Batchelor Thesis, Master Thesis, 15 Credits
Essays can be publicly discussed four times during the academic year, in September, January, March and May/June. During the “intermediate heat” in September and March, which thus falls at times when other courses are in progress, there is an opportunity for C/D level students beginning that term to attend some seminars in order to familiarize themselves with the seminar setting, and gain an impression of the appearance of essays, the general quality level and the questions normally dealt with. NOTE! However this attendance is no longer counted towards the compulsory participation.
NOTE! The January and June discussion is reserved first and foremost for those taking the course that term, i.e. completing the course in the “right term”. Latecomers are referred to other times for discussion. Exceptions are made only for MFS students, who have done field work during the summer and cannot therefore be expected to have time to discuss their essay in September. Read more
A student must register by the date prescribed in order to present an essay. This is done online at http://student.statsvet.uu.se/modules/kurser/anmalan.aspx.
You must enter your name, personal number, title of the essay, and research advisor. You must also indicate if you cannot be present for some reason at a particular time during the discussion and examination period. However, neither is there any guarantee that any particular schedule request can be met, nor can the schedule be changed once it has been set! Four (4) printed copies of the essay must be handed in approximately one week before the discussion period begins, normally in Badhuset, Gamla torget 6. A brief orientation concerning the seminars and what one should think about as respondent, opponent, and seminar participant is provided when you do so.
The completed essay must also be uploaded online at http://www.statsvet.uu.se/uppsats.aspx. The schedule with precise times and venues for each discussion, including the essay for which you will be the opponent, will be available soon after the essay deadline expires. You can use the discussion schedule posted online to display, download, or print out the full text of any essay by clicking on the respondent's name, such as when you wish to attend the corresponding seminar.
You can access the discussion schedule at http://www.statsvet.uu.se, see schedule for Master's Thesis, 15 Credits. Finally, you receive a printed copy of the essay for which you will be an opponent when you hand in your own essay.
Seminars are compulsory. Students are divided into groups of approximately 15 and are expected to participate actively in the work of the seminar. A marked increase in the number of essays has entailed the restriction of one's obligation to eight (8) seminars, including defense and opposition. A certain freedom of choice prevails, but this takes place within the framework of group membership. At registration one may indicate the group to which s/he wishes to belong, and these requests are honored to the extent possible. Seminars conclude with a voluntary session at which discussion with the teacher is possible.
An essay discussion and examination lasts 1½ hours. The primary responsibility for the issues that will be addressed rests upon the opponent, who by way of introduction should indicate the essential points that need to be considered. All should participate in the discussion – seminars are not an affair between opponent, respondent, and teacher in front of a passive audience! Students are advised that it is good practice to prepare at least one idea or opinion for every essay.
A student cannot choose which essay s/he will oppose. Seminars are held in either English or Swedish depending on the participants' requirements and abilities. A student who does not have the linguistic ability to oppose an essay in Swedish should indicate so in advance.