Course syllabus for Master's thesis in Architecture

- Students pursuing the five-year  Master of Science in Engineering/Master of Architecture education must have accrued at least 225 hec before beginning work on a thesis.  
- Students who are only taking part in the Master's programme must have accrued at least 45 hec in this programme before beginning work on a thesis. 
- In addition to the general credit requirements, the necessary prerequisite courses must be completed for the specific thesis. The examiner will formulate and monitor these prerequisite requirements.

The purpose of a thesis is to enable the student to develop deeper knowledge, understanding, capabilities and attitudes in the context of the programme of study. The thesis should be written at the end of the programme and offers the opportunity to delve more deeply into and synthesise knowledge acquired in previous studies. A thesis for a Master of Science in Engineering/Master of Architecture or Master of Science programmes should place emphasis on the technical/scientific/architectural aspects of the subject matter

The learning objectives for a thesis are based on the objectives for Master of Science in Engineering/ Architecture/Master of Science degrees formulated in Chalmers local Masters degree procedures.
Specific learning objectives that are to be fulfilled in the masters thesis are that the student should be able to:
- in their project use essential in-depth knowledge of the major subject/field of study and, in a scientifically correct way, relate to current research and development work;
- choose and state ones reasons for selecting their project method with respect to the major subject/field of study;
- contribute to research and development work, and be able to relate their work to relevant scientific or technical/industrial/architectonic contexts;
- based on a holistic view, critically, independently and creatively identify, formulate and deal with complex issues;
- plan and, with adequate methods, carry out qualified tasks within the designated framework and also be able to evaluate this work;
- create, analyse and critically evaluate different technical/architectonic solutions;
- critically and systematically integrate knowledge;
- present and discuss their conclusions as well as the knowledge and arguments these are based upon both in spoken and written English;
- within the framework for the specific project, identify which issues need to be addressed for relevant societal, ethical and ecological factors to be observed, and
- observe and discuss ethical aspects of research and development work, both pertaining to how the work is carried out as well as what it explores/develops;
- identify and discuss needs for further elucidation of different project aspects before decision-making or project realisation, when relevant
Upon completion of the degree work, the student shall have demonstrated such knowledge and ability as are required to work independently as a Master of Architecture/ Master of Science.

The task consists of independent work, which can be carried out individually or in pairs. The task includes topic selection, problem formulation and problem definition, literature studies, empirical data collection including practical experiments, development, preparation of a report as well as presentation and defense of the report at a seminar. The report must meet certain scientific criteria. The course also includes opposition on another group's thesis report.

Initiation and planning
- The thesis is to be written by a single student or two students working together.
- The student(s) send a notification to the masters thesis coordinator during the semester preceding the masters thesis semester. The masters thesis coordinator, in consultation with the department and the directors of the masters programmes, appoint an examiner and a tutor.
- Student(s) formulate a brief written description of the topic for the thesis to be delivered together with the notification. The description should contain the background, purpose, objective and possibly the method.
- Students develop and formulate a project plan (planning report) providing a detailed description of the problem/task. The planning report must contain the background, purpose, objective, scope, method and timetable for completion of the thesis. The planning report is submitted to the examiner for approval, and to the masters thesis coordinator, before the start of the masters thesis semester.
- This project plandescription must be included with the registration form when given to the master program responsible.
- The examiner will ensure that the students meet the requirements for general and specific prerequisites for the thesis and that the proposed topic for the thesis meets the general intended learning outcomes for theses. The examiner signs the registration form.
- The master program responsible ensures that the thesis falls within the main subject of the Masters programme. If the student is accepted in a five years program for Master of Science in Architecture, the master program responsible should as well assess and approve that the master thesis is relevant for the appropriate technical/architectural subject area. The master program resonsible signs the registration form.
- The student submits the form for registration in Ladok via Chalmers education pages, Yours studies.

Supervision
- The students are entitled to guidance during the course of their work.

Interim reporting and seminars
The masters thesis process includes several seminars and presentations. The general process comprises: a start up meeting, a first meeting with the examiner and the tutor, a midterm seminar, a final seminar and a final presentation and exhibition.

- After twenty working weeks on a 60 Hec thesis, the student(s) must report the status of their work to the examiner and the master program responsible. An approved interim report results in 30 Hec being registered in Ladok.

Report
- The thesis should be written in English. Under special circumstances, it is possible to write the thesis in Swedish.
- The cover, etc., of the thesis must contain information according to the instruction and templates at Design and Publish master Thesis at Chalmers. See Chalmers education pages, Yours studies.
- The thesis must be parsed using anti-plagiarism software.
- Chalmers policies regarding open access and confidentiality apply to the work on the thesis and to publishing the report.
- The thesis must be published electronically in Chalmers Open Digital Repository (ODR) Student theses according to the applicable rules for electronic publication of theses at Chalmers.
- When two students work jointly on a thesis, the division of the work must be clearly stated in the thesis.

Final seminar and oral presentation
At the final seminar the masters thesis is assessed by a jury with an external and an internal representative.
- The final seminar begins with the students describing their work in an oral presentation. This is followed by comments by two jury members, a defense by the student and a discussion.
- The oral presentation must be made in English. This final seminar may not take more than 90 minutes, of which approximately 2/3 of the time should be devoted to comments by the jury, a defense of the thesis and discussion.

- At the time of the final seminar, the thesis must be completed but not published. This is to make it possible to include viewpoints that arise during the final seminar to be incorporated into the thesis.
- The final seminar, including a defense of the thesis, must be performed at Chalmers. Any additional presentations can be made at a company or other external organisation, if necessary. In exceptional cases, for example, if thesis research has been conducted abroad, the examiner may grant a dispensation from the requirement for an oral presentation, defense of the findings in the thesis and presence at other presentations at Chalmers.
- The presentation of the thesis at a final seminar must be announced at the department at least two weeks prior to the date of the presentation. The presentation must be held in the period between August 15 and June 15, during normal office hours.
 
- Further information about the organization and the process is to be found in the document Rules and guidelines for masters thesis work at Chalmers Architecture.
 

For a thesis to be approved, the following stages must be completed:
- An approved project plan (planning report)
- An approved thesis
- A presentation of the thesis in progress at the midterm seminar
- An approved presentation and defense of the thesis at the final seminar
- Approved opposition of another thesis at the midterm seminar and attendance at four additional midterm seminar presentations
- Presentation of the thesis at the open event Presentations and exhibition of masters thesis
- Delivery of a masters thesis report, digitally and two printed copies
For a 60 Hec thesis, an interim report must be submitted when the work has reached the halfway point. The examiner will decide on the form for the interim report. When the interim report has been approved, 30 Hec will be registered in Ladok.