Academic policies are designed to provide the highest-quality education and service to students. Our policies are based on both the American and Austrian education systems. General baseline policies may be found in the WVPU Student Handbook and the undergraduate and graduate catalogs. Supplemental Austrian policies† may be found in the Webster Vienna Private University (WVPU) Constitution, the Study and Examination Guidelines of Webster Vienna Private University, and WVPU Thesis Guidelines for Students.
* Please note that this page contains the most up-to-date policies applicable to WVPU students and is periodically reviewed and updated (last update: September 2021). Because WVPU academic policies are subject to change, one should refer to the current website for the most current information.
† In accordance with local accreditation laws and requirements, all WVPU specific policies have statutory authority.
Topics of Interest
According to the WVPU Add, Drop and Withdrawal policy, course withdrawals are allowed up to and including week six of term courses and week nine of semester courses. In the case of documented extenuating circumstances, students may request a late withdrawal, by submitting the Late Withdrawal Request Form (PDF) to the Academic Services Officer (ASO), Ms. Maida Kojic-McAndrew. The decision requires approval of the Office of the Director.
WVPU offers the possibility to alumni, corporate partners and current students to audit selected undergraduate and graduate courses. WVPU’s audit policy is specific for courses taught at WVPU, limited to WVPU alumni, corporate partners and current students and is separate from Webster University’s Audit for Enrichment program.
Alumni, corporate partners and current students may audit classes following the fulfillment of certain conditions.
WVPU offers the possibility to alumni, corporate partners and current students to audit selected courses within the following framework:
- Audits are never for credit.
- Audits will not be registered as part of an official transcript.
- The opportunity to audit a class is subject to: availability, and approval of the faculty teaching the course.
- Attendance and participation are required.
- Professors are not obliged to provide a formal assessment (grades) on assignments or the course.
- Language courses may not be audited.
In order to audit a course, alumni, corporate partners and current students must follow procedures specific to their status as follows:
Alumni
WVPU offers alumni the opportunity to audit courses for non-credit through the Alumni Audit Program. The first audited course is free of charge as a gift for successfully completing a degree at WVPU. Alumni are welcome to register for additional courses for a fee of 250 euros. This offer extends to Webster Vienna classes only and registration is based on availability in the class. Please note that textbooks and/or lab fees are not included in this offer. Contact the Alumni Audit Program with any further questions.
To register for classes through the Alumni Audit Program, please complete the Audit Registration Form and submit it online. For further questions, contact: alumni@webster.ac.at.
Textbooks for the courses are available through the Webster Vienna Textbook Services. If you opt to purchase textbooks through Webster Vienna or if this is not your first
Webster Vienna Alumni Audit, payment may be processed either through direct bank transfer
to Webster Vienna Private University (payment forms available via finance.students@wesbter.ac.at).
Webster Vienna Private University Bank Connection:
Erste Bank, Graben 21, 1010 Vienna, Austria IBAN: AT47 2011 1310 0310 1197, BIC/SWIFT: GIBAATWW
Corporate Partners
Requests from corporate partners are handled by the Office of the Director. Interested parties should complete the Audit Registration Form and submit it online. Corporate partners are entitled to audit courses at no cost as part of their partnerships. For questions, please contact office.rector@webster.ac.at.
Current Students
Requests from students are handled by the Academic Services Office. Students interested in auditing courses should fill out the Audit Registration Form and submit it online. Current students are entitled to audit courses at no cost.
As of May, 2021.
To preserve the integrity of its academic standards and degrees, Webster Vienna Private University reserves the right to revoke a conferred degree earned through academic misconduct or fraud, or in case the degree was conferred erroneously due to administrative error. WVPU’s Degree Revocation Policy outlines the procedure and circumstances whereby a previously granted WVPU degree may be revoked. This policy pertains exclusively to degrees granted by Webster Vienna Private University, accredited by the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria, and not to those degrees conferred by Webster University.
Revocation due to Academic Misconduct
In accordance with §89 of the University Act 2002, WVPU may revoke a previously conferred Academic Degree when it was obtained thorough serious academic misconduct or fraud. Examples of serious academic misconduct include, but are not limited to, providing false information on an application for admission, cheating on an examination, plagiarism or research misconduct while enrolled in a degree program.
The University Senate is responsible for handling and deciding upon degree revocation cases related to academic misconduct in accordance with the procedures outlined below.
