Instructions for Master's Thesis

The general objectives of the studies leading to the Master’s Degree are defined in the Council of State’s Decree on Universities of Applied Sciences (Valtioneuvoston asetus ammattikorkeakouluista 1129/2014, 5 §). According to the Decree, the aim of those studies is that the one who earns the Degree, has

1. Wide and deep knowledge as well as required theoretical knowledge for acting as a developer of working life in demanding expert and management tasks
2. A deep understanding of their own professional field, its position in working life and society, as well as competencies for following and analysing the development of research knowledge and professional practice in the field.
3. Competencies for lifelong learning and continuous development of one’s own professional skills
4. Good communication and language skills for professional tasks in one’s own field as well as for international activity and cooperation.

By nature, Master’s theses are R & D assignments based on working and business life. It can also be written in article form. More detailed instructions are in the Intranet. The thesis accounts for 30 credits, or an important part of the 60–90 credit Degree. The role of the thesis in Master’s Degree is essential, and the writing of it and the studies supporting the thesis process are started at an early stage of he studies.

The thesis is a professional development project or a study supporting the development of the student’s personal professional competencies and expertise. It is usually based on the definition of a topical idea for development or problem, and is implemented together with working life, primarily with the student’s own work. A job is not necessary if the commissioner and a suitable thesis topic are found somewhere else. The thesis can be written for the private or public sector, a project organization, or an organization. The thesis can also be connected with one’s own business activity. The results of the thesis are utilized in real working-life situations, and also its assessment is partially based on the materialization of working-life goals.  This way, apart from professional development, the thesis also supports organizations’ operations.

The thesis can also be connected with the R & D of the University of Applied Sciences. If the thesis is implemented in an R & D project of the University of Applied Sciences, the student must act as a real developer in it, and the project must include working life contacts. 

The aim of the thesis is that the student

• develops their competencies and working methods in the application of a research-oriented approach to work in work communities
• develops their data acquisition competencies
• becomes familiar with the most recent national and international research of their field
• develops their written and oral expressive skills
• deepens their critical thinking and problem solving skills
• finds and independently formulates a problem to be solved and is able to assess the functions of the process and the work community in question
• develops their project management, managerial, assessment and organising skills, as well as their research-oriented competencies.

While the Bachelor’s thesis focuses on the application of knowledge, for example in the form of proposals for action, the essential element of the Master’s thesis is the production of new knowledge and the assessment of the produced knowledge from the practical perspective. In thesis work, responsibility for the progress and success of the work lies with the student. The aspects emphasized in the work include the command of professional content and research methods, working-life orientation and the applicability to the results to practice, as well as development and research skills. An important thing in the thesis process, apart from the implementation of the thesis itself, is the ability to manage and coordinate the thesis process.  The writing of the thesis requires an ability to search and assess knowledge, to organize the work and to manage its implementation; an ability and willingness to solve problems and to assess the solutions found, and an ability to present the results of the thesis in writing and orally.

The thesis is most often written as an individual project.  In the case of a pair or team project, each student’s contribution must be verifiable. Each author’s contribution is assessed separately, if necessary.