Changes in preparation and assessment order of Master's thesis

In the order, issues related to student certification, scientific supervisor, interdisciplinary master's theses, pre-defense, review, defense and other issues were coordinated and regulated.

At YSU, there are now not only 2, but also 1 and 1.5 year Master's programs, which has created the need to have different schedules. The order defines the schedules for the preparation, certification and defense of the master's thesis and the required actions regarding the course of the thesis preparation.  

One of the most important changes is the inserted e-learning electronic platform designed for all stages of the master's thesis, starting from the information related to the topic of the thesis and the scientific supervisor to the current activities of the thesis preparation and uploading the final work to the e-learning system. This platform aims to strengthen the student-supervisor connection by giving the student the opportunity to upload his/her work and the supervisor to monitor it in the electronic system.

Certification of master's students has also been regularized by being included in the e-learning platform, while previously it was carried out through the relevant chair's internal procedures. The student's certification is carried out by the relevant chair based on the student's reports on the e-learning platform regarding the thesis preparation process. A student who does not pass certification is dismissed from the university due to insufficient academic performance.

Based on the characteristics of the educational programs, both the student and the educational department implementing the educational program have the opportunity to propose topics for the master's thesis. This student-centered approach has been used in the past but has not been defined by the order.

The title of the thesis can be edited before the start of the graduation semester if there is an appropriate justification of the chair implementing the educational program. That is, in the case of a 2-year educational program, the final version of the title must be approved in the 1st semester of the 2nd year.

The order specifies the responsibilities of the scientific supervisor. The concept of co-supervisor is new, that is, a thesis may have 2 supervisors. The co-supervisor of the Master's thesis may be both specialists from another YSU educational department, as well as an RA and foreign invited specialist with a scientific degree and title in the given field or a representative of the relevant professional field (public or private) labor market.

The successful experience of interdisciplinary master's theses written in the university for 3 academic years has made it possible to develop this direction at the university, regulating the stages of implementation, provisions and other details in the order.

The chapter "Pre-defense, review and defense of Master's thesis" added to the order defines the details of the above processes. For example, a pre-defense is organized at least 2 weeks before the defense to present final observations and make suggestions to the student. The scientific supervisor presents to the pre-defense committee his/her positive or negative opinion about the work conducted with the student. By the way, the format of the supervisor's opinion is also included in the order, which has never been before. Taking into account the work conducted by the student and the opinion of the scientific supervisor, the committee has the opportunity to allow or reject the master’s thesis to be presented on the defense day, if it does not meet the defined requirements or a violation of the norms of academic honesty is recorded, as well as to give a maximum of 1 week to revise the thesis. As a result of the pre-defense, the student who is not allowed to defend or does not appear for the pre-defense is dismissed from the university.

If the pre-defense commission allows the thesis to be presented on the defense day, the academic department organizes the external review of the thesis, which may also be carried out in a "blind" review format (the reviewer does not know whose work he/she is reviewing and who is the scientific supervisor of the thesis), which is also an innovation.

The assessment criteria have also been changed. From now on, the highest score for the composition and design of the work will be 2 points, and the highest score for research implementation and results will be 8 points.

The new preparation and assessment order of master's thesis will provide an effective and systematic procedure for master’s theses, continuing to ensure transparent activity and quality results.

Learn more about the new order here.