5. Thesis

There are two thesis courses, depending on which degree a student is pursuing:

  • 15-credit thesis course (4dh41e) for 1-year DH Master degree
  • 30-credit thesis course (5dh10e) for 2-year DH Master degree
Theis preparations

In order to ensure your thesis is completed in a timely manner, you are expected to start the course with a research topic, approach, and supervisor already established.

You must also have completed your DH courses before conducting a thesis.

Supervision

A supervisor is intended to support your independent learning and research while conducting the thesis. The supervisor doesn't assign the student a research topic. However, the supervisor should be involved in the choice of research question, theory and method, as well as provides constructive oral and written feedback on drafts of the thesis. The supervisor will also inform you as to the readiness of the thesis for examination, which is conducted by another faculty member (referred to as an examiner).

Steps in thesis process

The thesis process normally consists of the following stages:

  • Identifying topic of course and supervisor (before start of course)
  • Initial project development and thesis proposal work (start of course)
  • Submission of an extended research plan seminar
  • Submission of thesis drafts for seminars
  • Submission for examination
  • Participation in examination seminar (with reviewer and examiner)
  • Submission of the final, revised version of the thesis
  • Publication of the approved thesis in DiVA.
Details on thesis course
  1-Year thesis 2-Year thesis
Timing This is a 10-week course, beginning March 29, 2027 and ending June 6, 2027. This is a 20-week course, beginning  January 18, 2028 and ending June 6, 2028.
Course Syllabus 4dh41e 5dh10e
Core thesis length 30-40 pages (11,000–15,000 words) 60-80 pages (20,000–22,000 words) 

Breakdown of thesis structure

Note that the structure may vary somewhat..

  1-Year thesis 2-Year thesis
Introduction: Presents  topic and engages reader

500-1000 words

1000-2000 words
Literature review: Establishes previous research on the topic 1500-2000 words

3000-4000 words
Methodology: Details the practical and theoretical approach 1000-1500 words 2000-3000 words
Analysis: Reports on the findings 5000 - 7000 words 10 000 - 14 000 words
Discussion: Explains significance of results and their relation to previous research 1000-2000 words 2000-4000 words
Conclusion: Restates and summarises thesis 400-600 words 800-1200 words