Afstudeerprocedure
Voor het afstuderen is een afstudeerscenario beschikbaar. Dit scenario is in het Engels.
The final component of the programme consists of writing a Master’s thesis. Once the thesis has been approved, it must be defended orally. The thesis should be based on your specialisation, which is either History of the Book, Publishing Studies or Digital Access to Cultural Heritage. The thesis is worth a total of 20 ECTS.
Thesis and Graduation Scenario
Introduction
The goal of this scenario is to provide guidelines for writing a Master’s thesis and graduating. The guidelines are not rules, and their applicability will vary in individual cases. No rights can be derived from the information in this scenario.
This scenario takes as a starting point a situation in which all examination components, apart from the Master’s thesis, have been completed (including electives). An eventual internship may be completed after the finishing of the masterthesis.. In order for the thesis to be complete, the thesis must be orally defended.
The Master’s thesis is based on your specialisation, which is one of the three aforementioned fields: History of the Book, Publishing Studies or Digital Access to Cultural Heritage.
The thesis is worth 20 ECTS (corresponding to approximately 15,000 to 20,000 words). Students can graduate every month of the academic year, except in July and August. In order to graduate immediately after the summer (in September), the final draft of the thesis must be handed in no later than 8 July 2011. The defence can then take place sometime during the resit period in August.
The entire process of writing a thesis and graduating takes 4 to 6 months.
All components required for graduation, including the MA exam application form must be completed no later than 28 days before the graduation date. A signed transcript must be handed in at the Secretary’s Office at the same date. NB: The thesis grades and any other grades must be handed in no later than 14 days before the graduation date.
There are three official phases in the thesis writing and graduation procedure:
1. Submitting a Thesis ProposalAim of the Master’s Thesis
A thesis is an academic essay, written by the student in consultation with the supervisors. The thesis must show that the student is capable of analysing existing literature in a critical manner, and of conducting independent research. This process must moreover be recorded in an academically sound report.
Choosing a Topic
Generally speaking, students are encouraged to select the topic of their thesis themselves, in consultation with one of the staff members of Book and Digital Media. In most cases, the first supervisor of the thesis will be the lecturer responsible for the course which inspired the thesis. In case of doubt, students can always consult the director of studies. Students should approach the relevant lecturer and discuss with him/her the chosen topic and potential research question. The supervisor, also known as ‘first reader’, will undoubtedly be able to point to relevant secondary literature. A second reader is chosen in consultation with the supervisor. At this point, clear agreements are made concerning supervision. At the heart of a Master’s thesis lies a specific research problem which either adresses a theorethical question or an issue from the emperical practice in the domain of Book and Digital Media, which is examined in a profound academic way. Before a research problem can be formulated, students first do some preparatory reading. Formulating the research question is one of the most important components of research because it constitutes the basis for all further activities. Once the student has selected a topic, formulated a research problem and a related theorethical or emperical question and put together a provisional bibliography, the thesis proposal can be submitted to the intended supervisor. It should include the title of the thesis, a provisional bibliography and a description of the topic. The proposal must be submitted to no later than three months before the planned graduation date. The supervisor will then inspect the thesis proposal to ensure that it is of an appropriate academic level, that it contains no plagiarism, etc.
2. Research and WritingLiterature Survey
In principle, students will already have made a start on the literature survey in the course of formulating their provisional bibliography. This can be done systematically by consulting the University Library, the Royal Library (The Hague) or other relevant sources. It is important to be very precise and systematic in writing down one’s sources, as much time can be wasted in having to look up sources and notes again at a later stage. The MLA style sheet gives precise indications on the information which must be included in a bibliography. Students should start out by formulating a clear plan for the structure of the thesis, in consultation with their supervisor. Only then can they begin writing. Questions of style will only become relevant at a later stage. Keep in mind that information which could not be included in the thesis itself might come in handy during the defence.
Handing in a first part
The first chapter is handed in to the supervisor and discussed. It is not advisable to hand in the entire thesis in one piece.
Handing in the final version
Once the entire thesis is completed, the student should hand in two copies of the so-called final draft, one to each reader. Their comments will be integrated into the final version. The first reader then contacts the student and makes an appointment for the defence date.
Assessment
In assessing the quality of the thesis, the following aspects play an important role:
- The formulated research problem and subsequent question(s);
- The research process and use of research methods;
- Use of relevant concepts or theories;
- Integration and use of relevant secondary sceintific literature;
- Originality of the arguments;
- innovative perspectives;
- Scientific and professional relevance of subject and outcomes;
- Structure of the thesis;
- Quality of style and use of language;
- Quality of the defence.
3. Defence and graduation
Three copies of the thesis must be handed in two weeks before the defence date, at the latest, one for the first reader, one for the second reader and a digital copy for the thesis archive of the Department. During the defence, which lasts three quarters of an hour, the thesis is discussed. The student is expected to be able to defend his/her work. After the defence, students should hand in copies of their Bachelor’s diploma and a signed transcript to the director of studies. During the Master’s Examination, a Master’s diploma is granted in the course of a public ceremony (meaning that friends and family are welcome to attend). The final mark for the Master’s programme is determined according to a fixed norm. For more information on this topic, see ‘Calculation Final Mark Master’s Degree ’. The completed components of the programme are specified on the Diploma Supplement, together with the respective study load and result.