SFT42315 Master's Thesis (Spring 2025–Spring 2026)
Facts about the course
- ECTS Credits:
- 30
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Teacher Education and Languages
- Campus:
- Online
- Course Leader:
- Natalia Igl
- Teaching language:
- German
- Duration:
- 1½ year
The course is connected to the following study programs
Mandatory course in the Master's programme in Foreign Languages in School - German
Absolute requirements
Passed the course Method and Project (20 credits).
Recommended requirements
The course is based on knowledge from courses taken prior in the programme, according to the study plan.
Lecture Semester
6. - 8. semester (spring - autumn - spring).
The student's learning outcomes after completing the course
Knowledge
The candidate
- has specialized knowledge in a self-selected topic within one or more of the subject areas: German language, literature, culture, and didactics.
- can convey their knowledge in the target language, both in writing and orally, and can express themselves clearly and concisely within the self-selected thematic framework.
- can search for information sources in various databases, and evaluate and quality-assure information.
Skills
The candidate
- can use the target language at an advanced level.
- can adhere to genre conventions for master's theses.
- can perform advanced systematic searches for academic and relevant information, applying various criteria for quality assurance of information.
- can reference sources and create a bibliography clearly, consistently, and in a way that allows the reader to trace back to the source.
- can handle information and sources ethically.
- can plan and conduct a research project and present it in clear and precise language.
General Competence
The candidate
- can communicate the importance of foreign language competence in a modern, globalized society, considering culture, democracy, and mobility.
- can provide overviews of various information resources within their field of study and critically evaluate information and information sources.
- can apply guidelines for referencing techniques.
- can carry out independent research and development projects.
Content
The master's thesis consists of a larger individual written work that is completed under guidance.
Forms of teaching and learning
Students are encouraged to choose a topic and research question for their assignment early in the course of their studies. This will allow them to leverage previous project work, thematic lectures, portfolio submissions, and similar activities as groundwork for the assignment. Each student is assigned a supervisor affiliated with the area they have chosen for their assignment. Guidance is offered through online meetings and in writing on the university's learning platform. During a digital assembly, students present their work and receive feedback from both peers, mentors, and other instructors.
Workload
Approximately. 840 hours.
Examination
Individual written master's thesis with oral examination
Extent approximately 50 pages excluding the reference list and appendices. Line spacing 1.5.
The thesis will be evaluated by an examination committee consisting of supervisor(s) and an external examiner. The master's thesis must be assessed as passed before the candidate can proceed to the oral examination.
An oral examination (approximately 45 minutes) will be conducted, during which the student is required to present and reflect on their work.
The oral examination may adjust the written grade up or down by one level on the grading scale A-F.
Plagiarism check
Master's theses are checked for plagiarism. Plagiarism and copying from academic literature and other written works, whether one's own or others', without correct use of references/sources, will be considered an attempt at cheating.
Examiners
External and internal examiner.
Conditions for resit/rescheduled exams
New/deferred examination is regulated by the regulations on exams, study rights, and degrees at Østfold University College.
In the case of a non-passing result, the candidate may submit a revised thesis once. If the candidate wishes to improve the grade, a new thesis with a new research question must be submitted. When submitting a new thesis, the candidate is not entitled to new guidance.
Course evaluation
Feedback from our students is essential for us to be able to offer the best possible courses and study programmes. This course is evaluated every semester through ongoing and final evaluations.
The results are processed by the Head of studies in dialog with student representatives and subject teachers. The programme committee follows up on student evaluations at the department.
Literature
Self-selected curriculum approved by the academic supervisor.