Master's Thesis in Structural and Mechanical Engineering (MKOMAS)

Content

Since the master theses are very different it is difficult to set up joint guidelines for project execution and reporting. Normally, the master thesis will result in a report. Each Department may have their own examples or requirements in their guidelines and you should agree with your advisor in advance how your project should be carried out and documented. At an overall level many reports will have a rather similar structure. First an introduction presenting the background of the thesis, its purpose and contents. Then there will be a presentation of relevant theory, existing methods and models relevant to the project, laboratory tests etc. This will be followed by a presentation of the analyses/experiments/developments done and the results hereof. For non-experimental projects the results may include (further) development of principles, methods and models. A discussion of the results achieved should be included. How are the results achieved compared to existing theory, methods and models? What conclusions can be drawn? The description of the problem given will in many cases give you a hint as to how the contents should be organised. If you are working on several problems it may be a good idea to complete one problem complex with theory, results, discussions before you start on the next one.

Learning outcome

The master thesis is an individual project during which the candidate shows that he/she has the ability to independently make an in-depth study of a narrowly defined area. The project is concluded with a written report and will often on the basis of a relevant problem include an experimental part based on thorough theoretical studies.

A candidate who has completed and passed his or her master thesis has acquired the following learning outcomes:

He/she

• is able to present and communicate extensive independent work
• can describe the problem clearly and masters the terms and expressions within the academic field
• has acquired an overview of relevant international literature, scientific reporting and ethical standards in the field, and manages to deal critically with various sources of information
• is able to analyse relevant theoretical models and/or studies supported by scientific research
• masters analysis of relevant scholarly tools and techniques
• is able to give an account of the academic problem and analyse results and independent conclusions according to the problem
• is able to reflect upon and evaluate his/her own work in a critical manner
• is able to defend high moral standards in scientific, as well as other, context, thus being a good role model

Required prerequisite knowledge

Refer to Regulations for Master's theses for requirements of studypoints to assign the master thesis.

Exam

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Vidar Folke Hansen

Course coordinator:

Ove Tobias Gudmestad

Course teacher:

Kenneth Alasdair Macdonald

Course teacher:

Jasna Bogunovic Jakobsen

Course coordinator:

Ove Mikkelsen

Course coordinator:

Samindi Samarakoon

Course coordinator:

Jayantha Prasanna Liyanage

Method of work

It is important both to the student and the advisor that a good cooperation routine is established during the execution of the project. This may e.g. take the form of regular meetings in which the student will present and discuss his/her work as it develops. Preferably the student should have written something that can form the basis of the conversation/discussion with the advisor. It is an advantage to start writing the thesis at the earliest possible stage. Make a preliminary table of contents for the thesis. As your work progresses, the various chapters and part chapters will be filled with text. At the start the text will often be incomplete and take the form of key words. But be sure to write down all your ideas and thoughts as they come to your mind. Otherwise, good ideas may easily be forgotten. When working on a thesis, you may from time to time find yourself in a period of frustration where everything looks hopeless and where there is no progress. In such periods it is an advantage to be able to take out part chapters that are almost finished.

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital subject evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature