RULES FOR SUBMISSION AND PRESENTATION OF THE MASTER THESIS

Transcription

1 RULES FOR SUBMISSION AND PRESENTATION OF THE MASTER THESIS The MA thesis is crucial for the completion of GEMMA and the acquisition of the Master s degree. It should be based on original, independent research and demonstrate the knowledge and skills acquired during GEMMA study period. It takes the form of a research report or treatise, written individually, with the application of a feminist / gender perspective, on a relevant subject chosen by the student and agreed upon with two Supervisors (one from the Home University and one from the Mobility University). Length 20,000-30,000 words Subject o Relevant to the area of Women s and Gender Studies o Encompassing a new insight into the subject o Clearly formulated, with a theoretical framework and a valid conclusion confronted with former theories Languages The Institution awarding the credits for the Master Thesis will decide upon the language in which the Thesis should be written. Students can write their thesis in any of the 3 Consortium languages. If the teaching languages of both institutions are different, students need to provide a translation of the Index, Abstract, Introduction, and a brief summary of each of their thesis chapters and the Conclusions, if requested. Format Institution of Submission Cover page: Title, researcher s and both (Main and Support) supervisors names, institution/department and year of submission, and institutional logo, if applicable (according to local rules) GEMMA Consortium Cover Page: Contents as cover page, with approval signed by main supervisor and all GEMMA partner universities logos Abstract: In the same language chosen for the MA Thesis and the partner institution language (if different), no longer than 300 words each. 1

2 Referencing Following the rules of the institution awarding the credits, as indicated by the supervisor and official guidelines. Suggested structure of contents (optional sections marked with asterisks; final structure to be discussed with supervisor) [Cover page, Title page, Abstracts, *Acknowledgements] Table of contents Introduction / Review of previous work Theoretical / Methodological chapter Core of thesis (results/ discussion), divided into chapters and *sub-sections Conclusions Works Cited *Appendix/ appendices Registration The thesis will be registered following the procedures of the university at which it is submitted. Supervision The institution awarding the credits, via the local GEMMA Coordinator, will allocate a Main supervisor, attending to criteria of relevance to subject, availability of staff, and student choice. The other partner institution involved (Home/Mobility), via its GEMMA coordinator, will assign a Support supervisor. Both will be allocated by the second week of the 4 th semester at the latest. The thesis will be supervised primarily by the Main supervisor, who will follow the procedures of their institution. Contact with the student will include at least a preliminary research design meeting and two progress interviews before the submission of the final draft. The Support supervisor will approve of the research design at the beginning of the fourth semester and final draft before the submission of thesis. Prior to the submission of the thesis, both supervisors will write a final report (500 words maximum) to be submitted to the board of examiners nominated by the awarding institution. All students must send an to both their Home and Mobility University Coordinators (with a copy to gemma@ugr.es) containing their Thesis title, an abstract (300 words approx.), and Main and 2

3 Support supervisors names (provisional) by the 15 th of January of the second year, always after having received the approval of both supervisors. Submission and assessment: Theses should be submitted and defended (if applicable) following the procedures and dates of both Home and Mobility University, and always before 30 September. The Consortium universities may establish provisions for the extension of this date according to their own rules and regulations. When needed, the Consortium universities will establish an earlier submission date so that beneficiaries of the Erasmus Mundus scholarship can comply with the 24 months duration of such scholarship. Students should observe the submission dates required by both their Home and Mobility University and always comply with the earlier of the two dates. Please see the table in Appendix 1 for all submission dates. The assessment will be carried out by a board of examiners nominated by the awarding institution, and will include the participation of the Support Supervisor (or another member of staff from the partner institution), either in the viva/defence or by means of a written report. Evaluation criteria will be made public in advance and the ECTS grading system will be used. 3

4 Local rules and regulations (Please see GEMMA CONSORTIUM THESIS CALENDAR in Appendix 1 for submission deadlines for ALL universities) University of Bologna The thesis has to be original and preferably in comparative form. Oral defence of the Thesis is held in front of a Degree Commission formed at least by three members (including the main supervisor). Languages: should the language of thesis be different from the Italian, the student is expected to write 20 pages summary of his/her thesis content in Italian. Students who do not respect the deadlines will not be allowed to receive the degree. Final dates will be given each year in accordance with the current university calendar. Central European University Oral defence of the Thesis is an integral part of the final grade. Defence is held in front of a CEU Evaluation Commission composed by three members of the faculty (including the main supervisor). The report of the support supervisor from the other GEMMA institution is to be submitted to this Commission. Students will be offered two possible dates for the submission and defence of the thesis: submission in May with defence mid-june, and submission in August with defence in the second part of September. Final dates will be given each year in accordance with the current university calendar. University of Granada Students may ask for an extension of the submission date (until 15 th December) or an earlier deadline (30 th June, especially in case of Erasmus Mundus grantees who must comply with the 24 months duration of the scholarship). In both cases, the change of deadline for the submission of thesis will require the acceptance on the part of the Main Supervisor. Once the thesis has been submitted, the local Coordinator will call upon the Evaluation Commission, formed by at least three members of academic staff holding a PhD (the main supervisor cannot form part of this Commission) who will assess student s viva. The date of the viva will be decided upon by the Academic Coordinator. 4

