Vår 2025

REI-3910 Master's thesis - 45 stp

The course is administrated by

Handelshøgskolen ved UiT

Type of course

This course is mandatory for the achievement of a Master of Tourism Studies degree. It is open for other students with a Bachelor's degree. Before submitting the Master's thesis, the student must have passed all other exams in the master's programme.

Course contents

The master's thesis is an independent research project in which the student demonstrates advanced knowledge, skills and general competence in tourism studies. Through the work with the thesis, the student formulates and investigates research questions in the context of tourism, applying relevant research methodologies and theoretical approaches.

Admission requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree (180 ECTS), or an equivalent qualification, with a minimum of 80 ECTS within tourism, out-door recreation, event studies, marketing and communication, social sciences, humanities or education. Applicants must have a minimum of 5 ECTS in research methods to fulfil the admission requirements.

International applicants who hold a bachelor's degree or equicalent issued in Nordic countries, Europe, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand: An average grade strong C as a minimum requirement,

International applicants who hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent issued in countries other than the above mentioned region/countries: An average grade B is a minimum requirement in addition to fulfilling formal admission requirements for Master's level entry.

The average grade is calculated from the entire bachelor´s degree.

Non-EU applicants need to have a Higher Education Entrance Qualification from their home countries and certified fulfilment of English language requirements.

Application code: 9731 (nordic applicants)

Obligatory prerequisites

REI-3001 Philosophy of Social Science, REI-3005 Travel and Tourism Marketing, REI-3011 Tourism theory and the tourist experience, REI-3012 Nature and tourism in an era of climate change, REI-3013 Indigenous Heritages in Tourism, REI-3014 Qualitative methods, REI-3015 Festival and event tourism, REI-3016 Quantitative methods

Objective of the course

Students should obtain the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge: the student should have

specialized knowledge of a chosen topic within the field of tourism studies
a thorough knowledge of research design
an in-depth understanding of relevant theoretical and methodological perspectives for their chosen topic
a thorough knowledge of how to write an independent research project

And should be able to

critically evaluate and research their subject area

Skills: the student should be able to

formulate research questions, collect and analyze data in a scientific manner within a limited time period
theoretically discuss results, assess findings, and reflect both critically and ethically on research processes
undertake innovative, independent, informed, and critical analyzes in relation to tourism
apply relevant theory and research methodologies in order to complete an independent research project
critically discuss and debate their own research both orally and in written form

Competence: the student should be able to

critically reflect on ethical issues and integrity requirements as part of scholarly work as well as in industry and community engagements
communicate tourism research findings within the field of tourism studies
contribute to innovation and innovation processes within tourism knowledge production

Language of instruction

English

Teaching methods

Thesis work starts in the first semester, and is supported by Master's thesis seminars in the first, second and third semester. The fourth semester fully concentrates on completing the thesis. Teaching will consist of 8 seminars (3x45 minutes), which also includes student involvement in classroom discussions and individual writing tasks. The student is assigned a supervisor during May second semester and must submit a Master's thesis project description by the end of the second semester.

Students are expected to work 1260 hours.

The course will be evaluated in accordance with the quality systems of UiT - The Arctic University of Norway.