DoD Master’s Thesis Seminar 2024-

Thesis proposal:

• At DoD, you must prepare a Thesis Proposal that describes the thesis topic, the type of thesis you aim to do, your envisioned research approach, and how the topic links to your studies and program/major overall.
  • As you prepare the Thesis proposal, follow the structure of Why-What-How: 
  • Why: Why do you want to research this topic? Why is it important? Why is it important and relevant for you?
  • What: What exactly do you want to research? What is the aim? What type of thesis do you want to do? What do you want to arrive at the end? 
  • How: How do you want to achieve your aims? What methodology, e.g., research through design or practice-led research, or research methods, e.g., interviews or wardrobe studies, will you use? Will you have a production component? How does the topic link to your studies and your program/major, e.g., have you worked on the same or similar topic before, or have you used this methodology before?
• Your Thesis Proposal should communicate the core ideas about your thesis topic to potential supervisors, head of program/major, and potential advisors. The proposal is also key for you to communicate your ideas and thesis topic to yourself.
• The written Thesis Proposal should be 1.5-2 A4 page long. You should aim to briefly and clearly community why, what, and how you want to do research for your thesis.
  • Use the Thesis Proposal template (in the Templates section)
  • Include:
  • 2-3 sentence summary: Summarize your thesis proposal in 3 sentences: Why this topic is important? What do you want to research in your thesis? How do you want to research it?
  • Brief background: What is the context? Why do you want to research this topic? Why is it important? Why is it important and relevant for you?
  • Research aims and/or questions: What exactly do you want to research? What are your research aims and/or questions?
  • Research Approach: How do you plan to achieve your aims? What type of thesis do you want to do? What do you want to arrive at? What methodology, e.g., research through design or practice-led research, or research methods, e.g., interviews or wardrobe studies, will you use? What kind of data do you plan to collect? Will you have a production component?
  • Link to your studies (*mandatory!): How does the topic link to your studies and your program/major, e.g., have you worked on the same or similar topic before, or have you used this methodology before?
  • Project practicalities: Possible partners in the project, Potential supervisor, Potential costs of the project and funding (if applicable).
  • Format:
  • approx. 1.5-2 pages = 600-800 words,
  • use an academic writing style,
  • use references.

Thesis Proposal presentations:

• At DoD, every student has to present their Thesis Proposal.
• The Thesis Proposal presentation typically is 5-10 minutes long, during which you get to present your thesis to a group of your peers and potential supervisors and advisors. You might also get important feedback and useful questions about your topic. 
• Each program/major might organize their session and set the limit for the length of presentations to fit their particular style and needs.
• The Thesis Proposal presentation sessions are arranged for each Thesis Seminar implementation. The presentation counts as one session for the Thesis Seminar, and attendance is mandatory. If you have challenges being present at the session, please contact the DoD MA Thesis coordinator and the head of your program/major.

Getting a supervisor

• According to the program/major's procedure, you will be paired with a supervisor. Please check the section of your program/major to read how exactly you and your supervisor will be paired.
• Typically, your Thesis Proposal and/or Thesis Proposal presentation will serve as a base for finding which supervisor fits your topic best.
• During or shortly after the Thesis Proposal presentation, the head of the program/major and/or supervisor should communicate with you to confirm who is your assigned supervisors.
• After finding out who your supervisor is, you can start identifying potential advisors and contacting them.

Creating thesis record in MyStudies

• Once the supervisor and topic are settled within the program/major, you will create a 'New Thesis Record' in the MyStudies platform.
  • Important! Do not add a thesis record and supervisor before your Thesis Proposal presentation.
• In MyStudies, you will need to enter the thesis topic, the supervisor, and other information requested by the system. When the system asks for the start date of the thesis, enter the date you received confirmation from the program about the assigned supervisor. When the system asks for the end date of the thesis, enter the submission date for your thesis path.
• After you create the record in MyStudies, the supervisor will officially approve your thesis topic, and the head of the program/major will officially approve your supervisor.
• The thesis topic is valid for 12 months from the approval date. 
• If necessary, once the topic's 12-month validity period ends, you will need to request an extension and re-approval of the topic.