Anyone with information regarding academic misconduct or fraud related to a previously earned academic degree should refer it to the University Senate. Upon receipt of credible information, and assuming the Senate agrees by simple majority vote that the accusation merits further investigation, the University Senate shall form an investigative committee composed of the respective Department Head, an appointed faculty member, and the former advisor of the student (if still employed at Webster) or, in case the advisor is no longer at the University, a senior permanent faculty member covering core subject areas of the respective program.
The investigative committee will review the evidence within thirty days. If it finds by simple majority vote that the allegations are legitimately founded it will recommend a hearing. If the committee finds that the evidence does not support the allegations, no further action will be taken.
If the committee recommends a hearing, the individual suspected of prior academic misconduct will receive a statement detailing the allegations and copies of any evidence relating to the allegations from the Office of the Director. The individual will have 30 days to respond and will have the option of providing a written statement addressing the allegations in addition to attending the formal hearing. If the individual chooses not to respond within 30 days or attend the hearing, a decision will be made without the individual’s input.
At the hearing, the investigative committee will present the allegations, evidence and any written response from the individual suspected of misconduct. The individual, if present, can address the allegations. The University Senate will then vote on revoking the degree by a simple majority decision. This decision is final and cannot be appealed.
When the Senate decides to revoke a degree, WVPU’s Academic Services Office will send letters to venues that received copies of the original degree to show that WVPU revoked the individual’s degree.
Revocation due to Administrative Error
WVPU’s Academic Services office oversees a systematic process for determining degree eligibility, which includes a confirmation from both the student and the Department Head overseeing the respective degree program that the student concerned successfully met all program requirements.
In the rare event that a student was approved for a degree in error, such as when a student did not meet all the degree requirements and thus did not earn the degree but received approval in error or when a student was conferred the wrong degree, the Academic Services Office or the respective Department Head will submit a degree revocation request to the Office of the Director. The Director and Associate Director will review if the student met all degree requirements.
If the wrong degree has been conferred, the degree will be revoked and a new degree will be issued. If the student did not complete all requirements, the Director and Associate Director will decide on the next steps, which may include the revocation of the degree or allowance for the student to finish any remaining degree requirements within a set time period.
Grading Appeals
See section 3, Course assessment appeals, of the Study and Examination Guidelines of Webster Vienna Private University. If a solution cannot be found in consultation with the instructor or subsequently, the respective department head within a three-month period, students may email a formal appeal to the Examination Committee. The student is expected to provide all the necessary materials (graded work, term papers, etc.), as well as the reasons for the appeal, in writing to the committee. After receiving this material, the committee will render a decision and inform the student within a matter of four weeks.
Grading Standards
See section 6, Grading standards of Webster University and their Austrian equivalents, of the Study and Examination Guidelines of Webster Vienna Private University.
Incomplete (I) Grades and Late Work
Incomplete grades negatively affect your academic progress, course sequencing, retention
and graduation plans and should be avoided. Incompletes are only applied when you
have completed most of the required coursework and have agreed to deliver the remaining
components in a short and manageable timeline. Under no circumstances may the deadline
exceed three months. After three months, any remaining I grades will be converted
to a failing degree (ZF).
As a matter of fairness and equality, all students are required to turn in all missing
work no later than the last week of the semester. Instructors will not award Incompletes
in lieu of earning failing grades. If you have not provided enough coursework to pass
the course by the grading deadline, instructors will assign a grade of F and not an
Incomplete. If you have delivered only partial work, you will be given the grade that
you earned so far according to the same scale as all other students in the class.
All undergraduates, regardless of major, are required to successfully complete the Research Methods Roadmap.
Research Methods Roadmap
The Methods Road Map (MRM) is a checklist of four compulsory and sequential undergraduate methods and research design courses (24 ECTS). The MRM encourages student growth in the area of research-focused writing and it underscores the importance of formulating research questions, constructing research designs, distinguishing among methodological approaches and choosing appropriate methods whether qualitative or quantitative to address them.
Undergraduates take four MRM courses over their first six semesters, establishing a basis for more advanced method or tool-specific courses as they progress toward their thesis project. It ensures that all students are properly prepared to undertake a thesis project and graduate with the requisite scholarly research skills requisite for an European Qualifications Framework (EQF) an Austrian National Qualification Framework (NQF) Level VI qualification. Two MRM courses are included within the common Core Module (12 ECTS) and the remaining discipline-specific courses are part of module 2 of the different undergraduate degree programs.
MRM Courses included in the Common Core Module (12 ECTS):
- GLBC 1200 Global Cornerstone Seminar: Scientific Reasoning and Society (6 ECTS)
- STAT 1100 Descriptive Statistics (6 ECTS)
MRM Courses that are included in Module 2 of the different degree programs (12 ECTS):
- Bachelor of Arts in International Relations: Module 2
- ANSO 2720 Introduction to Measurement and Statistics
- INTL 2700 Methods of Political Inquiry
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: Module 2
- PSYC 2750 Introduction to Measurement and Statistics (6 ECTS)
- PSYC 2825 Introduction to Research Methods (6 ECTS)
- Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication: Module 2
- ANSO 2720 Introduction to Measurement and Statistic
- MDST 4200 Media Research
- Bachelor of Arts in Management: Module 2
Bachelor of Arts in Management with an Emphasis in International Business: Module
Bachelor of Arts in Management with an Emphasis in Marketing: Module 2
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Module 2- BUSN 2750 Introduction to Statistics (6 ECTS)
- BUSN 2825 Introduction to Research Design and Methods (6 ECTS)
The Webster Vienna Private University (WVPU) Code of Conduct provides guidance and sets the baseline for the standards of ethical behavior of all WVPU community members. Rooted in the notions of honesty, integrity and respect, it covers matters of academic performance, interpersonal communication, behavioral and professional integrity and responsibility and conflicts of interest.
The WVPU Code of Conduct applies to all university employees, students and contractors whose conduct should be in accordance with university regulations and applicable laws. It is the responsibility of every member of the community to familiarize one’s self with relevant policies and guidelines. Noncompliance with this Code may result in sanctions.
Academic Honesty
Faculty and students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity and familiarize themselves the WVPU’s Academic Policies. The university does not tolerate acts of cheating, plagiarism, fabrication or the facilitation thereof.
Respectful Interaction
All communication must be conducted with respect to the values of the WVPU community and the cultural sensitivities of its members by avoiding:
- National, racial, ethnic or religious slurs
- Words of discrimination or gender bias
- Intimidation, insults or innuendo
- Ad hominem attacks toward any individual
While the university respects the right of all individuals to peaceful, lawful exercise of free speech, it will not tolerate conduct that endangers the health and safety of others or incites violence.
All behavior must be conducted with respect to the values of the WVPU community and the cultural sensitivities of its members. Members of the WVPU community are expected to respect the dignity of others. This expectation of respectful behavior includes conduct outside the workplace or classroom.
Members of the WVPU community are expected to conduct themselves at all times with due regard to the interests and reputation of the university, both during and after their hours of employment.
The university is committed to providing an environment free of implicit and explicit harassment and coercive sexual behavior. Sexual harassment will not be tolerated at WVPU and may lead to sanctions under applicable laws.
Integrity and Accountability
Employees should carry out their duties free of bias and without unnecessary delay, particularly in matters that directly affect the progress of students and operations of the university.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of interest are very common. Any person employed by the university needs to take special care not to expose themselves, their colleagues or the university to such conflicts by disclosing any and all relationships, transactions or dealings that may be interpreted as compromising one’s judgment or giving the appearance of unfair preference or personal gain.
Relationships and Recusals
Any employee that has a private or commercial relationship with another employee or student should recuse him/herself from any decision process involving the status of the other.
Among employees
While consensual relationships happen in the workplace, supervisor/subordinate relationships and relationships of a commercial nature heighten the need for disclosure. Employees entering into commercial or intimate relations with a subordinate should notify Human Resources as soon as possible in order to find a solution leading to relevant recusals or service providers.
Between employees and students
In general, university employees should eschew sexual relationships with students who they are required to assess or to whom provide support services due to the inherent power imbalances involved and potential for abuse and/or coercion. Private relationships with students, particularly those of a commercial or intimate nature, could call into question the objectivity of grading for faculty, damaging the reputation of both the student and the faculty member, and call into question the fair provision of services if with a member of the administrative staff.
When consensual relationships develop between faculty and student, the faculty member, not the student, must notify the Office of the Director and as soon as possible in order to eliminate any possible interpretation of bias. Actions to eliminate any conflicts of interest may include changes in teaching assignments, alternative assessors, or even changes to the student’s course selection, but in all cases will aim to remove the role of faculty to formally evaluate, assess or supervise the student.
Conflict Resolution
Based on the principle of subsidiarity, conflicts should be resolved as close to the source of the conflict as possible. Parties to disputes should work to resolve conflicts in a respectful, objective and solution-oriented manner with the supervisor in charge, develop a solution that is transparent and fair to all parties.
Use of University Resources
The University is committed to using resources in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Employees and students should not utilize the material resources of the university or the efforts of its employees during working hours for purposes of personal use or commercial gain.
What To Do
Suspected breaches of the Code of Conduct can be addressed following the procedures outlined in the Conduct and Grievance Procedures.
The University will not respond to anonymously reported cases. All cases will be handled with utmost confidentiality.
All students, regardless of degree, are required to successfully complete a thesis, which is the culminating project of their university studies. Detailed information for those who are planning, researching or writing their theses can be found in Connections (requires login). Please see our WVPU Thesis Guidelines. Discover more information on the thesis process, content and minimum standards.
Student Thesis Policies
Approved by the University Council on Nov. 20, 2020
Introduction
Writing a thesis or conducting a thesis project is one of the most challenging and yet rewarding academic experiences a student faces at any level. It provides them with an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to undertake independent research appropriate to their academic level as well as develop and apply discipline relevant research designs, techniques, and methods or produce a major independent project reflective of and appropriate to their respective field. Furthermore, it serves as evidence of successful completion to a long stretch of studies, thereby stimulating the transition from one degree-cycle to the next or from university to a working life.
The following presents, in sequence, universal rules pertaining to the registration, preparation and assessment of bachelor and master theses and those respectively specific to first and second cycle degrees.
For specific guidelines and procedures, including length, organization and style matters, students should refer to WVPU’s Thesis Process, Content and Minimum Standards (Appendix 3a).
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Universal rules
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In order to earn an Austrian accredited degree in any field and at any level requires that students successfully complete a thesis project including preparation, submission, and approval (for graduate by at least two qualified individuals, a supervisor and second reader).
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Individuals authorized to serve as thesis supervisors or readers are to be made available by the respective academic departments.
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Thesis supervisors must hold a PhD or equivalent in the respective discipline of the thesis topic or fall into one of the following groups:
- Assistant, Associate, Full or Visiting Professors or Lecturers of WVPU or any of Webster University’s campuses
- Status-track faculty of another accredited university in the U.S. or European Higher Education Area
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Thesis readers may be any individual of category 1.1.2 as well as individuals nominated by the respective departments and approved by the Director.
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The specific quantity of ECTS for a thesis or thesis project as well as the specific requirements in terms of content and length will vary between cycle level and discipline and must be made available in writing to students via the departments overseeing the respective degree programs. However, at no point may the discipline and cycle specific standards fall below those presented in this document.
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Students are solely responsible to consult with the librarian regarding the requirements for the thesis submission to the library.
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Students should expect that the editing and approval processes preceding the final thesis acceptance/non-acceptance may take considerable time and subsequently could have an impact on the actual graduation date.
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Students are solely responsible to complete and receive approval for their thesis before graduating.
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The time required for the supervisor and reader to review the student’s thesis or thesis project as well as the time allocated to conduct any additional editing may not be shortened to meet a student’s desired graduation date.
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Universal registration rules
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Students must complete all relevant program requirements prior to formally registering for a thesis or thesis project. However, students are strongly encouraged to begin preparing for their thesis or thesis project as early as possible.
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Universal preparation rules
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Students must follow a specific sequence of actions when preparing to write their thesis or produce their thesis project.
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Students must fill in all appropriate forms in proper sequence. The precise forms may differ depending on degree cycle and discipline.
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The supervisor (first reader), reader (second reader) and department head must sign the Thesis Declaration Form.
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Regardless of level or discipline, students must produce a complete Thesis Proposal including:
- Introduction summarizing a research question
- Initial Literature Review on the topic organized around all major concepts identified in the research question thereby identifying an existing research gap
- Theory-based hypotheses deriving from the research question
- Initial proposal on the methodology used to test the hypotheses
- Statement of anticipated outcomes
- Any proposed use of human subjects
- Any potential use of university equipment
- A bibliography or cited references section depending on the standards of the respective discipline.
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If human subjects are required to complete the thesis or thesis project, students must obtain written permission from Webster University’s Institutional Review Board before beginning to collect any data on human subjects beyond the pilot study stage of the thesis.
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Students are solely responsible to allow enough time for approval.
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Students must submit all relevant forms and the written proposal and receive approval before the last day of the semester prior to the semester when they intend to begin.
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Students are solely responsible for preparing all materials and getting approval in time.
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Academic departments are required to establish appropriate procedures with announced deadlines for submission and approval of thesis proposals.
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Universal assessment rules
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Students must deliver theses according to the most updated formatting and citation rules of WVPU, the details of which vary between undergraduate and graduate programs, and must be provided by the respective academic departments.
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The thesis or thesis project is considered a draft, and thus incomplete until a final version has been approved in full by the supervisor and reader according to the appropriate procedures and level defined by the respective academic departments.
