Course Description and Requirements
The master’s thesis must be completed within two years of the completion of the fieldwork. After two years, fieldwork data loses validity and the thesis can no longer be accepted.
Master Thesis Global Ethnography specialisation (15 ECTS) and master thesis Sociology of Policy in Practice specialisation (15 ECTS): minimum of 22,500 words, maximum 30,000 words (excl. list of references, excl. texts copied from earlier assessed assignments – calculation via Turnitin) based on fieldwork or internship data and literature study. Exceeding the maximum word count can in exceptional instances be allowed, but only with the approval of the individual supervisor.
A master thesis written for the Sociology of Policy in Practice specialisation should contain an appendix which specifies the policy recommendations that are an outcome of the research project that has been conducted. This appendix should encompass an executive summary, which is written in language that is accessible to a non-specialist audience. The recommendations should be concise, and not be longer than four pages. Ideally, the policy recommendations should be presented to the Research Internship provider, and a short reflection of the presentation and its responses included in the appendix to the master thesis.
Master’s thesis Visual Ethnography specialisation (15 ECTS): the master thesis should encompasse both an audiovisual and a textual component. The text should be a minimum of 8,000 words, maximum 12,000 words (excl. list of references, excl. texts copied from earlier assessed assignments – calculation via Turnitin) based on fieldwork or internship data and literature study. Exceeding the maximum word count can be allowed in exceptional instances, but only with the approval of the individual supervisor. With the approval of the supervisor the audiovisual part may consist of a film with a length of 25-30 minutes or an equivalent effort in an alternative audiovisual format.
During the writing of a master thesis a student will (further) develop the following transferable skills: researching, analysing, project-based working, written communication, reflecting, independent learning, resilience.
N.B.: Please note that sections of text that have been included in the Research Proposal can be copied or re-edited, but will not count towards the minimum number of words required to fulfil the requirements of the master’s thesis.
Schedule
The thesis is written in the three months after finishing fieldwork research. The individuals’ writing and editing process is supported by the course Thesis Seminar. The deadline and procedure for submission of the thesis are published on the Brightspace pages of the course Thesis Seminar.
N.B.: Please note that the research obligations of the teaching staff mean that there can be no supervision in July and August.
Mode of instruction
Individual supervision.
Assessment method
The master’s thesis is assessed by the supervisor and a second reviewer. The audiovisual and textual components of the thesis are graded at a ratio of 60%/40%, but both must be sufficient for the thesis as a whole to be considered sufficient. Assessment is based on a standardized grading rubric and developed along procedures set up for all programmes at Leiden University’s Faculty of Social Sciences.
Each year the Institute for Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology recognizes the best field research and master’s thesis with an award called the Speckmann Award. The Award encompasses an official certificate and a financial reward. The award is intended to encourage students to conduct excellent research and rewards the one who produces the year’s best master’s thesis. Evaluation of theses submitted for the prize is carried out by a departmental prize-committee.
Only the faculty may bring to the attention of the committee those theses they consider eligible for the Speckmann Award.
Registration in My Studymap
Students are not required to register for this course since it's by individual appointment with the supervisor.
Course Literature
Dependent on research topic and area.
Contact
Master's programme coördinator: Dr. J.A.M.M. Jansen