Type of course

Course content

The Master’s thesis (30 ECTS) is the final step leading to your graduate degree. The Master’s thesis is to be carried out as a research project within the field of public health. It can either be:

• an empiric study based on an existing data set
• an empiric study based on collecting new data
• a discussion of a problem based on a systematic review of relevant literature
• a theoretical study of a concept or a model
• quantitative or qualitative, dependent on the student’s documented level of adequate formal qualifications in the different methods and agreement between student and supervisor

Note: the MPH program does not provide courses in qualitative methods, and if relevant, a course must be sought for and integrated as part of the elective courses.

HEL-3950 Master‘s Thesis in Public Health includes three mandatory seminars:

1st Master’s thesis seminar takes place each autumn. For the full time students the seminar must be taken during the first semester.

The first Master’s thesis seminar covers following topics:

• What is the Master’s thesis
• Important milestones in the work towards a complete Master’s thesis
• How to decide on the topic for your Master’s thesis
• Information on databases, library services and literature search
• Use of references, reference styles and reference managers
• Research ethics, necessary permissions, and approvals
• Plagiarism and use of artificial intelligence applications
• Data available for the master projects (the Tromsø Study, the Fit Future Study, the Norwegian Women and Cancer study (NOWAC), the SAMINOR Study)
• Introduction to scientific writing

The students will be challenged to develop an idea for their Master’s thesis topic and find a candidate to supervise their work.

2nd Master’s thesis seminar takes place each spring. For the full time students the seminar must be taken during the second semester. Most students will at this point in time have an idea for their Master’s thesis topic and a potential supervisor.

The second Master’s thesis seminar covers following topics:

• The extent and format of the Master’s thesis
• Project description
• Contract of supervision
• Former students experience with writing their Master’s thesis

Students without a scientific plan will be offered a pre-developed master project and introduced to the supervisor who planned the project and will supervise throughout the project period.

After the second Master’s thesis seminar the students have a home assignment where the task is to develop a short project description (1 page) and find a supervisor. The short project description must be submitted in CANVAS by the end of second semester and approved by the program.

3rd Master’s thesis seminar takes place each autumn. For the full time students the seminar must be taken during the third semester.

The third Master’s thesis seminar covers following topics:

• What is expected in the Master’s thesis
• Common pitfalls and challenges
• Evaluation of the Master’s thesis
• Protocol development
• Timeline

As a home assignment after the third Master’s thesis seminar the students must submit a project protocol (please, refer to CANVAS for the requirements). The protocol must be approved by the program.

All students must fill out a contract of supervision. This contract must be signed by the student and the supervisor(s). It is the student’s responsibility to deliver the signed contract to the program coordinator by the end of the third semester.

In the fourth semester students will conduct a master project and write their Master’s thesis. The submission deadline is 20th May. The extended deadline is 20th November.

Objectives of the course

The aim of the Master’s thesis is to demonstrate the student’s competency in planning, carrying out and presenting results of an autonomous in-depth study on a defined topic within the field of public health. The student should carry out a research project individually, in collaboration with supervisors. The foundation for writing a good Master's thesis lies within the knowledge acquired through the courses included in the MPH program, including HEL-3950 Master's Thesis in Public Health mandatory seminars. The three master seminars aim to provide students with a practical guideline in planning the master project and developing a research protocol. After completion of the course the student should be able to:

Knowledge

• understand how to apply scientific theories and methods to answer research question in the field of public health
• justify choice of scientific theories and methods
• understand the steps of the research process
• identify key challenges in the research process and how to address them
• demonstrate a critical attitude to research ethics and copyright requirements

• demonstrate a critical attitude to the source material and literature

Skills

• to formulate precise research question/s
• conduct a systematic literature search within a defined topic as well as summarize and critically discuss the existing knowledge base in relation to the research project
• carry out an autonomous in-depth study on a defined topic using relevant scientific theories and methods
• defend the choice of theory, method, conclusions, and recommendations
• discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the project
• write an academic text following principles of scientific writing and referencing
• communicate results from a research project in writing and orally

General competence

• acquire knowledge and skills that enable to participate in and carry out research projects in the future
• act in accordance with ethical norms in the field of public health and research
• demonstrate critical thinking
• express yourself in writing and orally in a scientific way

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

The Master's thesis is an independent work (under supervision). Individual academic supervision during the fourth semester is mandatory for all students. A supervisor will be made available to each student.

Master seminars are organized each semester, and include such teaching methods as lectures, seminars, group work, individual home assignments and peer review.