The Curriculum for Master of Arts (MA) in English
Master of Arts (MA) in English and [minor subject]

The Master´s degree program in English

The Masters’ degree programme in English is offered in two forms: as a single-subject or dual-subject programme. For the dual-subject Master’s degree programme, the two years of study are spent on the two subjects such that 70 ECTS points are afforded to English, and 50 ECTS points to one subject other than English. The single-subject Master’s degree programme corresponds to 120 ECTS points for English.

The objective of the programme is to give students a range of discipline-specific and discipline-related competences – including joint competences in [the humanities, logopaedics, audiology, business languages and business economics].

All master´s degree programmes permit successful graduates to apply to a PhD programme.

Competence description for the single-subject Master´s degree programme

The Master´s degree programme in English us a 2-year full-time programme representing 120 ECTS. 

The aim of the programme is to provide students with a range of subject-specific and subject-related competences. The Master's degree programme corresponding to 120 ECTS points also aims to present students with a scientific dimension. The disciplines are organised in such a way as to ensure students’ academic progression from general knowledge of the humanities to more specific elements of English. In addition to strengthening the academic knowledge and specialisations that students gain and promoting independence and other general competences, this Master’s degree programme also gives students the qualifications to perform and partake in research work, as well as other business functions that require the ability of abstraction, planning and insight into theoretical methods, as well as targeted and innovative communication and dissemination of knowledge in fluent and correct English at a high level.

The Master’s degree programme represents a more in-depth, scholarly exploration of the student’s entire course of study. Graduates will have acquired academic and professional competences that will make them qualified to handle a broad spectrum of business functions.

The programme´s competence objectives are divided into general and discipline-specific competences. The general competence objectives are the broad competences the newly graduated student has acquired following completion of the programme, while the discipline-specific competence objectives relate to the programme´s core academic competences. With reference to the "New Danish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education", objectives are divided into knowledge, skills and competences.

General competence objectives:

The candidate must:

1. be able to delimit and define an academic issue at a high academic research level
   
2. be able to exhaustively examine, analyse and resolve academic issues utilising relevant academic theories and methods, while incorporating current international research
3. be able to systematize complex knowledge and data, as well as critically select and prioritize factors that are significant for the subject
4. critically master the subject's various theories and methodologies
5. demonstrate a precise and consistent application of concepts
6. be able to reason at a research level
7. be able to initiate and implement an academic dialogue
8. be able to focus and establish coherence in the resolution of tasks
9. take a critical stance on sources used and document these using references, notes and bibliography
10. employ language - in writing and/or verbally - that is subject-oriented, precise and correct
11. communicate research-based knowledge and discuss complex scientific issues in a way that is relevant to and comprehensible for various target groups.
12. be able to manage work and development situations that are complex and that demand innovative approaches and be able to cooperate, including being able to receive and give constructive criticism
13. be able to work independently, disciplined, structured and targeted, including complying with deadlines and formal requirements
14. employ IT as a tool for both information retrieval as well as verbal and written communication

The coherence between the qualifications framework for higher education, the competence objectives of the course of study and the individual subject element learning objectives are set out in appendix 1 . The the discipline-specific competence objectives are set out in the section Course of study.

Competence description for the two-subject Master´s degree programme

The two-subject Master’s degree programme with a major subject in English is a full-time programme representing 70 ECTS. Concurrently, the minor subject is studied in another subject of 50 ECTS.

If the Master’s degree programme with a major subject in English is combined with a minor subject at another faculty at SDU, the Master’s degree programme in English  represents 75 ECTS: 70 ECTS within the major subject and a 5 ECTS elective relevant to the major subject (English). The elective must be approved by the Board of Studies for the major subject.

The aim of the programme is to provide students with a range of subject-specific and subject-related competences. The disciplines are organised in such a way as to ensure students’ academic progression from general knowledge of the humanities to more specific elements of English. In addition to strengthening the academic knowledge and specialisations that students gain and promoting independence and other general competences, this Master’s degree programme also gives students the qualifications to handle a broad spectrum of business functions that require the ability of abstraction, planning and insight into theoretical methods, as well as targeted and innovative communication and dissemination of knowledge in fluent and correct English at a high level.

A Master's degree programme corresponding to 70 ECTS points combined with a major subject from the Bachelor programme corresponding to 135 ECTS points within the same subject area as the Master's degree programme and a relevant minor subject worth 95 ECTS points provides students with relevant teaching qualifications for upper secondary education.

The master's degree programme represents the full academic expansion of the student's overall course of study. Qualified candidates will have achieved academic and professional competencies, which will qualify the students to carry out a wide range of business functions, as well as targeted and innovative communication and dissemination of knowledge in fluent and correct English at a high level.

The programme´s competence objectives are divided into general and discipline-specific competences. The general competence objectives are the broad competences the newly graduated student has acquired following completion of the programme, while the discipline-specific competence objectives relate to the programme´s core academic competences. With reference to the "New Danish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education", objectives are divided into knowledge, skills and competences.

General competence objectives:

See above under General qualification objective under Qualification description for the single-subject Master’s degree programme.

Competence description for the minor subject in English

The minor subject in English is a full-time programme representing 50 ECTS in the Master’s degree programme, and which is a natural continuation of the minor subject of 45 ECTS in the Bachelor programme. A Master’s degree programme with a major subject of 70 ECTS and a minor subject of 50 ECTS provides teaching competence in the upper secondary sector. 

For students with a major subject in one of the upper secondary subjects in natural science, technology (+ physical education), as well as social sciences, the minor subject in English consists of 75 ECTS. The 50 ECTS mentioned above are extended by an additional 25 ECTS, which are distributed in the disciplines of Upper Secondary Internship (10 ECTS), as well as Theory of Science, Interdisciplinarity and Research Dissemination (15 ECTS).

The programme´s competence objectives are divided into general and discipline-specific competences. The general competence objectives are the broad competences the newly graduated student has acquired following completion of the programme, while the discipline-specific competence objectives relate to the programme´s core academic competences. With reference to the "New Danish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education", objectives are divided into knowledge, skills and competences.

General competence objectives:

See above under General qualification objective under Qualification description for the single-subject Master’s degree programme.

Students' opportunities for contact with relevant research environments

The disciplines of the program each have a researcher responsible for the subject assigned, who is rooted in research environments at the Faculty of Humanities. Current research is frequently included in teaching and supervision, and the research groups host regular events, which the students are invited to participate in when relevant.

The opportunities English Studies students have to contact researchers and participate in research-related activities depend on the following:

• whether the teaching in the course is highly research-based 
• the guidance given for thesis writing by researchers who teach in the programme
• the opportunities students have to speak with and get guidance from researchers who regularly teach in the programme during their weekly office hours

• the incorporation of all four rooms, taking into account the particular subject's learning objectives
• clarification of the responsibilities students have in relation to their participation in the different rooms
• supporting students´ acquisition of the study skills required to work in the different rooms

The teacher thus reflects over which activities take place in each of the four rooms, and how those activities link to the subject's objectives and testing. Program leaders will ensure that, overall, students have activities in all four rooms in each semester, as well as that teachers´ specialised skills and areas of strength are exploited in the best possible way in the implementation of the model.

The model highlights that students have various types of responsibilities, tasks and roles associated with participation in different study activities. It is expected that students deliver/submit various types of products and output in the different rooms. Students thus become aware of and familiar with different study activities and assignment forms.

Classrooms where the teacher has planning responsibility and is present
This learning space will typically host lectures and group lessons with activating elements, field trips and workshops in which students are actively involved, for example, through asking questions, reflection, note taking, and contributing to discussions in groups and in plenary sessions.

Here, for example, brainstorming, reflection questions, quizzes, preparation of concept maps, may be activating elements that the instructor can make use of.

Examples of activities include work with working questions about the examination syllabus, logbooks, contributions to blogs or wikis, gathering material for individual or group portfolios, fieldwork, etc.

This learning space can, for example, accommodate group presentations, flipped classroom, peerfeedback, case- and problembased learning, project guidance and question and answer sessions.

Study room, where students have responsibility for planning, and the teacher is not present
This study room includes the students' independent studies, active participation in self-organized reading groups and joint exam preparations, preparation of assignments and other study products.

The Humanities model is a general model that applies to all courses of study that belong under the Faculty of Humanities. The model is both a description of existing practices on humanities courses, where activating pedagogical forms already play a major role, and a point of reference in relation to the further evolution of teaching at the faculty. The study board for the individual course of study will determine in detail how the model is to be embodied for the particular course.

• A Bachelor programme with a major subject (135 ECTS) in English. 

• A Bachelor programme with a major subject (135 ECTS) in English. 

• English B-level
  

• English A-level

The following Bachelor programmes from the University of Southern Denmark and from other universities also provide admission to the Master’s degree programme:

For the single-subject Master’s degree programme in English (120 ECTS), this includes the following Bachelor programmes:

• A Bachelor programme with a major subject (135 ECTS) in English equivalent to the Bachelor's degree in English at the University of Southern Denmark 
• A Bachelor programme equivalent to the Bachelor's degree in English at the University of Southern Denmark 

For the two-subject Master’s degree programme in English (70 ECTS), this includes the following Bachelor programmes:

• A Bachelor programme with a major subject (135 ECTS) in English equivalent to the Bachelor's degree in English at the University of Southern Denmark combined with a minor subject (45 ECTS) that can be continued at the master's level.
  

For the Master’s degree programme with a minor subject in English (50 ECTS/75 ECTS), this includes the following Bachelor programmes:

• A Bachelor programme with a minor subject in English (45 ECTS) equivalent to the Bachelor programme with a minor subject in English (45 ECTS) at the University of Southern Denmark.

General provisions:

The university can admit applicants on a different basis from those set out in the sections

• Legal claim for admission to the Master´s degree programme
• Admission requirements to the Master´s degree programme

if it is considered that the applicant has academic qualifications comparable with this.

General provisions

The university can decide, that the applicant must complete supplementary programme activities either before the commencement of studies or at latest during the first year after admission.

Reference is made to § 33 in the ministerial order on enrolment. 

The single-subject Master´s degree programme in English (120 ECTS) consists of

• Constituent subject elements, 110 ECTS
  - including Master´s thesis, 30 ECTS

• Elective subjects, 10 ECTS

The two-subject Master´s degree programme in English (70 ECTS) consists of

• Constituent subject elements, 70 ECTS
  - including Master´s thesis, 30 ECTS 

If the two-subject Master´s degree programme with a major subject in English is combined with a minor subject at another faculty at SDU, the Master´s degree programme in English constitutes 75 ECTS:

• Constituent subject elements, 70 ECTS
  - including Master´s thesis, 30 ECTS
• Elective, 5 ECTS, which is relevant to the major subject. The elective(s) must be approved by the Board of Studies for the major subject. 

Minor subjects in English (50 ECTS) are placed in the 1st and 2nd semester of the Master’s degree programme and consist of

• Constituent subject elements, 40 ECTS
  
• Elective subjects, 10 ECTS

For students with a major subject in one of the upper secondary subjects in natural science, technology (+ physical education), as well as social sciences, the Master’s degree programme with a minor subject in English  consists of 75 ECTS, according to the following model:

• Constituent subject elements, 65 ECTS
  
• Elective subjects, 10 ECTS 

The two-subject Master´s degree programme in English (70 ECTS) consists of

The Study commencement test consists of the following elements:

• Participation in and completion of an e-learn course

The single-subject Master´s degree programme in English (120 ECTS)

The Study commencement test consists of the following elements:

• Participation in and completion of an e-learn course
• Participation in the first lesson of the semester in Core Concepts and Research Practices in the Human Sciences

General provisions
Reexamination takes place in the same way as the ordinary examination unless specific requirements concerning the re-examination are stated.

Transfer of spent examination attempts upon enrollment at SDU
Upon re-enrollment at a programme at SDU, previously spent examination attempts will be transferred to the resumed enrollment if courses are identical. If the allowed number of examination attempts have been exhausted enrollment cannot be granted unless the relevant academic study board grants a new examination attempt.

Examinations forms for English Option

The teacher announces in the curriculum which of the following forms of examination are used in the course and this will stay the same for the entire course. The form of examination for the course must be approved by the Study Board. 

Examination form type 1: 

• Method of assessment: Individual set written examination under supervision
• Duration: 4 hours 
• Examination aids: English-English dictionaries 
• Grading: Internal examination, two examiners 
• Assessment: 7-point grading scale. Students’ use of language will not be graded on, but they can only pass the examination if they score at least a 02 on their written language skills and presentation. 
• Weighting: 10 ECTS points 

Examination form type 2: 

• Method of assessment: Individual oral examination 
• Length per student: 30 minutes including deliberation 
• Preparation: No 
• Examination aids: Synopsis 
• Grading: Internal examination, two examiners 
• Assessment: 7-point grading scale. Students’ use of language will not be graded on, but they can only pass the examination if they score at least a 02 on their language skills and presentation
• Weighting: 10 ECTS points 

Examination form type 3: 

• Method of assessment: Individual set home assignment 
• Duration: 7 days
• Length per student: 15 – 17 standard pages, excluding bibliography 
• Possible for more students to contribute to the test response: No 
• Grading: Internal examination, two examiners 
• Assessment: 7-point grading scale. Students’ use of language will not be graded on, but they can only pass the assignment if they score at least a 02 on their written language skills and presentation. 
•  Weighting: 10 ECTS points

Language of instruction and examination for the programme

For general provisions, reference is made to Teaching and examination language.

Regardless of the form of examination for the discipline 'English Option' of the Master's degree programme in English (120 ECTS points), separate grades are not given for language, but rather the examination can only be considered passed if the students score at least a 02 on their language skills and presentation. Upon applying to the Study Board for English and American Studies, this rule may be waived for students who take one or more disciplines as part of another programme without obtaining a degree in English at SDU or another Danish university. 

There are no conditions for participation in classes or examinations unless otherwise stated in the description of the individual discipline.

If a given course description states that a prerequisite exam is included in the subject in question, the following applies:

A prerequisite exam is a condition for being able to take the final exam in the subject in question. The student must therefore pass the prerequisite exam before being allowed to take the final exam in the subject. Students who do not pass their prerequisite exam will have used an exam attempt in the final exam. 

The same applies to the re-examination:

The replacement (re-examination) for the prerequisite exam must have been passed in order to be able to participate in the re-examination in the final exam. If the student has registered for the re-examination in the final exam without having passed the replacement for the prerequisite exam, the student has used an exam attempt for the re-examination in the final exam.

Please refer to Rules for registration for classes and examinations at SDU.

In general, you are not allowed to interact with others during the examination, either physically or digitally, including via file sharing services e.g. Google Docs

Oral examinations:

It is stated in the examination regulations in the subject description for the individual subject which aids may be used. It is also stated whether the aids may be used during the preparation time and / or during the examination.

If no detailed provisions on aids appear in the subject description, the following applies:

• No aids: You are allowed to bring writing materials and a calculator.
  
• All written aids as well as All aids minus the internet: You are allowed to bring books, articles, compendia, notes, assignments, dictionaries and calculator in printed or online format. Use of internet is not allowed.
• All aids: You are allowed to bring books, articles, compendiums, notes, assignments, dictionaries and calculator in print or online format. Use of internet for information retrieval is allowed.

Written in situ examinations:

All written in situ examinations at the university are digital. Written in situ examination are thus conducted on a computer, unless otherwise stated in the course descriptions. For written in situ examinations that are conducted on a computer, the University of Southern Denmark's set of rules for written campus-based examinations applies. The use of headphones is not permitted unless stated as part of the test or a waiver has been granted. Note that other rules may apply to online exams.

