International relations: Thesis

The course is an in-depth course and can be studied as a single subject course and can be part of a bachelor's degree.

The course can be part of the following program: 1) Bachelor's program in International Relations (S1INT)

Admission to the course requires a passed result in 30 credits core courses and 30 credits advanced courses in international relations and passed result on method courses of 15 credits in global studies, or the equivalent.

During this course the student will learn how to write a scientific thesis. This course entails identifying and examining a scientific problem of relevance for the subject of international relations, seeking relevant information and relating to earlier research, using relevant social sciences theories and analytical methods, as well as producing the results in writing and with the correct use of scientific formalities. Furthermore, the student learns to orally motivate choices and to critically review the scientific work of others.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• show in-depth knowledge of a selected issue in the main field of study of international relations;
• relate their own research project to previous research and relevant theory;

Skills and Abilities

• present in writing a scientific study in a coherent way;
• identify, justify and formulate a relevant scientific problem;
• identify, justify and formulate adequate and specified research questions;
• collect, evaluate and critically interpret information of relevance to the chosen scientific problem;
• select, motivate and use relevant and ethically defensible scientific methods;
• analyze material collected for the thesis, draw conclusions and relate these to the chosen scientific problem;
• use formalities used in scientific writing;
• evaluate their own work and identify need of additional knowledge;

Judgement and approach

• orally motivate considerations and analyze, as well as take criticism of their own work;
• Critically review and constructively discuss the work of others.

Teaching mainly takes the form of supervision.

Language of instruction: English and/or Swedish

The examination takes place by the student writing a thesis and defending it at a seminar, as well as publicly discussing and examining another student's thesis.

Any restrictions regarding the use of generative AI (genAI) applications are indicated on the course's Canvas page (or equivalent). Students are obliged to inform themselves about the applicable rules for written assignments, seminar tasks, and exams in the current course.

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: Fail (U), Pass (G), Pass with Distinction (VG).

To receive a Pass grade in the course, a Pass grade on the thesis is required, as well as a pass on the public examination of another student's thesis. For the grade Pass with distinction, the grade Pass with distinction on the thesis is required, as well as a pass on the public examination of another student's thesis.

The course coordinator is responsible for systematically and regularly collecting the students' views of the course, and for making sure that the results of the evaluations in different forms are taken into consideration when developing the course.