Table of contents

The course is connected to the following study programs

Teaching language

English

Prerequisites

Students in the discipline master's programme must have a minimum of 60 ECTS credits including at least one theory/methodology course in English at master's level (EN-455/EN-454). 30 ECTS credits must be within the same area of specialization as the master's thesis (literature or linguistics).

Students in the teacher-training programme must have a minimum of 30 ECTS credits in English at master's level. Teacher-training students who would like to write a thesis on a culture topic, are required to take a course offered in this area.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge: Upon completion of the master’s thesis, students have

  • detailed insight into scholarly literary or linguistic research methods, relevant literary or linguistic theory, and thorough knowledge of the field of research related to the master's thesis
  • specialized knowledge of the topic of the master's thesis

 

Skills: Upon successful completion of the master’s thesis, students are able to

  • work independently with academic issues
  • apply problem-oriented, methodological and theoretically mature approaches to the research
  • compose academic texts using the conventions of the appropriate academic field
  • critically evaluate arguments, and assess the relevance and criteria of quality.
  • engage productively in academic discussions

 

General competence: Upon successful completion of the master’s thesis, students can

  • communicate the nature of the research project and its findings to others

Contents

The master's thesis is based on independent research and writing on a topic either dealing with English literature or linguistics. The topic of the thesis may be related to one of the courses in the master's programme. The thesis is stipulated to take two semesters. Students take two 10 credit courses in their third semester of the second cycle along with working on their thesis. The thesis should be approx. 20.000 words.

 

An Alternative 2 thesis is both more limited in length than that of Alternative 1 and should also concentrate on a more limited field of research. The project is to be an analytical investigation of a literary or linguistic topic, involving a critical assessment of relevant sources or students may also choose an experimental linguistic topic, involving the collection and interpretation of a novel dataset. Teacher-training students also have the option to write a thesis on a culture topic.

Teaching and learning methods

There are compulsory individual tutorials (approximately 12 hours) and an obligatory poster session in the autumn. In addition, there is a feedback seminar in the spring. Estimated workload: Approximately 1080 hours.

Examination requirements

Compulsory individual tutorials (approximately 12 hours) and participation in the poster session. Formal supervision of the thesis starts after a project description has been handed in and approved. The master's thesis may not be submitted for assessment until all courses have been successfully completed.

Examinations

The master's thesis is marked separately and a graded assessment is given. An oral examination will take place after the thesis has been assessed. In the oral exam, the candidate gives a short presentation of the argumentation of the master's thesis, and this is followed by a discussion of the topic with an internal and external examiner. The duration of the oral exam is approximately 45 minutes. The oral exam may adjust the grade given for the thesis by one grade.

Student evaluation

The person responsible for the course decides, in cooperation with student representative, the form of student evaluation and whether the course is to have a midway or end of course evaluation in accordance with the quality system for education, chapter 4.1.

Offered as a free-standing course

No.

Admission for external candidates

No.
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 7:23:15 AM