The Master Thesis Seminar at Business Studies and Business Administration is an advanced master level course touching upon all the main aspects of the thesis writing process.

The overall aim of the Master Thesis Seminar is:

• to provide inputs and inspiration for writing the master thesis;
• to create a forum where the students have the opportunity to discuss both their own thesis ideas and common themes related to the master thesis writing process.

The main themes of the seminar are:

• Problem formulation and its relation to the other elements of the thesis (e.g. theory, method, philosophy of science)
• Role and choice of theory and literature reviews
• Role and choice of philosophy of science
• Role and choice of methodology and research design
• Project structure, writing process and writing style
• Relations with external organizations/companies

The Master Thesis Seminar at Business Studies and Business Administration is not mandatory, but it gives the students the great opportunity for getting advanced knowledge about theory, methodology, literature review and philosophy of science as well as the opportunity to present and discuss students’ own thesis projects in an informal forum.

Therefore, participation to the thesis seminar is especially beneficial in the initial phase of the thesis writing process and this is the reason why it starts almost simultaneously with the official start of the thesis semester.

The Master Thesis Seminar consists of 6 seminars, each taking place approximately every 2 weeks during the master thesis semester.

Each seminar consists of teacher presentations, student presentations and discussions and workshops The detailed content description of each course seminar:

Seminar 1

In this seminar, we conduct the following activities:

• Present and discuss the academic status of your thesis so far
• Take up relevant academic and administrative issues for discussion
• Make a draft of your own study program description that has to be attached to the final thesis
• Focus on the writing process to get started without many unnecessary deviations.

Seminar 2

In this seminar, we conduct the following activities:

• Presentations and discussions of theory and different ways of applying it in the master thesis
• Discussions on the choice of theory (s) and on theory constructions in your master thesis
• Presentations and discussions of literature reviews and introduction to various types of literature reviews
• Discussion of actual issues relating to your thesis

Seminar 3

In this seminar, we conduct the following activities:

• Presentations, discussions and reflections on method, method selection, method combinations and application in the thesis
• Presentations, discussions and reflections on access to and construction of empirical data.
• Introduction of various data collection techniques
• Presentations and discussions of different types of data sources
• Reflections on opportunities for creating good collaborations with companies in the master thesis process.
• Discussion of actual issues you might have in relation to the master thesis.

Seminar 4

In this seminar, we conduct the following activities:

• Presentations, discussions and reflections on what philosophy of science is with focus on epistemology and ontology
• Presentations, discussions and reflections on the use of philosophy of science in the thesis
• Discussion on actual and specific issues in relation to the philosophy of science in your thesis
• Planning of following seminars
• Final clarifying questions.

Seminar 5

This seminar is based on the students’ interests and together we decide the content during the semester.

Seminar 6

Mid-term evaluation for those who want it.

The students will acquire advanced knowledge, skills and competences on several aspects of the master thesis writing process such as theoretical and epistemological choices and application, methodology, different types of advanced literature review, master thesis structure, writing process and writing style. The master thesis seminar both refreshes the students of what they have learned so far in their education as well as introduces new and advanced elements/methods /epistemological angles.

Basic literature

Will be provided during lectures.

Teaching and working methods

Teaching consists of lectures, discussions, presentations and mini-workshops where the students discuss and reflect on different aspects of the thesis writing process