5 University of Hull Students should submit two bound copies to the Postgraduate Secretary in the Department of Social Sciences. The thesis is examined internally by a first marker from within the academic staff cohort at the University of Hull and second marked by the support supervisor. It is then sent with the markers reports to the Department of Social Sciences Postgraduate External Examiner for final approval of the grade. It is then formally approved at the Postgraduate Examinations Board, normally held in November. Students will receive notification of their final grade and comments on their thesis from their supervisor after the marks have been finalised following the Exam Board. More detailed guidelines for production, format and submission of the thesis at the University of Hull are available from Dr Suzanne Clisby or Dr Rachel Alsop. University of Lodz The thesis has to contain three signed student statements: a) that the thesis is student's own work, b) whether the student agrees to leave a copy of the thesis in the library for research purposes, c) that the hard copy and the CD copy of the thesis contain the same text. Additionally, the thesis has to contain a supervisor's statement that it has been approved. The thesis themes have to be approved by the Faculty Council at the beginning of the spring semester (in February). The viva/ma exam is obligatory in order to get a degree. The grade on the diploma consists of three components: the grade from the thesis, the average grade from the entire studies, and the grade from the MA exam. At the MA exam students are asked questions by their supervisor and the second reader. There is also one question from the field of gender studies (the list of questions is approved by the Faculty Council and is given to the students in advance). The Evaluation Commission is appointed by the Dean and a special report is prepared and signed by all members of the Commission. University of Oviedo Students may ask for an earlier submission deadline (15 th of June, especially in case of Erasmus Mundus grantees who must comply with the 24 months duration of the scholarship). The change of deadline for the submission of thesis will require the acceptance on part of the main supervisor. 5

6 Once the thesis has been submitted, the local Coordinator will call upon the Evaluation Commission, formed by at least three members of academic staff holding a PhD (the main supervisor cannot form part of this Commission) who will assess student s viva. The date of the viva will be decided upon by the Academic Coordinator. Utrecht University The thesis will be assessed and graded by the supervisor and by a second assessor. The outcome of the assessment will be made known through the Research Master office, in the form of a written report, within one month of submission of the thesis. Failure to meet the deadlines will adversely affect the final grade. A thesis which is handed in later than the stipulated deadline will be graded down by one point. Extensions will be granted only in exceptional cases where a student can demonstrate that he or she has been prevented by serious circumstances from meeting the deadline (bad planning does not count). 6

7 APPENDIX 1: GEMMA CONSORTIUM THESIS CALENDAR Inscription of thesis 1) general, in Granada, specifying title and both Supervisors: 1 st of February 2) at the university awarding the credits (Main Supervisor): As regulated by each university Submission of draft to second supervisor: One month in advance of exam date / finished thesis submission date. Important: You must confirm procedures and dates with coordinators or thesis tutors. Deadlines for submission of finished thesis (local rules): Bologna CEU Hull Lodz Oviedo Utrecht Exam / assessment date / submission of final thesis (Formal deadline) End of June 2) First week November 3) First week March 1) 20 June (scholarship students) 2) 21 September 12 September (finished thesis) 1) MA exam: no later than 30 October 2) Submission of final thesis: no later than 30 September 28 June-16 July 2011 Exam date: 1) 1 July (without extension) 2) 24 August (with extension) Extension must be applied for before June 13 Deadline for submission of final draft 10 June 2)10 October 3)10 February One month in advance (20 May, 20 August ) 30 June (final draft) no later than September days before the exam (see =>) (*13 May+) 1) 13 June (without extension) 2) 15 August (with extension) Previous formal requirements (local) which affect deadlines 15 days before the exam date FINAL (printed) copies must be delivered 15 days before exam date, FINAL copies, which cannot be modified, must be handed in. Comments Title submission and graduation application: 15 May 2) 15 Sept 3) 15 January Exam dates are individual, and decided by the board. Exam dates are individual and decided by board. Grades can t be submitted after August 31, unless you register again as a student for the new academic year and pay the tuition fee for the new year! Granada 30 June 2) 15 Sept 30 days before the exam 15 days before exam date, FINAL copies, which cannot be modified, must be handed in. 7