Description and requirements
The Master Thesis must be completed within maximum two years after the completion of the fieldwork. After this period of two years the fieldwork data lose their validity and the thesis can no longer be accepted.
Thesis (15 EC): minimum of 22,500 words, maximum 30,000 words (excl. list of references, and excl. text that has been used in the research proposal – calculation via TurnitIn) based on fieldwork or internship data and literature study.
For students following the Visual Ethnography Specialisation, the Master Thesis encompasses both an audiovisual and a textual component, accounting for 60%/40% grading ratio. The text should be minimal 8,000 words, maximum 12,000 words (excl. reference and text used in the research proposal – calculation via Ephorus). The audiovisual part may consist of a ‘film’ with a length of 25-30 minutes or an equivalent effort in an alternative audiovisual format upon approval of supervisor.
In the Master Thesis special attention should be paid to the following:
The theoretical presuppositions and their relation to the research findings as worked out in the thesis.
Clarity of definition of the research problem; attention, accuracy and precision of data analysis and reliability of the data.
The extent to which the author conveys the general social scientific importance.
Scientific curiosity and critical reflection on one’s contribution.
Conciseness of the research report.
Clarity of presentation and writing style.
Accurateness in making references and accurate quoting.
The thesis should be written in English or, if approved by the Exam Board, in Dutch.
Mode of instruction
Individual supervision.
Students can also make use of the Master Thesis Lab (Scriptie-atelier
Reading list
Dependent on research topic and area.
Assesment method
Assessment of the Master Thesis is done by the supervisor and a second reviewer.
In evaluating the thesis the supervisor will use the grading rubric defined by the Institutes Educational Committee.
Each year the Institute for Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology awards the best field research and Master Thesis. The award called the Speckmann Award consists of financial reward and an official award certificate. The aim of this award is to improve the quality of research and the Master Theses. Evaluation of theses submitted for the prize is carried out by a departmental prize-committee.
Only the staff members may bring theses that they consider eligible for the Speckmann award to the attention of the committee.
N.B. The Master Thesis must be completed within maximum two years after the completion of the fieldwork. After this period of two years the fieldwork data lose their validity and the thesis can no longer be accepted.
Time table
April, May, June for students starting in September. November, December, January for students starting in February.
Deadline and procedure for submitting the thesis are published via Blackboard of Thesis Seminar.
Please note that there can be no supervision in July and August due to research obligations of the teaching staff.