Master’s degree thesis
Definition and goals
The master’s degree thesis should be an original piece of work that is completed under the supervision of a supervisor or tutor. It should show that students are able to apply the knowledge acquired from the Master’s Degree in Optometry and Vision Sciences.
The master’s degree thesis can be about any topic related to the subjects taught on the master’s degree course.
The aim of the master's thesis is to enable students to demonstrate that they are able to apply all of the competencies taught on the course.
Students must write the thesis and defend it in public before a board of examiners appointed for this purpose.
The master’s degree thesis can be about any topic related to the subjects taught on the master’s degree course.
The aim of the master's thesis is to enable students to demonstrate that they are able to apply all of the competencies taught on the course.
Students must write the thesis and defend it in public before a board of examiners appointed for this purpose.
Academic requisites
To enrol the master's thesis, students must have enrolled for all 120 ECTS credits on the course.
To defend the master's thesis, students must have passed all compulsory credits on the course.
To defend the master's thesis, students must have passed all compulsory credits on the course.
Organisation
Thesis proposals
Master’s degree thesis proposals will be considered for approval under any of the following circumstances:
a) They have been submitted by teaching and research staff linked to the master’s degree.
b) They have been submitted by teaching and research staff linked to the School.
c) They have been submitted by students.
d) They are based on work undertaken in the framework the Educational Cooperation Agreements Programme.
e) They are the result of work undertaken on a student mobility programme.
b) They have been submitted by teaching and research staff linked to the School.
c) They have been submitted by students.
d) They are based on work undertaken in the framework the Educational Cooperation Agreements Programme.
e) They are the result of work undertaken on a student mobility programme.
With the exception of case e), all thesis proposals must be submitted by a member of teaching and research staff, who will act as tutor. In case e), proposals are managed following the usual draft agreement arrangement students enter into when they go on mobility programmes, and they must have a tutor who is a member of teaching and research staff.
Tutors will be responsible for the academic standards of the thesis.
Master’s degree thesis proposals must at least include the information specified in the following points:
Tutors will be responsible for the academic standards of the thesis.
Master’s degree thesis proposals must at least include the information specified in the following points:
a) Title
b) Student, In the case that the supervisor or tutor has assigned a thesis to a student.
c) Supervisor, In the case that the supervisor is not a member of teaching and research staff linked to the School, the member of teaching and research staff that he/she proposes will act as tutor. The supervisor-tutor will basically be responsible for supervising the work plan, ensuring goals are reached, signing the page described in point 5.2 and assessing the master's thesis as provided for in these regulations.
d) Description of the topic and goals
e) Work plan
f) Resources and materials available for its successful completion
f) Resources and materials available for its successful completion
Registration of master’s theses
The FOOT will take responsibility for promoting master's thesis proposals, collecting them and publishing them once approved by the coordinator.
Once students have chosen a master's thesis, they must print the proposal, have their tutor approve it and register it with the secretary’s office of the School.
Master's theses must be registered at least two weeks before the enrolment period. There are two master's thesis enrolment periods every year (July and February). This also applies to students who wish to enrol for the master's thesis in the July period in order to defend it in June of the following year. However, this will no longer apply in July 2010.
Once they have registered, students may begin work on their theses as instructed by the tutor/supervisor.
Should students fail to defend a thesis within two years from the date of registration, the registration will be cancelled and the registration process must be repeated.
Any queries about the assignment of master’s degree theses should be addressed to the master’s degree coordinator, who will file them with the body responsible for the course if necessary.
Once students have chosen a master's thesis, they must print the proposal, have their tutor approve it and register it with the secretary’s office of the School.
Master's theses must be registered at least two weeks before the enrolment period. There are two master's thesis enrolment periods every year (July and February). This also applies to students who wish to enrol for the master's thesis in the July period in order to defend it in June of the following year. However, this will no longer apply in July 2010.
Once they have registered, students may begin work on their theses as instructed by the tutor/supervisor.
Should students fail to defend a thesis within two years from the date of registration, the registration will be cancelled and the registration process must be repeated.
