The purpose of the Master’s Thesis (student research) is to revisit and review the knowledge acquired thus far, to define and study a specific problem, to interpret a phenomenon or situation, and to combine these elements depending on the topic and the student’s ability to analyze, synthesize, and logically process data. The most common approaches include literature-based research, experimentation, case studies, and surveys.
The objectives pursued through the preparation of the Master’s Thesis are as follows:
- To enhance the postgraduate student’s ability to address and solve problems.
- To reinforce learning through the study and analysis of a significant problem, leading to the acquisition of new knowledge derived from research.
- To strengthen the student’s capacity to provide comprehensive and accurate solutions to problems that may arise.
- To train the student in searching, investigating, selecting, using, and documenting information from bibliographic sources.
- To practice writing and presenting a text that integrates information from bibliographic sources without altering the meaning of the original materials.
- To educate the student in writing not only a Master’s Thesis but also any kind of academic or scientific text that requires critical thinking, argumentation, presentation of ideas and proposals, and overall scholarly communication that promotes the author’s academic and research perspectives.
General Competences
- Search, analysis, and synthesis of data and information using the necessary technologies
- Independent work
- Work in an interdisciplinary environment
- Teamwork
- Generation of new research ideas
- Promotion of free, creative, and inductive thinking
- Adaptation to new situations
COURSE CONTENT
The process of preparing the thesis is divided into two or three parts:
- Collection of the required information through the study of available literature.
- Experimental part, if required by the subject of the thesis.
- Writing a text that systematically and thoroughly presents the conclusions derived from the literature review and/or the data obtained through experimentation.
The value of the thesis is not determined by the number of pages, although a minimum length is necessary. It is more precise to define the required number of words for the text to be considered complete and satisfactory. Specifically, a minimum of 20,000 words of main text (excluding references, figures, and tables) is required. Specialized topics may be adequately covered in shorter works. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the supervisor and the three-member examination committee to assess the adequacy and completeness of coverage and to accept the thesis accordingly.
It is self-evident that the success and acceptance of the thesis are primarily determined by the quality of the work itself, and the criterion of quality should always prevail above all else.