Course content

During the final semester, students are required to write a Master’s thesis of 50-80 pages. Students are guided in their work by a supervisor who is appointed by the Department of Education with expertise in the particular topic under investigation.

Data for the thesis are collected in the country/countries under investigation and depend on the issue under investigation. Quota students should preferably undertake field work in their country of origin. Norwegian students are encouraged to undertake data collection outside of Norway or on a comparative basis with Norway.

Students are assisted in developing the proposal for their thesis through a special writing course and a particularly designed advanced research methods course. The proposals are finally developed in a series of thesis research seminars that form part of the teaching of EDU 4300 on Targeted Issues in Comparative and International Education. Field work cannot be undertaken until the thesis proposal and research instruments have been approved.

Learning outcome

The thesis is an independent piece of research that will demonstrate the student’s research and analytical competences within the field of Comparative and International Education.

Admission

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.

The Comparative and International Education Programme is open to all students who fulfil the basic requirements above. The main target groups are international students, for example students under the 'Quota' Programme (developing countries), NOMA scholarship students from developing countries, partner institutions, Erasmus students and NORDPLUS students. Norwegian students are also encouraged to apply.

Students must have completed all other courses in the programme in order to receive supervision and hand in their thesis.

Only students who have been admitted to the course may submit their thesis.

Prerequisites

Formal prerequisite knowledge

Students must have completed all other courses in the programme in order to receive supervision and hand in their thesis.

Teaching

The supervisor(s) will guide the student in the work on the thesis in individual tutorials. Each student has the right to a maximum of 30 hours of supervision. This includes the supervisor’s time for preparation and 10 hours of face to face supervision. The amount of time for supervision remains the same in case of co-supervision by several supervisors.

A tutoring agreement form, which can be obtained at the Department of Education, must be completed and signed by both supervisor(s) and student.

Access to teaching

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Examination

Students must have completed all other courses in the programme in order to receive supervision and hand in their thesis.

The exam consists of a written and an oral part. The oral exam aims at discussing and clarifying issues arising fr