Admission requirements
Bachelor Archaeology first year obtained, plus 60 ec from the remaining BA Archaeology programme.
Description
The bachelor thesis is an expanded essay that presents your own interpretation, evaluation or argument on a small problem-oriented research on an archaeological topic. It forms an academic argument of about 40 pages.
It can consist of a critical literature review, but may also be based on the analysis of archaeological material.
A thesis project always contains an academic research question and a clear methodology.
The BA3-thesis is strongly linked to the course Designing Archaeological Research, in which you will work on formulating your research question and research proposal.
Course objectives
After finishing the thesis, a student:
Has learned to set up and plan a small research project and is able to report on it;
Is able to put a small project into a broader theoretical framework and understands its academic relevance;
Is able to write (under supervision) a clear and well-structured academic argument in compliance with the Faculty's guidelines;
Is able to find relevant academic literature, review this critically, and integrate relevant parts into his/her research;
Can discuss his/her research.
Timetable
Course schedule details can be found in MyTimetable.
Log in with your ULCN account, and add this course using the 'Add timetable' button.
Mode of instruction
Individual supervision.
The student is supervised by at least one member of our staff; the official supervisor (= first examiner and first reader). Please see the list of possible BA supervisors 2021-2022 and their areas of expertise on Brightspace or the Board of Examiners webpage.
The student approaches a staff member from this list with a request to act as a supervisor.
The student is expected to meet regularly with their supervisor throughout the thesis trajectory to discuss work that s/he has submitted prior to the meeting (e.g., research plan, chapter, draft thesis). The student and supervisor should meet approximately 5 times, online or in person.
Phase 1:
Initial meeting to discuss the research topic
Meeting to discuss the supervisor’s feedback on the research plan
Phase 2:
Meeting to discuss the supervisor’s feedback on chapters and the thesis outline
Meeting to discuss the student’s progress
Phase 3:
- Meeting to discuss the supervisor’s final feedback on the complete first draft
Course load
Literature and/or material analysis: ca. 280 hours (7 weeks full-time study, 10 ec) leading to a thesis of max. 10,000 words.
Assessment method
Your thesis will be individually assessed by your supervisor, the first examiner, and an independent second examiner who was not involved with your research, and is appointed by the Board of Examiners (BoE).
Both assessments will be sent to the examiners and discussed, after which a final grade and assessment will be given. This will be sent to the student by the Administration Office.
If the first and second examiner cannot come to an agreement, a third examiner is appointed by the BoE. Based on the assessments of the first and second examiners and the thesis, s/he will compile the final grade and assessment. This grade is final and will be communicated to the student.
A retake of the thesis is possible only once, and has a strict deadline. Should you receive a fail for your thesis, you have 6 weeks after receiving your result to make improvements. The new grade will have a maximum of 7.0.
If you fail this new version, you need to write a new thesis on a new subject (see the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Examiners, article 4.9.4 for the complete procedure.)
Please note that you (if your supervisor is Dutch) are also allowed to write your thesis in Dutch.
The assessments forms can be found in Brightspace.
Deadlines:
The regular deadlines are:
1 March: Submit your research plan to your supervisor.
15 March: Upload the factsheet in Brightspace. Students who have not submitted the factsheet by 20 March will be invited to meet with the study advisor.
1 May: Submit a complete draft of your thesis.
24 May: Receive feedback on your draft from your supervisor.
15 June: Upload your final thesis in Brightspace.
31 August: Final date that thesis can be approved.
If you submit your thesis after 15 June, you must first receive permission to do so from the Board of Examiners in order to meet the 1 September deadline that is set for participation in the October graduation ceremony.
Deadlines for the February graduation ceremony:
1 September: Submit your research plan to your supervisor.
15 September: Upload the factsheet in Brightspace. Students who have not submitted the factsheet by 20 September will be invited to meet with the study advisor.
1 November: Submit a complete draft of your thesis.
24 November: Receive feedback on your draft from your supervisor.
15 December: Upload your final thesis in Brightspace.
31 January: Final date that thesis can be approved.
If you submit your thesis after 15 December, you must first receive permission to do so from the Board of Examiners in order in meet the 1 February deadline that is set for participation in the February graduation ceremony.
Please note, you can graduate in any month except January, July and August, but graduation ceremonies take place only twice a year (October and February).
Reading list
Depends on the chosen thesis subject.
Registration
Registration in uSis is mandatory. You can register for this course until 5 days before the first class.
Registration in uSis automatically leads to enrollment in the corresponding Brightspace module. Therefore you do not need to enroll in Brightspace, but make sure to register for this course in uSis.
Contact
For more information about the BA3 thesis, please contact dr. R.M.R. (Roos) van Oosten.
For general information about thesis writing, and a list of thesis supervisors, see the thesis and paper writing page.
Remarks
None.