Bachelor's Degree in Social Science or Humanities and English 6 + at least 37.5 credits from the following courses: IMER Advanced Studies (IM611L) and Theory of Science and Research Methodology (IM626L).

The course is part of the main field International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER) on advanced level and can be included in a one-year Master's Degree in IMER.

The master thesis constitutes the final assignment for a one-year master’s degree in IMER (International Migration and Ethnic Relations). In the course, the student plans, carries out and reports an individual research project in the form of an academic thesis that is subjected to critical review in an opposition seminar. The thesis subject is decided by the student in agreement with the assigned supervisor and shall engage with current research in the field of IMER.

After completion of the course, the student should demonstrate:

1. Profound and specialized knowledge of a well-defined thesis subject within the IMER field.
2. Extensive knowledge of previous research on the chosen thesis subject.
3. Specialized knowledge in methodological and theoretical approaches that are applied in the thesis.
4. Ability to define, motivate and formulate an original, precise and relevant research aim in the field of IMER.
5. Ability to plan and carry out research within given time frames.
6. Ability to review existing research critically and systematically in relation to a given IMER subject and aim.
7. Ability to develop and apply a research design including theory, method and material in a consistent, systematic and adequate analysis of a research aim.
8. Ability to present and critically review IMER research in good academic English language, especially in writing but also orally.
9. Ability to critically compare and assess different research designs including theory, method and material in relation to a given IMER subject and aim.
10. Ability to critically assess one’s own and others’ research with respect to scientific contribution, societal relevance and research ethics.
11. Ability to identify and explain the need for further knowledge on the chosen thesis subject.

The thesis course consists of independent work with individual and collective supervisions meetings, and the final opposition seminar.

The student is examined on the basis of the submitted thesis (13 credits) that is graded A-U, and the defense of their own and opposition on someone else’s thesis (2 credits) that is graded pass or fail (G or U). The thesis is assessed on the basis of learning goals 1-11. The opposition is assessed on the basis of learning goals 8-11.

Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

f a course is no longer offered, or has undergone significant changes, the students must be offered two opportunities for re-examination based on the syllabus that applied at the time of registration, for a period of one year after the changes have been implemented.

The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.

If a student has a Learning support decision, the examiner has the right to provide the student with an adapted test, or to allow the student to take the exam in a different format.