Degree Thesis

Introduction

The aim of polytechnic studies is to educate people in the skills of a specific professional area and develop an ability to conceptually analyse issues in the branch. The degree thesis shall show that the student has attained a certain knowledge and proficiency and developed a capacity for independent analytical thought

This requires that the writer is able to solve independently the problem or problems addressed in the thesis on the basis of knowledge and skills acquired during the studies.

The degree thesis is thus an independently conducted, professionally focused final work. The qualitative standard shall correspond to that required for a Bachelor's degree. The thesis shall exhibit balanced judgement, expertise, and the capacity to reach an understanding of the subject under review.

 The aim of the degree thesis is to develop and show that the student´s ability to apply his/ her knowledge and skills in practical expert functions in association with the polytechnic studies according to the EQF 6 (European Qualification Framework).  The Degree Thesis is a test of knowledge that can be designed and evaluated in many different ways. Arcada features many varieties of degree thesis and the different education programmes have formed the thesis so that it well fits the education process. Today there are also requirements that the thesis should be designed better so that it would support the student´s own competence and preference and so lead to new, more innovative approaches and social innovations.

The aim of the degree thesis is thus on the one hand to gain a deeper knowledge which does not take a purely practical form but is at the same time more instrumental than purely academic knowledge, and on the other hand to foster self confidence. This involves a reasoned justification of choices made in carrying out the work.

Types of Degree Thesis achieved at Arcada

Business – or marketing plan for companies. The Degree Thesis consists of the actual plan made for the management and a report where the student presents the choice of structure for the plan and the considerations he/ she made during the process. The plan and the report are evaluated as a whole. The thesis can also be written on the basis of the student´s own business idea.

Artistic work, such as a film or equivalent, where the thesis consists of a production and a report that describes the professional considerations and choices the student has made during the creative process. The production and the report are evaluated as a whole.

Practical work, such as a sports event, staging an international trade fair department, carry out a PR-or marketing campaign, in which case the thesis can be documentation of the event such as a film or a report that describes the professional considerations and choices the student has made. The event and the report are evaluated as a whole.

Product development, such as a machine, software, instrument, quality system or a welfare report carried out for a company or organization. The thesis then consists of the product and a report where the student shows his/ her capability to practise his/ her knowledge and skills. The product and report are evaluated as a whole.

Service development, involves development of a new process or a concept where the interaction between the service provider (a company or organization) and the consumer/ client/ patient improves. The process and/ or concept is developed through the student´s capacity and skill to describe and structure the activities so that the interaction between the service provider and the client improves and creates value. The developed process or concept is evaluated in the form of a report.

Investigation work with an explorative approach which can involve a certain imbalance between the different parts of the work. The methodology part is often relatively short and defines only the measuring instruments used for the empirical survey.  The empirical part should give a comprehensive and rich description of the phenomenon that is being surveyed. The grade is essentially determined on how meaningful and comprehensive the survey is.

Scientific works, where there necessarily isn´t an explicit requirement of scientific contribution from the thesis. The thesis can be a report of a literature study, a qualitative study based on for example interviews or an evaluation of an intervention. Scientific works can be connected to the university’s research-, development- and innovation work and the profile fields and contributes to develop the professional field.

The scope of the thesis

The scope of the thesis corresponds to 15 ECTS credits of independent work. It can constitute a part of a larger research work or project so that cooperation both within and between institutions can be deepened and developed. In such a case the individual student's independent contribution should always be documented, irrespective of whether one or more students work on part of an integrated problem or issue.

The documentation should at least include the following elements:

The relevance of the problem

Relationship to existing knowledge

• Issue or hypothesis
• Method
• Results
• Discussion
• Choice of supervisor

Every degree thesis shall have a supervisor who is employed at Arcada. The supervisor is designated in the first instance from among teachers in the student's own degree programme. At the same time an assessor of the thesis is designated.

For a degree thesis done on commission for an external party there can be an expert instructor representing the commissioning party.

Evaluation of the degree thesis

The evaluation of the degree thesis is done by the assessor together with the supervisor. The assessor should write a statement evaluating the degree thesis as a whole. The statement should also be signed by the supervisor. The supervisor has the right to request that a degree thesis is language cheched. The use of language can also influence the evaluation. Se more details at Evaluation criteria for the final thesis project.

Maturity examination

After submitting the thesis, the student should participate in a written maturity examination. The content is evaluated by the supervisor and the use of language by a competent language teacher.

Presentation

After the completed maturity examination has been approved, the student shall present the degree thesis in a suitable public forum. Thesis Forum presentation opportunities and schedules (registered) can be found here. You will find instructions for Thesis Forum (common, poster and presentation) here and a poster template here.The maturity examination and the presentation can also influence the awarded grade.

Abstract

There shall be an abstract of the degree thesis in the same language as that in which the thesis is written as well as one in the language of the degree programme, always provided however that there is an abstract in English.

Grade

The degree thesis is assessed with the grades.

• Satisfactory (1-2)
• Good (3-4)
• Excellent (5)

The grade is justified in the statement on the degree thesis.

Confidentiality

The degree thesis is an official and public document. Parts of the degree thesis can be classified as confidential only in exceptional cases and for special reasons.

The confidentiality classification is possible in the following cases:1)    If the degree thesis contains information on inventions, new facilities, procedures or developments that can have commercial significance;
2)    If the degree thesis contains information on the actions of authorities classified as confidential as defined in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999); or
3) If the degree thesis contains business secrets.  

The decision is made by the Head of Department of the degree programme in question and the Administrative Director of Arcada based on the submission of the student and the supervising teacher. A free-form application for confidentiality classification is to be addressed to the Administrative Director together with the supervising teacher’s recommendation. The student is informed of the decision with a written decision. The classified part of the degree shall be an annex to the degree thesis and is saved with the archive copy in the library archives. The classified part is never uploaded electronically. The student shall mention the parts which the confidentiality classification applies to in the agreement about commissioned degree thesis.

Ethical rules

The student should observe good practice and the ethical rules pertaining to academic work at a college of higher education. The rules are found in the document Good Scientific Practice in Studies at Arcada.

All students whose planned degree thesis includes an empirical study, where persons are informants or objects of research, or classified data about persons, have to submit a short plan for the the thesis to the Ethical Committee before the empirical study is implemented (link to the plan template in the right hand upper corner = Short plan for thesis).

Thesis Writing Guide

A thesis writing guide (Guide för skribenter) on Arcada's home page provides practical advice on the use of language and the presentation of written work. The guide is pertinent to all written work at Arcada.

Urkund

Urkund offers an automated system designed to deal with the problem of plagiarism. With a small effort from the user, plagiarism can be prevented from three man source areas: The Internet, Published Material and Student Material.
Information for students about Urkund
Log in for teachers to Urkund

Theseus

Theseus is an electronic library that offers the possibility to access theses and publications of the Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences. Theseus is a service offered by Arene ry, the Rectors' Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences.