PSY4092 – Master thesis in Psychology
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The Master’s thesis is an independent scientific paper. It shall be conducted in accordance with general scientific standards and the requirements to form and content within the research field that is the focus of the thesis. The thesis can be empirical or theoretical.
Learning outcome
Through the thesis, the student shall demonstrate the ability to treat a defined theme in a professional, ethical and precise manner, within a limited time frame. The student shall acquire an awareness and understanding of research ethics and current issues within the research field. In the presented written work, the students shall therefore be able to:
- Describe and summarize a specific topic within cognitive neuroscience.
- Formulate clear and concise research questions and hypotheses.
- Evaluate the applicability of the chosen design, methods and analysis, and discuss their choices.
- Argue for different interpretations of research results and their implications for theories within cognitive neuroscience.
- Present conclusions of the conducted research based on scientific criteria.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.
Recommended previous knowledge
You should have passed all courses before continuing to the master thesis.?
Teaching
The teaching has the form of individual or collective supervision. All students must have a supervisor with sufficient scientific competence. The students are themselves responsible for finding a supervisor. A supervision agreement shall be signed by both parties, and must be submitted to the course administrators in due time.
A project plan is set up by the student and agreed upon by the supervisor. The supervisor is also to register the master's project with the required documentation in ForskPro
You can read more about supervision in the document concerning requirements.
Examination
The students’ written thesis will be assessed, and an oral defence of the thesis will be conducted.
The final grade will reflect the concurrent evaluation of the presentation and the written work.
Before submitting the master thesis, the student must have completed the following mandatory activities:
- Obligatory activity 1: Handing in supervision agreement within 1 September
- Obligatory activity 2: Set up a project plan and have it approved by supervisor within 15th of September?
Formal requirements
The scope of the thesis is described on the page Master Thesis in Psychology: Guidelines and Requirements.
Handing in the master thesis
The deadline is set to medio May or October (one semester late). The thesis must be uploaded to both DUO vitenarkiv and Inspera within the deadline.
Is the thesis work delayed and you need to ask for an extension?
You may apply for an extended submission deadline on the basis of illness (or other valid reasons) that takes place shortly before the submission deadline, or you may apply for a postponed submission to the following semester. Please use this form to apply for an extension or postponement.
Examination support material
All exam support materials are allowed during this exam. Generating all or part of the exam answer using AI tools such as Chat GPT or similar is not allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
The students’ written thesis will be assessed, and a public presentation/defense of the thesis examiner(s) and supervisor(s) will be conducted. The grade given on the thesis is based on a complete evaluation of the presentation, the written work, as well as the practical conduct of the student.
Resit an examination
A master thesis that has been given A-E, cannot be submitted in an altered version. A thesis that has been given F, can be submitted within an agreed deadline and?with a substantially altered content.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.