Bachelor Thesis in Biomedical Laboratory Science

The course is given during 6th semester.

The course can be part of the following programme: Programme in Biomedical Laboratory Science (M1BMA)

To be eligible students should have successfully completed all the courses in semester 1-4 and have attended courses in 5-6 semester of the Biomedical Laboratory Scientist Programme (180 hec) (approved courses of 142,5 credits within the programme).

Information competency: Literature retrieval, databases, reference handling

Ethics: ethical rules and guidelines for research;

Completion of an experimental and/or method-focused research project: compilation of a project plan, data collection, processing and interpretation of data, presentation according to norms for scientific documentation. Oral presentation and defense of the work. Critical review as well as public discussion and examination of another course participant's bachelor's thesis.

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

Knowledge and understanding

• search for and collect relevant scientific information
• explain adequate terminology and concepts in the field
• explain the principles of the laboratory methods and the examination methods used in the project
• demonstrate knowledge of the disciplinary foundation of the field and awareness of current research and development work

Competence and skills

• plan and with appropriate methods, carry out an experimental or methodologically focused research project
• present an individual work both orally and in writing
• communicate new facts and problems to diverse groups, thereby potentially contributing to the development of the profession and its practice
• discuss the chosen methods
• verbally and in writing account for, and critically interpret and discuss, obtained results with interested parties

Judgement and approach

• critically review and interpret one's own and others' work
• follow ethical rules and guidelines for research and methodological development on animals and humans
• discuss one's own level of knowledge and its importance for the work's realization and result

Consists of individual work where the student gets supervision at the Laboratory/division where the project is being performed.

A compulsory project plan needs to be submitted by the student during the first weeks of the course.

Language of instruction: English and Swedish

The course is examined by:

• A written project plan
• Project execution, which includes an approved supervisor certificate
• A written report
• An oral presentation which includes presentation of one's own thesis, defense of one's own thesis, and opposition to another student's thesis

Supplementation of project plans and reports: The examiner can decide that a student may submit supplementary project plans and reports for examination. A project plan or report that is still not reaching the level Pass after two submitted supplements, will get the grade Fail. The examiner decides whether supplementation is permitted based on the possibility to reach the grade Pass and decides the dates for an eventual supplementary. A student that get the grade Fail on the module will have to redo the whole module again, next occasion the course is given. A student that already received the grade Pass on a report, is not allowed to submit supplementary work in order to get a higher grade.

If the student fails their project execution, the student is instructed to conduct a new project at the next course.

Attendance at the oral presentation is compulsory. Absences must be made up at a later announced date or during the next course. If a student fails the oral presentation, it will likewise be retaken at a later announced date or in the following 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: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

In order to get the grade G the student must receive the grade G on all examinations.

In order to get the grade VG the student must receive the grade VG on the written report and a VG on the oral presentation, which includes presentation of one's own thesis, defense of one's own thesis, and opposition to another student's thesis

Course evaluation is made in writing with help of a general course evaluation, as well as orally in dialogue with the students. The course coordinator summaries and makes an analysis of the course evaluation and provides suggestions for development of the course. Analysis and suggestions are reconnected to the students and published on the students' learning platform, and presented at the next start of the course.