesis students participated. The programme includes presentations about the supervision and thesis process from lecturers and former Master’s thesis students as well as workshops. Here the students get the opportunity to develop their ideas for a Master’s thesis both individually and through feedback from their fellow students. The students can also ask questions about the Master’s thesis supervision at the department - including about potential supervisors.

“The students don’t need to have a finalised idea when they leave the event,” says Lars Thorup Larsen. “But they should have received good feedback on their ideas, so that they know which supervisors they can contact to move forward. They should also feel more confident about the thesis process, so that they can complete their thesis in a more steady and smooth manner.”

After the Master’s thesis day and up until the final Master’s thesis registration, the department is also holding three weeks of “Open House”. Here all the department’s lecturers will be available to answer questions and give feedback and advice in order to help build the best possible basis for any future collaboration on thesis supervision.

Lars Thorup’s five tips in connection with the Master’s thesis day:

• Think of the study progress reform as an opportunity to consider why we supervise the way we do. And then tell the students about it.
• Draw on the students and allow them to give each other feedback - they listen closely to each other.
• Combine academic input with workshops where the students can work on their own ideas for a Master’s thesis. This will benefit the students more.
• Use the event to build a better sense of community - and thus wellbeing - among the Master’s thesis students.
• Try to maintain the sense of community after the event itself - in the form of e.g. group supervision if possible.

If you want to know more about the Master’s thesis day, you are welcome to contact:

Associate Professor and Master’s thesis coordinator Lars Thorup Larsen
Email: lars@ps.au.dk
Tel.: +45 26 74 88 85