It is stated in the examination regulations in the subject description for the individual subject which aids may be used. If no detailed provisions on aids appear in the subject description, the following applies:

• No aids: You are allowed to bring writing materials and a calculator
  
• All aids minus the internet: You are allowed to bring writing materials as well as in printed or online format books, articles, compendiums, notes, assignments, dictionaries, calculator. Use of internet is not allowed.
• All aids: You are allowed to bring writing materials as well as printed or online format books, articles, compendiums, notes, assignments, dictionaries, calculator. Use of internet for information retrieval is allowed

Examinations are arranged individually or as group examinations. Notwithstanding the arrangement of the examination, an assessment of the student’s individual performance must be given, and an individual grade must be given.

It will be apparent from the academic part of the curriculum, if an examination is arranged as a group examination. If an examination is arranged as a group examination, the examination requirements for the specific disciplines will also clearly state what the maximum number of students participating in the group may be and whether students have the option of choosing an individual examination.  

If a written assignment does not meet the requirements relating to individualisation or other formal requirements laid down in the individual course descriptions, the assignment can be rejected. In case of an assignment is rejected, an assessment will not be given and the student has used an examination attempt, reference is made to § 22 in the ministerial order on examinations and grading.

Written assignments 

• The front page
• Table of contents
• Abstract (summary)
• References
• Appendices

The Board of Studies shall examine applications for credit transfer in advance if a student, as part of his/her education, wishes to:

1. take courses at a foreign institution of higher education,
2. take courses at other Danish universities or
3. take other courses at SDU than those included in the programme regulations in which the student is enrolled and which have not already been approved by the Board of Studies as part of the elective offer.

Reference is made to § 55 in the ministerial order on degree programmes at universities.

In individual cases, the Board of Studies can grant credit transfers for subjects taken, for instance, at another university. General provisions regarding credit transfers must be submitted to the Dean.

A credit transfer for a Master’s thesis that constitutes the foundation for a designation in a graduate programme cannot be granted for a new designation in another graduate programme.

The reader is referred to § 54 in the ministerial order on degree programmes at universities.

The rules for application to subjects and examinations at SDU apply to Bachelor, Master’s and vocational Bachelor students at the Faculty of Humanities.

In addition to this the following applies:
Master’s students on a Master’s course standardised to 120 ECTS points are automatically enrolled on a dissertation of 30 ECTS which takes place over the 3rd and 4th semester, when they have passed 40 ECTS points of their Master’s programme, see § 3 point 4 in the Regulations for applying to subjects and examinations at SDU. It is not possible to withdraw. Furthermore, see Master´s Thesis.

Master’s students on a Master’s course standardised to 150 ECTS points are automatically enrolled on a dissertation worth 30 ECTS points. This takes place over the 4th and 5th semester when they have passed 70 ECTS of their Master’s programme, see § 3 point 4 in the Regulations for applying to subjects and examinations at SDU. It is not possible to withdraw. Furthermore, see Master´s Thesis.

The subject matter offered is always in relation to the most recent curriculum. A common examination is offered and a re-examination in direct relation to the subject matter taught. The third examination attempt is offered after the next usual taught course. The examination is always based on the most recent curriculum, including the most recent syllabus.  

Following § 8 in Regulations regarding enrolment on subjects and examinations at SDU regulations are established for 2nd and 3rd attempts at subjects that are being phased out or are no longer offered. Students who do not pass the common examination must apply to take the re-examination (2nd attempt) in the same examination term, or in immediate continuation of this. Withdrawal cannot take place. Students who do not enroll themselves will be enrolled by the university. Students who do not pass the subject at the re-examination must enroll for the 3rd attempt in the next examination term after the last common offer of teaching (e.g., if the last offer of teaching was spring 2016, the third examination attempt is offered in the examination term winter 2016/2017.) It is not possible to withdraw. Examination always takes place in relation to the most recent curriculum, including the most recent syllabus. 

The regulations regarding the withdrawal of subjects and the enrolment onto the 2nd and 3rd attempts apply unless otherwise stated in the specific course description or in the interim provisions of the study programme. See Interim provisions.

In the case where enrolment on a subject requires that a previous subject has been completed and passed, the student who has not passed at the 1st and 2nd attempts, has the option of enrolling for a re-examination in the same examination term (3rd attempt). The University must ensure that the 3rd attempt in the required subject is examined before the common examination in the later subject.

