General EMBC+ Thesis Information
Thesis work is an integral part of the EMBC+ Master programme and is credited for 30 ECTS. All students undertake their thesis work during the fourth semester, at one of the EMBC+ partners or members of the consortium. During their thesis work students will focus on a specific research topic for a given amount of time. Students work independently albeit under supervision of a thesis supervisor and promoter. Through the thesis work, students are able to apply the knowledge and techniques they gained during the courses in the three previous semesters. The final product is a written thesis report stating the main results of their research presented in a scientifically correct manner. Thesis students also present and discuss their results at the annual thesis symposium.
Thesis work is carried out according to the annual guidelines available here.
Thesis selection
In December of the first academic year students are provided with a thesis research catalogue which enables them to find a thesis topic that suits their interests. Students can contact potential thesis supervisors and finalise a research topic from the catalogue. Students can also submit their own thesis topics but only after approval by the EMBC+ management board. Therefore, students need to contact the EMBC+ coordination office before March of the first academic year in order to discuss the feasibility of the thesis topic. Students submit a thesis project to the EMBC+ coordination office making use of an electronic form available on their personal student page. Thesis project descriptions include a title, an abstract, a work plan, contact details of supervisor and promoter and an agreement of the promoter to welcome the student for the particular thesis subject.
The thesis research lines can be viewed on the European Marine Training Portal at MarineTraining.eu.
Thesis preparation
Students can start with the preparation of the thesis (for example literature review, introduction, or sampling) during the second and third semesters. However, this must not interfere with the students other courses in these semesters. In principle, the fourth semester (January to June) is fully available for the thesis work and submission. Therefore, these activities have to be supervised by the thesis promoter/supervisor. The students will be encouraged to organise their thesis work in a way that enables them to submit the thesis in the first session exam period. At the start of the fourth semester students will receive € 150 from the EMBC+ co-ordination budget to pay the thesis mobility costs. This includes the travel to the thesis event in June.
Thesis format
The thesis report must be written in English and should ideally have the format of a scientific publication. It should contain the following:
- Executive Summary (max 400 words)
- Abstract (max 200 words)
- Introduction & Aims
- Material and Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- Acknowledgements
- References
Thesis defence
At the end of June each year EMBC+ students will present the results of their thesis work during the EMBC+ Thesis Event. Students give a 15 minute oral presentation followed by 10 minutes for question from members of the reading committee and the audience. If the thesis is not submitted during the first session exam period of the second master year, the thesis can be submitted in August. However, students (and supervisors) will be strongly encouraged to finalise the thesis by June. Students who submit in August are still required to give an oral presentation on the current status of their thesis work at the Thesis Event.
Thesis templates & declarations
- Template for front page of the thesis: download here
- Logo of EMBC+ to be used on the thesis: download here
- Declaration copyright: 'No data can be taken out of this work without prior approval of the thesis promoter'.
- Declaration plagiarism: 'I hereby confirm that I have independently composed this Master thesis and that no other than the indicated aid and sources have been used. This work has not been presented to any other examination board.' [Date] Signature
