Biology, Degree project Master’s level

The course consists of a degree project in biology at the advanced level, comprising 60 higher education credits (hp). It may be included in the degree requirements for a one-year Master’s (magister) or a two-year Master’s degree in Biology or Molecular Biology.

The course can be taken as a stand-alone course.

The course can be included in the following programmes: 1)Master’s Programme in Biology (N2BIO), 2) Nordic Master's Programme in Biodiversity and Systematics (N2BIS) or 3) Master’s Programme in Molecular Biology (N2MBI)

Eligibility for the course requires completion of basic courses in biology totaling 60 higher education credits (hp), as well as at least one approved advanced-level specialization course of at least 15 credits in the field. In addition, an approved degree project at the Bachelor’s level of at least 15 credits with relevance to biology is required.

The course consists of an individual project with an optional specialization within the field of biology, aimed at providing in-depth theoretical and practical subject knowledge as well as exposure to research and relevant research methodologies. The project corresponds to full-time studies (40 hours/week) during two semesters.

The practical part of the project must include the collection and processing of data, as well as the summarization of this material in a written report and an oral presentation. Both the written and oral presentations must be conducted in English. The written report should be structured as a scientific article, following guidelines provided at the start of the course. The report must also include a popular science summary in either Swedish or English. The student is expected to serve as an opponent for another student’s project (at the advanced level) at some point during the course.

The theoretical component consists primarily of project-specific knowledge acquired through independent study of scientific literature within the project’s subject area, as well as participation in research seminars, lectures, and similar activities. In addition, the course includes common elements focusing on more general aspects of research.

The project is usually carried out within one of the department’s ongoing research projects, but projects at other departments within the university may also be possible. Students are expected to contact potential supervisors well in advance and discuss possible projects, and this must be finalized no later than at the start of the course to ensure the project can proceed as planned. For external projects (for example within industry, government agencies, or other organizations), approval by an internal supervisor is required no later than approximately one month before the course begins.

After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• independently plan and, under supervision, carry out an experimental or theoretical scientific study using appropriate methods within given time frames
• give a detailed account of the theoretical background to the chosen research question, critically discuss it, and motivate the relevance of the question
• independently search for and evaluate information relevant to the project
• analyze and critically interpret other studies in the field on a scientific basis
• evaluate and contextualize obtained results, taking into consideration relevant scientific, societal, and ethical aspects of research and development work as well as sustainable development
• present and discuss collected data and conclusions both orally and in writing, using scientific language and proper terminology, and adapt the presentation to a given target audience

The majority of the course is devoted to practical work, in which the student works independently under supervision, but it also includes certain mandatory course-wide lectures and seminars. In addition, other compulsory components may be required in order to gain access to project-specific facilities, equipment, or similar resources.

The student is entitled to at least 45 minutes of supervision per week throughout the entire course, i.e., during both data collection/processing and the writing phase. Students who do not complete the project within the allotted time can only expect continued supervision to a limited extent and only in exceptional cases.

The student is expected to independently search for and assimilate the necessary literature relevant to understanding the theoretical background of the project and, when needed, be able to propose, for example, methodological adjustments.

At the beginning of the course, the student and the supervisor must jointly create an individual study plan that outlines both the execution of the project (methods, study design, etc.) and a detailed schedule, including any additional activities in which the student is expected to participate. The plan must also include a brief description of how supervision time will be structured.

The course is given in English.

The course is assessed through a written and an oral presentation of the project, as well as an evaluation of the practical execution of the entire project. The assessment is based on five main criteria: 1) Understanding, 2.) Execution, 3) Results, Analysis, and Interpretation, 4) Oral Presentation and Communication, and 5) Written Presentation, in accordance with the guidelines established by the Faculty Board of Science. For each main criterion, one or more assessment points are evaluated on a scale from 0 (Nonexistent) to 4 (Excellent), where 2 (Satisfactory) is considered a passing level. This means that the criteria carry different weights in the overall assessment.

The following components are assessed and must be approved for the course as a whole to be considered completed:

• Individual Study Plan (ISP) (Assessment Criterion #1)

• Introductory Seminar (Criterion #1)

• Final oral presentation of the project, including opposition on another student’s work (Criteria #1, #3, and #4)

• Final written report (Criteria #1, #3, and #5)

Criterion #2 is based primarily on the supervisor’s evaluation of the practical work regarding data collection/processing and writing. There are limited opportunities for supplementation or revision after the course has formally ended. The assessment considers the student’s ability to independently move the project forward—within given parameters and through their own initiative—as well as their ability to meet the established time frames. The quality of the results obtained should not in itself affect the grade, unless that quality can be directly linked to the execution of the work.

The Individual Study Plan must include a brief scientific background to the project leading to a well-defined research question/aim, an overall description of the study design and methods to be used to address the question, and a realistic schedule. The study plan must be approved by the supervisor and the examiner within 2–3 weeks from the course start. If the examiner determines that the study plan does not meet the requirements for approval, the student will be given the opportunity to revise it. Revisions must be carried out promptly.

After approximately 10 weeks, the student must have written the introduction section of the thesis, which will then be discussed and defended in an individual oral examination (“introductory seminar”). Students who do not pass will be given a second opportunity, usually within a few weeks.

The final oral presentations take place at predetermined times together with other students on the course, with a maximum of five occasions offered per calendar year. Preliminary dates are announced at the beginning of each term. Students who cannot attend the scheduled session will be allowed to participate at the next ordinary occasion. Students who do not pass are offered a new opportunity at the next ordinary presentation session.

To submit the final version of the thesis, the student must have met the requirements for a passing grade on the final oral presentation. The final written report is normally submitted on the last day of the term/period.

Detailed assessment criteria as well as guidelines for written and oral presentation are available to students through, among other sources, the University of Gothenburg’s digital learning platform.

If a student has failed the same examination component twice and wishes to request a change of examiner for the next examination opportunity, such a request must be submitted in writing to the department responsible for the course. The request must be granted unless there are special reasons not to do so (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 22).

If a student has been formally recognized as fulfilling the requirements to be a student at a National Sports University (RIU-student), the examiner has the authority to decide on adapted examination arrangements, provided these follow the Local Regulations for RIU Students at the University of Gothenburg.

The course is graded with one of the following grades: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G), or Fail (U). The grade for the degree project is determined by the appointed examiner in consultation with the supervisor.

The final grade is based on the total score obtained across the five overarching assessment criteria (see Forms of Assessment above). To receive a Pass, the student must meet the passing requirements for all five main criteria (the average score of the assessment points for each criterion must be at least 2). To receive a Pass with Distinction, the total score must additionally correspond to at least 85% of the maximum possible score.

After the course is completed, a written and/or oral course evaluation is conducted. A summary of the evaluation is submitted to the student office, where it is available as a public document. The evaluation is also distributed to all teachers who participated in the course and must be taken into consideration when planning the next course offering. A summary of the evaluation, along with a description of any changes implemented as a result, is presented to the students of the subsequent course during the introduction.

For projects involving animal experimentation covered by animal research legislation, students are required to have completed one or more modules of the national LAS (Laboratory Animal Science) course.

Travel to and from field stations or other field sites may incur costs for the student.