• The student lacks a maximum of 15 ECTS from his/her Bachelor programme.
  
• The student has passed all subjects in the 1st and 2nd semester and the bachelor project.

• The student lacks a maximum of 15 ECTS from his/her minor subject/elective subject.
• Propaedeutic language must not be part of the missing subjects.

The Master’s thesis is a major, independent home assignment that must document the student's competences in the application of scientific theories and methods when working with a defined academic subject.

The thesis comprises 30 ECTS points and has a length of 60-80 standard pages. See General regulations concerning form for closer stipulation regarding what is included in the project. 

The thesis must include an abstract in a foreign language. Reference is made to § 61 in the ministerial order on examinations and grading. Length and language of the abstract, see the discipline description for the Master´s Thesis.

The thesis must be begun and submitted within the following time frames:

• The thesis time frame runs from the beginning of the semester (1 September/1 February), even though the thesis statement and supervision plan have not yet been approved. 
• If a student fails to submit a thesis within the deadline established, he/she will have used one examination attempt. Deregistration is not permitted. 
• If the student's thesis cannot be approved or he/she fails to submit it within the deadline established, a new deadline of three months will be established. At the same time, a new thesis formulation within the same subject area must be approved. This is described in detail below. If the thesis is not submitted within this deadline, the student will have used another examination attempt.
• The student may then make a third examination attempt in accordance with the same rules that apply to the second examination attempt. 
• The Academic Study Board can grant exemption from the deadlines mentioned above when unexpected circumstances occur. 

The reader is referred to § 30 point 6 - 9 of the Ministerial Order on Bachelor and Master´s Degree Programmes at Universities (uddannelsesbekendtgørelsen).

According to the rules, the head of studies must approve the thesis statement, the deadline and the supervision plan. 

Implementing the rules at the Faculty of Humanities 

1. Deadlines

1a. Spring semester
The following deadlines apply to students who are writing theses in the spring semester:

a) During the enrolment period for the autumn semester (May), the student must enrol himself/herself for the thesis project with a deadline of June 1st of the following year (for example, enrolment in Autumn 2017 leads to a deadline of June 1st 2018). If the student has not enrolled himself/herself, the institution will ensure that the student is enrolled, see Registration for and withdrawal from subjects and examinations. This applies irrespective of whether a contract has been agreed or not. 

b) The student must apply for subject not later than November 15th, and according to the local rules of the programme state the name of a supervisor. In case the student omits to apply for a subject, the student is contacted and is informed of the consequences of his/her choice: the possibilities of getting the requested supervisor assigned is reduced, the thesis period runs from February 1st, regardless of whether the contract is signed or not, and that the student will use up one examination attempt if the thesis is not submitted on time. 

c) As soon as possible after applying for subject and not later than December 1st the student is informed on which supervisor he/she has been assigned. The subject, must, in this context be approved by a supervisor. 

d) On January 15th at the latest a thesis project contract must be agreed. If the contract is not agreed by the deadline, the student will be contacted and be informed of the consequences of his/her choice: the thesis period runs automatically from February 1st, and the student will automatically use up one examination attempt if the thesis is not submitted on time.

1b. Autumn semester

The following deadlines apply to students who are writing theses in the autumn semester:

a) During the enrolment period for the spring semester (November), the student must enrol himself/herself for the thesis project with a deadline of January 2nd of the following year (for example, enrolment in Spring 2017 leads to a deadline of January 2nd 2018). If the student has not enrolled himself/herself, the institution will ensure that the student is enrolled, see Registration for and withdrawal from subjects and examinations. This applies irrespective of whether a contract has been agreed or not.

b) The student must apply for subject not later than June 1st, and according to the local rules of the programme state the name of a supervisor. In case the student omits to apply for a subject, the student is contacted and is informed of the consequences of his/her choice: the possibilities of getting the requested supervisor assigned is reduced, the thesis period runs from September 1st, regardless of whether the contract is signed or not, and that the student will use up one examination attempt if the thesis is not submitted on time. 

c) As soon as possible after applying for subject and not later than June 15th the student is informed on which supervisor he/she has been assigned. The subject must in this context be approved by a supervisor. 

d) On August 15th at the latest a thesis project contract must be agreed. If the contract is not agreed by the deadline, the student will be contacted and be informed of the consequences of his/her choice: the thesis period runs automatically from September 1st, and the student will automatically use one examination attempt if the thesis is not submitted on time. 

