Thesis Research Master

Course goals

Learning objectives
At the end of the course, the student is able to:

• Apply (international) economic theories and models;
• Carry out scientific research independently;
• Show the specific academic attitude and skills belonging to the economic context and the context of a combination of disciplines;
• Choose relevant research methods;
• Apply specific research methods of economics and a combination of disciplines;
• Indicate the contribution of own research in relation to the existing research results or as new research;
• Write a research report in English.

Content

The Research Master (RM) thesis is the final piece of evidence that students can conduct independent research and can report the outcome of their research. There are various possibilities for the completion of the thesis: research within a self-chosen subject, research within the context of one of the research themes of Utrecht University School of Economics and/or research based at an external research institute, a government instance, or a company. The thesis must be written individually. Given the aim and contents of the research master Multidisciplinary Economics, students are encouraged to explore the multidisciplinary aspects of the topic of their research master thesis (combination with other scientific discipline and/or combination of economics with business economics). This discussion of the multidisciplinary aspects can occur either within the thesis itself, or in an appendix.

The RM thesis should be written in the format of a paper that can be submitted to an international peer-reviewed journal in the field chosen by the student, with any supplementary material in appendix. Students are strongly encouraged to aim at ultimately publishing the research in their research master thesis, but are at the same time advised to be patient in doing this. Especially students who continue with a PhD are advised to take time during the PhD trajectory to improve the paper based on their research master thesis, and aim for a high-ranking journal.

Students progress through various stages while working on their RM thesis throughout the RM programme. The preparation stage initiates in the first year, during which students select a research topic and thesis supervisors, drawing on the content of first-year courses. Students are also encouraged to attend internal and external seminars at U.S.E. to explore potential ideas and to meet the speakers. The main stage unfolds in periods 3 and 4 of the second year, in which students will perform the research for the RM thesis and take part in the RM thesis course. The course consists of some mandatory feedback meetings that will be attended by the ECRMT course coordinator and fellow students. The final stage, encompassing the defence and completion of the RM thesis, takes place in the concluding weeks of period 4 of the second year.

Intended Learning Outcomes
       
Knowledge
The Multidisciplinary Economics graduate has:

• broad knowledge of core and state-of-the-art theories and empirical methods in economics;
• thorough knowledge of their own research specialization;
• knowledge of multidisciplinary aspects of their own research specialization.

Research skills
The Multidisciplinary Economics graduate can:

• write an academic paper in English, aiming for the level of a publishable article in a peer-reviewed journal;
• present and communicate in English (communication to experts and non-experts);
• formulate a data management plan, and manage data sets, using statistical software properly design economics experiments;
• collaborate in an international team, also with academics from other disciplines;
• assess economic policies, make economic forecasts, and give policy advice.

Research competences
The Multidisciplinary Economics graduate can:

• think in a logical way;
• summarize and identify common themes in the literature on a specific topic, and keep track of recent developments;
• critically appraise literature;
• identify innovative and well-delineated research questions;
• identify in a research proposal the correct methodology to answer research questions;
• assess the feasibility of a research proposal;
• apply acquired knowledge of theories and empirical methods within economics;
• acquire and apply insights from other scientific disciplines;
• develop as an independent academic, formulating research questions, and answering them;
• generate new knowledge, and contribute to the academic literature;
• contribute to the solution of open research questions;
• make their own research relevant for society.

Research attitudes
The Multidisciplinary Economics graduate:

• can critically reflect on their own work, and critically reflect on work of others in an appropriate way;
• can defend their own research results, while being open to criticism;
• can self-reflect on their development as a researcher;
• can keep track of the external validity and societal relevance of their own research;
• acquires an attitude of lifelong learning;
• has a sharp sense of academic integrity and demonstrates being a responsible and scholarly professional;
• knows, understands and complies with the requirements of scientific integrity as laid down in the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research 2018;
• takes steps to become part of an (inter)national research network;
• acquires insight into the process of academic publishing;
• acquires insight into the (inter)national academic labour market.

 
In case online access is required for this course and you are not in the position to buy the access code, you are advised to contact the course coordinator for an alternative solution. Please note that access codes are not re-usable meaning that codes from second hand books do not work, as well as access codes from books with a different ISBN. Separate or spare codes are usually not available.