Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS)

Learning outcomes

The student is able to plan, implement and evaluate a thesis in cooperation with working life. The student is able to critically and effectively apply the research and expert knowledge of the field and follow the research ethics. The student is able to choose appropriate research and development strategies and methods to address the development needs and solve challenges of working life. In their work, the student is able to take initiative, act innovatively, and demonstrate good development and change management abilities, applying the principles of sustainable development. The student is able to work independently as an expert, developer and reformer of the field and to build collaboration with working life in order to produce useful information and develop its operations. The student is able to make justified decisions during the different phases of the thesis process. The student is able to produce a written thesis report according to good research and development reporting and shows ability for professional communication nationally and internationally. In the maturity test, the student independently demonstrates solid knowledge and skills associated with the thesis’ subject area and is able to communicate the results in a professional manner.

Content

• Selection and analysis of the topic
• Formulating a research or development plan
• Research permission
• Agreement on thesis collaboration
• Implementation of the research or development process
• Thesis reporting and maturity test

Teaching methods

Working independently in the context of supervision, aiming at developmental activities and their reporting

Location and time

Starting in fall 2025, duration 1-1.5 years

Contact teaching

02.09.2025: Orientation and choosing a thesis topic
11.11.2025: Making a research plan
03.12.2025: Structure of the work, references and visuality of the work + Joint clinic for Master's students in Cultural management

Learning materials and recommended literature

Moodle platform

Alternative completion methods of implementation

-

Internship and working life connections

The functional thesis for master's studies is done in collaboration with working life, where the thesis has a named client and a genuine working life based need

Exam dates and retake possibilities

-

International connections

Particularly in literature, the selection of peer cases, and the impact assessment, an international perspective is emphasized

Content scheduling

From the idea phase to the research plan in fall 2025, with the knowledge base, data collection, analysis, and reporting to be completed during 2026

Further information for students

PARTICIPATION IN TEACHING:
Participation in contact teaching is a required for completing the course. If a student is unable to participate in the beginning of the teaching due to illness, he/she can also confirm study place by informing the teacher in advance. If a student has to be absent from contact teaching, the absence will be compensated by a substitute assignment given by the teacher.

Passing the course also requires that the student participates in thesis seminars and -clinics.

AI:
Artificial intelligence can be used to help you come up with ideas for writing assignments, but it must not replace your own thinking, searching for sources, and writing. Correcting the language and formatting of your own text with AI is permitted, but entire texts may not be produced AI, so if you use it, be open about it. Concealing the use of AI is cheating. When using AI, familiarize yourself with Metropolia's artificial intelligence guidelines and act accordingly. You are responsible for following the guidelines.

AHOT (Prior learning):
A course or parts of a course can be credited if the student has completed university-level studies on the course content.

Assessment methods and criteria

The evaluation will focus on the written thesis based on Metropolia's common criteria

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

For the assessment criteria, please refer to the master’s thesis assessment criteria (Appendix - THESIS ASSESSMENT CRITERIA).

Assessment criteria, good (3)

For the assessment criteria, please refer to the Master’s thesis assessment criteria (Appendix - THESIS ASSESSMENT CRITERIA).

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

For the assessment criteria, please refer to the Master’s thesis assessment criteria (Appendix - THESIS ASSESSMENT CRITERIA).

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

For the assessment criteria, please refer to the Master’s thesis assessment criteria (Appendix - THESIS ASSESSMENT CRITERIA).