2. The thesis process

The thesis process is divided into three stages.

Stage 1 Information and supervision before the thesis semester 
During the third semester of graduate studies, students are offered a course/workshop that provides general advice on writing a thesis and supervision on the options for specific subject selection. 

Stage 2 Establishing the subject area of the thesis and contact with the thesis supervisor
A project description and a supervision plan are established together with the thesis supervisor with the aim of entering into a Masters’ thesis contract. 

In general terms, a project description includes the following elements:

• Working title
  
• Problem statement
• Disposition
• Outline of theories and literature
• Outline of empirical data
• Reflection over methods
• Work plan

Based on the work plan, the student and the thesis supervisor draw up a supervision plan containing the dates of supervision meetings and milestones for the thesis project. The scope of supervision in a new thesis attempt is agreed between the student and the supervisor on the basis of an individual academic assessment.

Stage 3 The Masters’ thesis contract

The Masters’ thesis contract includes the following elements

• Contract cover page
• Supervision plan
• Project description

The dissertation contract must be submitted via SDU's digital platform.

When approving the contract, the thesis supervisor certifies that the project description lives up to the requirements in the curriculum. The thesis supervisor is also obliged to ensure that the project description and the supervision plan are not so comprehensive as to make it impossible for the thesis to be written within the stipulated time frame. 

The head of studies approves the project description, the submission date and the supervision plan.

By agreement, the student and the thesis supervisor can make minor adjustments to the project description and the supervision plan on condition that the thesis can still be completed within the stipulated time frame. If there are more substantial changes to the project description or a change of supervisor, the student must apply to the study board.

3. Supervision 

In accordance with § 30 point 7 of the Ministerial Order on Bachelor and Master´s Degree Programmes (uddannelsesbekendtgørelsen) a supervision plan must be approved. When writing a thesis in the humanities the student is entitled to 10 hours of supervision. The drawing up of the project description and the supervision plan, the supervision itself and the preparation time of the supervisor are included in the 10 hours.

How and when the supervision is given is established in the supervision plan. The supervisor and the students must jointly ensure that the supervision is spread across the entire thesis process.

In the event that the thesis is not submitted or if the thesis does not receive a passing grade the student must contact the supervisor in order to draw up a revised project description. 

Examples on how to schedule the supervision

• 5 one-hour meetings spread across the period
  
• 1 one-hour meeting before signing the contract, 4 one-hour meeting spread across the period after signing the contract.
• 2 30-minutes meetings before signing the contract, 4 one-hour meeting spread across the period after signing the contract.  

Supervision for groups

The thesis project can be carried out in groups of up to three students. Supervision is given as follows:

• 2 students: 15 hours
• 3 students: 20 hours

An example of a group of two students:

When two students work on the thesis together the group has 15 hours of supervision combined. If one student receives a tutorial lasting one hour, one hour has been used. If two students receive tuition together for one hour, one hour has been used. Preparation for tuition does not count as double. If the supervisor prepares for one hour for a tutorial, this counts as 1 hour whether there is one student or several in the tutorial.  

In the situation where a group of students does not hand in a master’s thesis projekt or does not pass the master’s thesis project, the group must contact the supervisor in order to determine the further course of the project. The scope of supervision for a new thesis attempt is agreed between the group and the supervisor on the basis of an individual academic assessment.

4. If the thesis is not submitted within the deadline or is not approved

If the thesis is not submitted within the deadline or is not approved, the student will have used up one examination attempt.

A new contract with a term of three months must be entered into not later than 14 days after the expiry of the deadline or no later than 14 days after the publication of the assessment.

Regardless of whether or not the student enters into a new contract, the three-month time limit begins no later than the date when the new contract should have been signed.

According to the ministerial order, the university must approve a changed thesis statement that lies within the same subject area. 

