ET2606 - Master's Thesis (120 credits) in Electrical Engineering with emphasis on Telecommunication Systems

1. Descision

This course is established by Dean 2016-06-07. The course syllabus is approved by Head of Department of Computer Science and Engineering 2023-09-01 and applies from 2023-09-01.

2. Entry requirements

Admission to the course requires a minimum of 90 higher education credits in Electrical Engineering, including at least 30 credits at the advanced level. Passed/completed course in Research Methodology with Emphasis on Electrical Engineering 7,5 credits. Taken course in Advanced Topic in Telecommunication Systems 7,5 hp

3. Objective and content

3.1 Objective

The aim of the course is to enable students to practise their ability to define, plan, execute and report an independent research project. Students are expected to apply the knowledge acquired throughout the programme to independently investigate one or more specific areas within the main field of Electrical Engineering. The student is to present the results of their research in speech and writing and critically review a fellow student’s degree project. The presentation is to comply with the requirements and criteria that apply for academic texts.

3.2 Content

The course includes four parts:
1. Preliminary study and planning
2. Implementation
a. Research work
b. Supervision and follow-up
c. Written report 3. Oral presentation and defence
4. Opposition
a. Written opposition
b. Oral opposition

Feasibility studies and planning include the development of a project plan that includes a timetable for the project. In the research phase (implementation), the project is carried out and documented in the academic report according to the schedule. It also includes regular follow-ups of the work. At the oral presentation, the student must defend his thesis. Each student must also object to another degree project.

4. Learning outcomes

The following learning outcomes are examined in the course:

4.1. Knowledge and understanding

demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding within the field of electrical engineering specialising in telecommunication systems
demonstrate a considerable degree of specialised knowledge within at least one specific area of telecommunication systems as well as specialised insight into current research and development work
demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge within telecommunication systems

4.2. Competence and skills

demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues critically, autonomously and creatively
demonstrate the ability to use appropriate methods to address research issues within predetermined time frames and with the available resources for supervision
demonstrate the ability to execute independent research and to contribute to the formation of knowledge within telecommunication systems
demonstrate the ability in speech and writing to clearly report and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with researchers, with students on the same level of study and with non-experts
be able to discuss their degree project in speech and writing in English
demonstrate the ability to systematically and scientifically apply knowledge acquired on the programme and to identify, analyse, synthesise and critically review published research

4.3. Judgement and approach

demonstrate the ability to systematically and critically review their own work and that of others informed by relevant disciplinary, technological, social and ethical issues
demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for their ongoing learning

5. Learning activities

The students are to work in pairs of at least two and are responsible for ensuring that the degree project is completed within predetermined time frames and the available resources for supervision, and is of a sufficiently high quality. Exemptions for individual projects are to be approved by the examiner.

Each thesis is to be supervised by an academic supervisor at the institute. In addition to the academic supervisor, the students can have an external supervisor from business and industry or another higher education institution.

There is a thesis idea pitch seminar before the course starts. The course starts with a set of introductory seminars. This is followed by independent work in the form of planning, execution and reporting of a degree project, and critical review of another student’s degree project. Throughout the project work, the student is to maintain an e-portfolio on the learning platform of the course by regularly describing the status and development of the degree project.

The final, revised report is assessed by the examiner after the oral presentation. The examiner awards a grade on the academic report based on his or her own assessment and the results of a peer review. The assessment of the project plan is also to be made by the examiner with the support of peer review.

The requirements for the degree project to be presented and defended are (i) that the project plan has been approved, and (ii) that the academic supervisor has informed the examiner that the quality of the degree project is sufficient for it to be presented and defended. The assessment of the supervisor does not automatically entail that the academic report is awarded a Pass. The grading is made by the examiner after the presentation and critical review.

The project plan, the oral presentation and defence, the oral and written critical review, and the academic report are to comply with the instructions and templates provided in the Instructions for Degree Projects available at the Faculty of Computing.

The course is taught on campus, if nothing else is stated. The student is expected to be available for supervision. It is the responsibility of the student to make time-efficient use of the supervision. Supervision is only provided during semesters.

Students who fail to complete their degree projects during the current semester will receive further supervision to a limited extent only and for no longer than the start of the next course occasion. The examiner has the right to discontinue the supervision when all the time available for supervision has been used. However, students are always entitled to have their degree projects assessed at the next available examination opportunity. A student re-registering on the course is not automatically entitled to new hours for supervision.

6. Assessment and grading

Modes of examinations of the course

Code	Module	Credit	Grade
2405	Essay/Thesis	26 credits	AF
2415	Defence	1 credits	GU
2425	Project Plan	2 credits	GU
2435	Public Discussion and Examination	1 credits	GU

The course will be graded A Excellent, B Very good, C Good, D Satisfactory, E Sufficient, FX Failed result, a little more work required, F Fail.

The grading is carried out by the examiner after taking into account the results of the peer review. The students are assessed individually, even when they write the thesis in pairs. A student who by the end of the course has not submitted a project plan is given the grade U (Fail) for these assignments, since the student did not demonstrate adequate ability to perform tasks within specified timeframes. A student, who has not submitted an academic report of sufficient quality to be presented and defended within 12 (16) months from the start of the course, can at most receive grade B (C), since the student did not demonstrate adequate ability to perform tasks within specified timeframes. The oral presentation and defence of the thesis and oral opposition shall take place on campus, if nothing else is stated. The number of times that a student may be examined to get a passing grade on each of the examination components of the course is limited to five. The information before a course occasion states the assessment criteria and make explicit in which modes of examination that the learning outcomes are assessed. An examiner can, after consulting the Disability Advisor at BTH, decide on a customized examination form for a student with a long-term disability to be provided with an examination equivalent to one given to a student who is not disabled.

The information before the start of the course states the assessment criteria and make explicit in which modes of examination that the learning outcomes are assessed.

An examiner can, after consulting the Disability Advisor at BTH, decide on a customized examination form for a student with a long-term disability to be provided with an examination equivalent to one given to a student who is not disabled.

7. Course evaluation

The course evaluation should be carried out in line with BTH:s course evaluation template and process.

8. Restrictions regarding degree

The course can form part of a degree but not together with another course the content of which completely or partly corresponds with the contents of this course.

9. Course literature and other materials of instruction

Course literature:
Provided by the department: Instructions for graduate work in electrical engineering. Other literature is chosen individually by the student in consultation with the supervisor.

Referenslitteratur:
1. Thesis Projects: A Guide for Students in Computer Science and Information Systems; 2nd Edition
Författare: Mikael Berndtsson et al.
Förlag: Springer
Utgiven: 2007, Antal sidor: 162
ISBN-13: 978-1848000087

2. Projects in Computing and Information Systems – A Student's Guide, 2nd Edition
Författare: Christian Dawson
Förlag: Addison-Welsey
Utgiven: 2009, Antal sidor: 304
ISBN-13: 978-0273721314

3. Real World Research, 3rd Edition
Författare: C. Robson
Förlag: Wiley
Utgiven: 2011, Antal sidor: 608
ISBN: 978-1405182409

10. Additional information

This course replaces ET2580

Course syllabus