Science Thesis - 7,5 ECTS

This advanced course offers (the equivalent of) fulltime five weeks research training to students in their particular field of interest within any of the academic fields that are officially defined at UCU in the science major. Students carry out an individual research project within a research group at Utrecht University or one of the affiliated research institutes in Utrecht. Such a research project will include designing a research plan based on literature study of the theoretical background of both the subject and the research methods, conducting the proposed research involved, evaluating the results obtained and reporting on them according to the standard scientific practice in the field involved in a presentation and in writing.


After completing this course students are able to: 

A student who wants to start a research project has to write a research proposal and find a scientist willing to supervise the proposed research on her/his own initiative. There are no GPA requirements; the consent of the supervisor is decisive. The Head of Department in the field of the prospective research project, fellows, teachers or tutors may give advice, but UCU cannot be asked to formally mediate at this stage. Without a supervisor and a research proposal this course cannot be taken.

The research proposal also states in which major the research project is proposed to be situated and to which officially established field within the major the research project belongs. It also states the specific prerequisites (in as much as they are not fixed in advance). The proposed supervisor endorses the research project including the items above.

Each department designates a fellow of the department as a coordinator. The coordinator checks whether the proposal meets the formal requirements in the field of the major. If the proposal meets all requirements the coordinator approves on behalf of the head of department. The endorsement by supervisor and coordinator serves as official approval by the Director of Education. 

Students cannot take two research projects unless there are solid grounds, approved by the head of department. As the research project is meant to be a final piece of work, students are not supposed to start a research project before finishing their second year. The required courses are individually determined as part of the proposal to be allowed to take this research course.  

Find more information and forms on the student site https://students.uu.nl/en/university-college-utrecht/academics/research-thesis
Deadline for the report is one week after the last day of the semester.