9. Thesis grading criteria

General thesis characteristics

  • A Master’s thesis is an independent research assignment.
  • The work should lead to your own well-founded conclusions, based on the empirical work. 
  • You are to link your study with current research in the field.
  • You are also to link to relevant theories, and the results are to be formulated in a way that makes it clear how you have contributed to the research in the field with new perspectives.
  • You are also to present your study in such a way that it is possible for readers to understand and evaluate the results.

The criteria for grading are as follows:

  1. Formulation of the purpose (why this is important research), aims (what are the specific objectives) and research questions of the thesis and a reasonable delimitation of the empirical study that is well-motivated in relation to the thesis' purpose.
  2. Familiarity with current research in the area of study.
  3. Familiarity with central theories of relevance, choice and motivation of theoretical starting points and definitions of central concepts.
  4. Choice of method and treatment of source material.
  5. The theory-method-implementation link, i.e., a thesis disposition where the results of the analysis are presented clearly, and the scientifically interesting aspects are highlighted and linked to theoretical tools and current research.
  6. Implementation of the study in an ethically acceptable manner.
  7. Formalities, use of templates and correct use of language.
  8. The subject’s degree of difficulty and originality and the author’s independence and effort.

Grading (A-F)

  • The grade A constitutes the highest grade on the scale and the remaining grades follow in descending order where the grade E is the lowest grade on the scale that will result in a pass. The grade F means that the student’s performance is assessed as fail.

F: direct fail criteria include: not having provided feedback to fellow students (during course, not as reviewer at thesis seminar); not having regularly met with supervisor (and did not inform about problems) or posted to fora in a timely manner according to instructions for the given module; thesis not having a section on ethics; thesis not answering the stated research question(s); thesis not having enough references; thesis less than 40 pages of core text (in LNU template) or more than 100.

E: Purpose, aims and RQs (research questions) are roughly formulated; key relevant literature is referenced; relevant theory is simply applied and concepts defined; choice and application of methodology are satisfactory but far from ideal, with ethical concerns being addressed; basic, sound results are reported and put in relation to literature and theory at a basic level; formatting, language, and templates are used/applied with a number of errors; the choice-of-research and implementation are minimally challenging, while the author exhibits a low level of effort and independence.

D:  Purpose, aims and RQs are clearly formulated; sufficient relevant literature is referenced; relevant theory is applied and concepts defined; choice and application of methodology are appropriate, with ethical concerns being addressed; sufficient, sound results are related to literature and theory; formatting, language, and templates are used/applied with some errors; the choice-of-research and implementation are not particularly challenging, while the author exhibits a lower level of effort and independence.

C:  Purpose, aims and RQs are clearly formulated; sufficient relevant literature is referenced; relevant theory is applied to a satisfactory level and concepts are defined; choice and application of methodology are appropriate, with ethical concerns being addressed; sound results are reported at a good extent and well related to literature and theory; formatting, language, and templates are used/applied well, albeit with some errors; the choice-of-research and implementation are somewhat challenging, while the author exhibits a sufficient level of effort and independence.

B:  Purpose, aims and RQs are very clearly formulated; relevant literature is amply referenced; relevant theory is thoroughly applied and concepts are well defined; choice and application of methodology are very appropriate, with ethical concerns being addressed; ample, sound results are related to literature and theory; formatting, language, and templates are used/applied with a very few errors; the choice-of-research and implementation are quite challenging, while the author exhibits a high level of effort and independence.

A:  Purpose, aims and RQs are very clearly formulated; relevant literature is amply referenced; relevant theory is thoroughly applied and concepts are well defined; choice and application methodology are excellent, with ethical concerns being addressed; ample, sound results are reported and related to literature and theory; formatting, language, and templates are used/applied flawlessly; the choice-of-research and implementation are highly challenging, while the author exhibits a great deal of effort and independence.