Master's thesis in teaching and learning in higher education

The course can be studied as a free-standing course.

The course may be included in a master's degree in teaching and learning in higher education.

Admission to the course requires an awarded bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits or equivalent degree. Furthermore, the student must demonstrate proficiency in English equivalent English 6 (Swedish upper secondary school level) or English B with at least passed result or through an international test in English with requirements on lowest result: TOEFL paper: 575 or with computer: 213, or a Bachelor's degree that has been given in English. The student should have gone through equivalent to 15 credits method course at advanced level (2nd cycle) with approved result and with contents of relevance for teaching and learning in higher education.

The course provides advanced knowledge in a specific problem area in the university educational research field. The course is based on implementation of an individual assignment that includes problem definition, formulation of aim, research question, search and compilation of scientific literature, theoretical, methodological and ethical positionings, planning and implementation of an empirical study, processing and analysis of collected empirical material and presentation and discussion of the result of the study.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• identify a well defined problem, aim and research question in teaching and learning in higher education
• identify, compile and critically analyse scientific literature in teaching and learning in higher education, of relevance for a defined problem

Competence and skills

• plan and carry out an empirical study relevant for teaching and learning in higher education in accordance with chosen methodology together with ethical and theoretical positionings
• present results and conclusions as well as provide arguments for the relevance of an empirical study in an individual assignment that takes their starting point in scientific university educational literature
• constructively discuss a research project with regard to its contents structure, academic and linguistic form, methodology, results and conclusions

Judgement and approach

• evaluate and problematise implementation, result and conclusions of a scientific study in relation to ethical, methodological and theoretical positionings
• assess the relevance and the significance of a scientific study in the research field teaching and learning in higher education

Seminars, supervision and continuous presentations of ongoing development of Master's dissertation.

At the first registration in the course, 20 hours of supervision are offered by an appointed supervisor. In the case of re-registration for the course, a student may apply for additional supervision from the course coordinator. A maximum of 8 additional supervision hours might be granted for completion of the thesis work. Such extra hours are granted once. Thereafter, support in the thesis work in the form of supervision expires.

Language of instruction: English

The language of instruction is English. The Master's dissertation can by agreement with examiner be produced in Swedish.

The course includes the following examining assignments

• implementation of an individual assignment, 13 credits, that is presented in the form of a written Master's thesis, and presented and defended orally at a thesis seminar with a specially appointed discussant. Grades: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) or Fail (U)
• critical review, evaluation and discussion of another student's Master's dissertation at a thesis seminar, 2 credits. Grades: Pass (G), Fail (U)

The examiner may allow supplementation of an assessed master's thesis within a specified deadline.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local Rules Regarding RIU Students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U). To receive grade Pass, both above stated examining assignments, must be completed with the grade Pass. To receive the grade Pass with distinction (Pass with distinction) in the course, requires the grade Passed with distinction for the individual and independent Master's dissertation.

Course evaluation is performed in relation to the course's intended learning outcomes and content and is implemented at the end of the course through an individual written questionnaire on University of Gothenburg's virtual learning environment. The result and potential changes in the course content are communicated to the students who carried out the course evaluation and to the students who will start the following course.

Access to Internet connection is required to carry out the course.