Thesis

Course goals

Learning objectives
The thesis is the final part of the master's programme. It must reflect many of the learning objectives of the programme's various courses. In particular, after successful completion of the thesis, students have shown that they are able to:

• Assess advanced economic theory
• Apply modern economic theories, possibly in combination with other academic fields
• Work with economic models
• Carry out scientific research independently
• Demonstrate an academic attitude towards solving complex economic problems
• Select the relevant research method: theoretical, empirical, experimental, or any combination
• Assess the contribution of own research within the realm of the existing body of knowledge
• Write an advanced research report in English

Content

This a required course and is open to U.S.E. Master students only.
 
For their master thesis, students independently conduct academic research to contribute to the progress of science, and (preferably) to also make a practical impact by developing new insights/useful knowledge. The thesis must be written individually.
The writing of the thesis may be combined with an ‘internship’ (external research) that students can find themselves, pending upon approval by their thesis supervisor. To explore this, consult your master program thesis coordinator, or your thesis supervisor (after you are assigned a thesis supervisor).

Format
In period 2, each of the MSc programmes organises a kick-off session in which thesis supervisors present themselves, and the kind of topics they are able to supervise. What follows is a matchmaking process in which each student will be assigned a supervisor, with whom s/he will closely collaborate for half a year. The matching of students and supervisors will be finalised not later than in January. Although deviations are possible, students will typically meet their supervisor by the end of January to discuss initial research ideas and data collection opportunities, and to be put on track of adequate literature.
 
During period 3, five EC should be dedicated to writing a research proposal and literature research, and maybe (partly) collecting data. During period 4, ten EC should be dedicated to (partly) data collection, analysing data, and drafting and improving the thesis.
 
A detailed planning including feedback sessions will be worked out in collaboration with your supervisor.
 
The contents and frequency of the meetings with your supervisor can be diverse, but the typical process foresees in around 7 meetings altogether.  A second reader will be involved in the process specifically to (i) approve the research proposal and set up of the thesis, and (ii) read the final manuscript as approved by the first supervisor, and to determine the thesis grade in consultation with the first supervisor.
More detailed instructions will be provided by your master thesis coordinator (FM: Abdulkader Kaakeh; BF: Thomas Walther, SFI: Yilong Xu; BDE: Timo van Balen, IM: Vincent Kunst; EP: Thomas van Huizen, BSI: Katrin Merfeld) and on the student website.

Assessment method

• Research proposal (10% of final grade). Determined at the end of period 3
• Thesis and the presentation (90% of final grade). Determined at the end of period 4.

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.