Master of Disaster Management > Programme layout > Thesis writing

Thesis writing

As a student of the Master of Disaster Management programme, you are required to submit a final thesis in order to be awarded a Masters degree. The thesis will be graded by your supervisor and an external examiner.

The thesis process consists of the following components:

1. Draft Thesis Proposal (submitted before the programme starts)
2. Synopsis
3. Research Proposal
4. Data Collection
5. Thesis

Download detailed thesis guidelines (pdf)

Thesis objectives

Your Masters thesis should demonstrate that you are able to address complex problems/issues, which demand the integration of empirical data, theory and rigorous methods. The thesis may be based on primary or secondary data and material.

The thesis must:

• be based on a clearly formulated research question;
  
• have specific objectives;
  
• be based on relevant and clearly-described materials and methods;
  
• present clear findings;
  
• present a balanced and critical discussion of materials, methods and findings, relating these to other relevant literature within the field;
  
• fulfil the formal requirements for scientific presentations and include a front page, an abstract, a table of contents, references, etc.

On completion of the thesis project, the student should be able to:

• transform an international health/disaster management issue into a research question, identifying the nature of the problem, as well as the process needed to solve it;
  
• choose appropriate research methods;
  
• collect necessary data/information and critically analyse, review and interpret one's own research and the relevant literature;
  
• draw conclusions as to the nature of the problem and how to solve it;
  
• present well-argued and referenced recommendations as to future practice(s) in the given field;
  
• manage and plan the thesis writing process within the given timeframe;
  
• where relevant, include feedback and practical policy implications for local authorities (if research is based on local data) to contribute to improvements at the local level
• give a short thesis presentation, highlighting aims, main findings, conclusion and possible recommendations - as well as discussing critical questions and remarks regarding the findings and conclusions;
  
• provide critical and constructive feedback to fellow students on their theses.

Deadlines in 2012

Synopsis: 24 January 2012 at 12:00 pm
Full research proposal: 24 April 2012 at 12:00 noon
Thesis seminar: 20-21 June 2012
Thesis submission: 10 July 2012 at 12:00 noon

Credit points

20 ECTS

Download detailed thesis guidelines (pdf)