Any queries about the assignment of master’s degree theses should be addressed to the master’s degree coordinator, who will file them with the body responsible for the course if necessary.
Registration of master’s degree theses
Master’s degree theses must be registered in the regular registration periods (July and February). Theses must have been enrolled for at least two weeks beforehand.
The master’s degree thesis must be defended in the same semester students officially enrol for it. If the conditions for defending a thesis are not met or it is not awarded a pass, students must repeat the master's thesis enrolment process.
The master’s degree thesis must be defended in the same semester students officially enrol for it. If the conditions for defending a thesis are not met or it is not awarded a pass, students must repeat the master's thesis enrolment process.
Assessment
Submissions
In order to defend a thesis, students must submit three copies on paper and two copies in electronic format (PDF) to the Academic Secretary’s Office two weeks before the date of defence.
Students must also sign an agreement allowing the publication of the thesis through the website of the University Library, unless the thesis contains a confidentiality clause. If students pass the thesis, the University Library will be sent a copy in electronic format for its publication.
Students must also sign an agreement allowing the publication of the thesis through the website of the University Library, unless the thesis contains a confidentiality clause. If students pass the thesis, the University Library will be sent a copy in electronic format for its publication.
Examining board
The management of the FOOT will appoint the members of the examining board (regular and alternate) who will assess the master’s degree theses. The board is made up of three members of teaching and research staff (a chairperson, a member and a secretary) whose appointment will be approved by the Academic Assessment Committee.
The management of the FOOT will set the date and times for master's thesis defences, subject to the approval of the educational cooperation agreement.
The management of the FOOT will set the date and times for master's thesis defences, subject to the approval of the educational cooperation agreement.
Assesment
The assessment of the master's thesis will be based on the written thesis summarising the work carried out and on the defence before the examining board.
The examiners will take the following into account in their assessment of master's theses:
The examiners will take the following into account in their assessment of master's theses:
- The scientific and technical quality of the work undertaken (originality, degree of difficulty, etc.)
- The content of the written thesis.
- The content of the written thesis.
- The quality of the presentation
- Other aspects they may wish to consider
The secretary of the examining board will fill in the School’s standard marks sheet and will hand it in to the Secretary’s Office of the FOOT. The FOOT will keep a record of this marks sheet and a copy on CD.
Should the examining board feel that the quality of a written thesis does not deserve a pass mark, it may notify the tutor and the master’s degree coordinator of such so that they are able to take the appropriate steps.
Grades will be awarded based on the following scale:
Should the examining board feel that the quality of a written thesis does not deserve a pass mark, it may notify the tutor and the master’s degree coordinator of such so that they are able to take the appropriate steps.
Grades will be awarded based on the following scale:
- 0 to 4.9: Fail
- 5 to 6.9: Pass
- 7 to 8.9: Good
- 9 to 10: Very good
- Proposals for distinctions
- 5 to 6.9: Pass
- 7 to 8.9: Good
- 9 to 10: Very good
- Proposals for distinctions
The examiners may propose to award a distinction by submitting a short report justifying their grounds for doing so to the coordinator.
A distinction may only be awarded to students who have obtained a mark of 9 or more. As there is a limit to the number of distinctions the UPC can award in each academic period (semester), the Academic Assessment Committee will decide which distinctions are to be awarded at the end of each academic year.
The oral defence of the thesis will last around 20’ and a maximum of 30’.
A distinction may only be awarded to students who have obtained a mark of 9 or more. As there is a limit to the number of distinctions the UPC can award in each academic period (semester), the Academic Assessment Committee will decide which distinctions are to be awarded at the end of each academic year.
The oral defence of the thesis will last around 20’ and a maximum of 30’.
Structure of the written thesis
The report must contain the following:
- A first page bearing the approval of the tutor of the thesis and of the supervisor if necessary.
- A second page with a summary of the thesis (a maximum of 200 words).
- The thesis in open format. It is recommended that it be no longer than 50 pages (plus appendices).