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It is the sole responsibility of the thesis supervisor to forward the thesis to the (second) reader after he/she has approved it.
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Both the supervisor and, in the case of graduate theses, the reader provide a written assessment of the work to the respective departments and the departments provide those assessments to the Office of the Director prior to scheduling a defense.
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Upon final approval, students must deliver a digital version of the thesis in PDF format and at least one bound hard copy to their respective academic department.
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Students are required to adhere to any discipline specific rules as defined by the academic departments.
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Grading standards depend on level and discipline, but must be credit/no credit, pass/fail, or a letter grade.
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Students who do not meet the respective departmental standards for their thesis will not receive a letter grade of F.
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Undergraduate thesis rules
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ECTS for successfully completed undergraduate theses depend on the discipline and are specified in corresponding study plans.
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The course coding for undergraduate theses must be approved for scheduling by the Director or Associate Director.
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No other course may be substituted as a thesis.
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Undergraduate thesis registration
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Specific registration rules are determined by the respective departments.
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Registration for an undergraduate thesis must be for one semester.
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Undergraduate thesis assessment
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Undergraduate theses receive a letter grade (A,B,C,D,F).
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Final approval of an undergraduate thesis is the sole responsibility of the supervisor.
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Graduate thesis rules
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Credit for successfully completed graduate theses depend on the discipline and are specified in corresponding study plans.
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The course coding for graduate theses must be approved for scheduling by the Director or Associate Director.
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No other course may be substituted as a thesis.
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Students writing a thesis in International Relations must also register for INTL 6900, an anchor course for document tracking and processing.
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Students writing a graduate thesis must also fill out the requisite forms allowing the thesis to be published by ProQuest in its digital database.
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Formal submission of the thesis to ProQuest is the responsibility of the respective departments.
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Graduate thesis registration
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Registration for a graduate thesis must be for no less than one semester and no more than two semesters.
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Graduate thesis assessment
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In addition to universal submission rules, graduate theses must meet the following additional requirements:
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Students must publicly defend their thesis.
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Departments are required to schedule thesis defenses and announce them with two weeks' notice.
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Students must submit together with their thesis an unsigned Thesis Approval Form, which is signed by the supervisor and (second) reader, the department head and either the Director or Associate Director.
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Graduate theses are to be graded with letter grades.
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October 6, 2020
Process for Undergraduate Thesis
- Student finds supervisor, develops a research question and basic research design.
- Proposal development/acceptance by supervisor.
- Student registers for thesis.
- Writing and feedback phase.
- Final version is sent to supervisor.
- Supervisor writes assessment for the thesis and grades it. Assessment will be sent to the Office of the Director.
Please note: UG theses should be register for a semester course (for 8 ECTS) in the Fall or the Spring!
Process for Graduate Thesis
- Student finds supervisor, develops a research question and basic research design, and files a thesis intent form.
- Proposal development/acceptance by supervisor, followed by registration.
- Writing and feedback phase.
- Final version is sent to supervisor and reader.
- Once the supervisor approves the thesis, student binds thesis according to the guidelines.
- Department coordinator collects assessments including a suggested grade and sends them by e-mail to the Office of the Director.
- The thesis defense is scheduled.
- The thesis defense is held. Final grade is set in a discussion between supervisor and reader (and chair – no student!) immediately after the defense and entered into CX as soon as possible.
- The bound thesis is sent to the Office of the Director for signature.
Thesis Defense Committee for Graduate Thesis
For each graduate thesis, a thesis committee needs to be established consisting of three employed faculty members. This means that besides the reader and the second reader, there needs to be a third faculty present at the defense. If the department head is the supervisor or the second reader of the thesis, this third person can be a member of the faculty of any department, but not an adjunct.
Thesis Content and Structure
- Title Page
- Table of Contents
- List of Figures and/or Tables
- Introduction — ends with a broad research question
- Literature review — ends with research gap (may in some disciplines include the theory coverage)
- Theory — ends with theory based hypotheses
- Method (this includes a walk through and reasoning of the approach to be taken)
- Data
- Analysis
- Conclusion
- References
- Appendices
It does not matter if some of those sections do not make up their own chapter but they need to be in the thesis. Of course in the case of exploratory theses, i.e. the better understanding of a problem, it might look a bit different with respect to hypothesis and methods. In addition, the applied method depends on the question, i.e. this can also alter the structure slightly.
Thesis Length
Undergraduate thesis:
- Minimum of 10,000 words in the body of the text (excluding graphics, tables and table of content)
Graduate thesis:
- Minimum of 18,000 words in the body of the text
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