The course is offered at the Danube University Krems.
Learning outcomes
Students should be able to: - identify a research topic and formulate a research question that furthers the knowledge within a field relevant to higher education management - conduct a thorough literature review and present the results of the review in an evaluative manner - conduct a comprehensive study in accordance with the scientific practices pertaining to the methods chosen, including collecting, analysing and presenting the results in accordance with the ontological and epistemological foundations of the theoretical perspectives employed - make a well-argued empirical, theoretical, and/or methodological contribution to the chosen research field from a scientific study - be able to provide implications for practice as well as for future research - defend the research conducted, and evaluate and discuss other’s research in a constructive and critical manner - present results of a scientific study to an audience outside of the specific area of expertise.
Contents
- Developing a research project (formulation of research topic and research questions) - Research methods in theory and practice - Developing the analytical framework - Selection and review of literature - Academic writing: How to write a master’s thesis - Individual guidance through the research topic - Presentations of own research proposals and results
Teaching methods
Teaching method
Contact
Online
Personal instruction
20 h
0 h
Independent work
690 h
0 h
Seminar
40 h
0 h
Guided Readings, Lectures and workshops.
Teaching language
English
Modes of study
Option
1
Available for:
Degree Programme Students
Other Students
Open University Students
Doctoral Students
Exchange Students
Thesis / dissertation
In
English
Participation in course work
In
English
Maturity examWritten exam
In
English
Lectures, workshops and group work 40 hours Supervision 20 hours Paper and presentation 690 hours Total 750 hours
The master’s thesis is an academic study attainment. When students write their master’s theses they should observe sound scientific practice and ethical principles of studying and conducting research as befits the learning outcomes described in the curriculum.
From 1 August 2015 and in order to ensure sound scientific practice, the text of all master’s theses will be checked by the supervisor in the Turnitin plagiarism detection software before grading.
Evaluation
and evaluation criteria
Numeric 1-5.
The master’s thesis is evaluated based on the following factors: • the way the student has applied the main concepts, theories and disciplinary perspectives from the field of higher education research as introduced during the programme, • the coherence of the thesis, i.e. the way in which the student has linked research questions with the theories and concepts, the empirical analysis, and the main conclusions, and • the relevance of the thesis topic.