Master’s Thesis

The Master’s Thesis is the final part of the Master’s programme, in which an urban environmental issue is examined and in which the combination of scientific, technological, economic and/or social components provides added value and strengthens the multidisciplinary character of the Master’s Thesis. During an individual research project, the student demonstrates that he/she is able to approach a complex engineering problem – relevant within the academic and/or professional context – from a scientific point of view. Moreover, the student shows that he/she can summarise the acquired insights and proposed solutions in a coherent report. The argumentation is based on literature research and complemented with own empirical data. The research project is conducted within a research group in the field of bioscience engineering at the University of Antwerp, Ghent University and/or KU Leuven and can possibly be conducted in cooperation with a company or organisation that belongs to the programme’s work field.

The Master’s Thesis consists of 30 credits and is situated in the second master’s year.

Multidisciplinarity of the research topic is a necessary condition for the Master’s thesis. In other words, the subject must be framed broadly within the framework of various (more than one) disciplines.

Possible thesis topics are suggested by the three universities, although own initiatives are also supported when fitting in the programme’s research frameworks. For the proposed thesis topics, we do not work on a first come first served basis. If multiple students wish to work on the same thesis topic on which only one student can work, the supervisor will choose a student based on motivation.

A Master’s Thesis can also take place abroad.

The Master’s Thesis consists of 30 credits and is situated in the second master’s year.

Each master’s thesis is supervised by a promotor, who is an academic with a doctoral degree from the Department of Bioscience Engineering (University of Antwerp) or from a faculty of Bioscience Engineering (Ghent University or KU Leuven) and has substantive affinity with the topic of the master’s thesis. In addition, any member of the AAP or BAP can act as an additional supervisor of the master’s thesis. These promoter(s) and/or supervisors shall monitor the feasibility of the objectives and stimulate the research process. They give regular feedback, both substantive and methodological, to promote the quality of the work.

If the research project is conducted in cooperation with a company or organisation, an external co-promoter can also be appointed. This external co-promoter is employed by the company or organisation where the research project is being conducted and is responsible for the daily follow-up and practical guidance of the student.

The student has the final responsibility for the master’s thesis. He/She is responsible for the conception, planning, execution and follow-up of the research project and for the writing of the master’s thesis. He/She takes the initiative to regularly consult with the promotor(s) and/or supervisors and present progress.

The final evaluation of the Master’s Thesis consists of three elements:

1. The written report (dissertation or thesis) – 60% of the final grade
2. The work and growth process of the student during the execution of the Master’s thesis – 20% of the final grade
3. The oral presentation and defence – 20% of the final grade

The main evaluation criteria are:

• The student’s effort
• The personal intellectual contribution to the research
• The originality of the approach and elaboration of the topic of scientific research
• The quality of the text of the Master’s thesis
• The progress made during the Master’s thesis process regarding personal intellectual contribution and quality of reporting