In a letter dated 13 July 2007, the Ministry stated that a »changed thesis statement« should be understood as follows: “the student need not restart his/her thesis from the beginning if he/she fails to meet the deadline but, on the basis of an academic evaluation, the university must change the thesis statement in such a way that it corresponds to a workload of a further three months. This shall apply irrespective of the ECTS standardisation for the thesis. The changed thesis formulation must thus be adjusted in the light of the contents of the individual thesis. It may, for instance, comprise a longer or shorter addition, just as (in principle) it is not the intention that the student shall begin from the beginning with new, experimental trials.”

The student must thus enter into a new Master’s thesis contract and revise his/her project description in accordance with the above.

If the student at the first attempt has received approval for a contract and a project description the subject area equal to an amount of work of 3 months’ further work is established on the basis of an evaluation by the supervisor and the Head of Studies together. 

If the student has not at the first attempt, got approval for a contract and a project description, the subject area of work equal to 3 months’ further work is established according to the following:

2nd attempt: The number of pages are increased to between 90 and 110 pages

3rd attempt: The number of pages are increased to between 120 and 130 pages

5. Submitting a thesis:

A thesis must be submitted in digital form. Standardised cover page for the Master´s thesis has to be used. Once submitted, a thesis cannot be withdrawn from assessment.

Feedback after submitting:

The graduate can get 30 minutes oral feedback on his/her thesis. 

The feedback can be 

• on the academic quality, the strengths and weaknesses of the thesis and an explanation of the grade given
• a discussion of specific themes and arguments of the thesis
• on the process. Methods of working good/unsuitable, use of supervision, organisation of the work 
• on the linguistic of the thesis, the quality and scope of the language in relation to the target group
• on the potential of the thesis. Possibilities for publication of articles, job opportunities etc.   

For the single-subject Master’s degree programme in English (120 ECTS points) students take two compulsory courses with alternating content:

Thematic Courses which takes place in the first and the second semester. 

The Thematic Courses deals with topics within the three main fields: language, literature and history/society. Each semester, the Study Board offers a number of courses on language, literature and history/social relations. 

• deepen their knowledge of areas relevant to English and/or 
• strengthen their academic profile and acquire a broader proficiency in English and/or 
• acquire knowledge, proficiency or skills that otherwise support the student’s employability in their academic field

Valid interim provisions of the study programme are set out in the section Interim Provisions in the relevant Course Descriptions.

Deadline for delivery of written assignments
All delivery deadlines for examination work, theses, dissertations and BA projects are published in the course´s combined examination timetable. If the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or a Bank Holiday, the deadline will be deemed to be the next working day. 

ECTS points
ECTS, the European Credit Transfer System, was introduced under the Erasmus programme. ECTS points are values that are ascribed to a course unit with the aim of describing the overall work required from students in order to complete the course in the form of attending instruction, preparation, writing assignments, where applicable, and preparing for examinations, etc. 60 ECTS points corresponds to one year of full-time study and to 1,680 hours of work. A subject studied at 10 ECTS points therefore corresponds to 280 hours of work.

Standard page
One standard page = 2,400 characters incl. blank spaces.

Written assignments
It is stated in the examination requirements of the specific discipline how long the individual written answers to the examination questions should be. The length is given in number of pages or in the number of characters: One normal page is equivalent to 2400 characters, see above. 

In the calculation of the number of standard pages in an examination answer, the characters are counted from the first character in the introduction up to and including the last character in the conclusion. Footnotes are included. Tables are also included in the number of characters. 

The following are not included:

• The front page
• Table of contents
• Abstract (summary)
• References
• Appendices

If the minimum number of characters is not reached, or the maximum number of characters is exceeded, (see the examination requirements of the specific discipline) the written assignment is rejected and the student will have used one attempt, see § 24 point 3 in the Ministerial Order on University Examinations and Grading (Eksamensbekendtgørelsen).

Lessons
One lesson corresponds to 45 minutes. 

Typed characters
This is understood as every typographical element, i.e. not only letters and numbers, but also punctuation marks and blank spaces.