Master's thesis Sustainable Development (2025/2026: Jaar)

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Cursusdoel

Please note: the information in the course manual is binding.
After completion the student is able to:
  • translate a relevant issue in the field of sustainable development into a research question, based upon the state of art in the scientific literature;
  • elaborate a research strategy, using existing theories and methodologies;
  • develop a research plan, choosing and justifying appropriate methodologies for data collection;
  • conduct the empirical work needed and analyse the collected data;
  • interpret the finding in the light of the existing scientific literature;
  • write a scientific report about the findings;
  • orally present the findings to an audience of both specialists and non-specialists;
  • conduct a full research cycle showing adequate autonomy, creativity, time management and cooperation with supervisors.

Vakinhoudelijk

Extensive and important information on the procedure (attending presentations, approval, supervision, handing in, presenting, assessment etc.) can be found in the Master’s thesis course manual.
The Master’s thesis is the final research project in which the students will show that they are able to conduct independent research, in which new methods are developed and/or applied or existing methods are applied to a new problem. The research should be relevant from both a scientific point of view (it should expand the body of scientific knowledge) and a societal point of view (it should produce knowledge that can contribute to a better understanding or the solution of a problem). Learning-by-doing is part of the project. The student is encouraged to attend conferences and Copernicus-seminars etc. that are relevant or related to the research work.
The students prove their specialist knowledge of an issue related to their track and/or one of the other environmental themes of the research programme of the Copernicus Institute and their mastering of the relevant research methods. The Master’s thesis is the optimal preparation for a further research career as PhD-student at a university or as a research-worker in a company, research institute or other organisation. The thesis can be based on the wide variety of research methods that are taught in the various courses of the Master’s programme. Whereas the work is generally not expected to be experimental in character, it should not be ruled out that experimental work may be part of the research project.

The research may be carried out at Dutch or foreign university departments, but also (partly) at research institutes, consultancy firms, or government agency, etc. (provided that the work has an acknowledged scientific status).

Entry requirements:
The binding entrance requirements for this master's thesis (GEO4-2343) can be found in the most recent Study Guide (go to the website of your degree programme -> Practical Information -> Academic policies and procedures -> Study Guide)
  • Only for cohort 2023 and later
  • Letter of acceptance MSc Sustainable Development
  • At least 60 EC passed within the programme, including:
    • Perspectives on SD (GEO4-2301)
    • Systems thinking, Scenarios & Indicators for SD (GEO4-2331)
    • Research Design SD (GEO4-2314)
And:
At least two track-specific courses of which 1 methods course (at least 15 EC in total). These are specific per track:

For track E&M:
  • Tools for E&M Analysis (GEO4-2326)
  • And 1 out of 2:
    • Energy Supply Technologies (GEO4-2312)
    • Policies for E&M Transitions (GEO4-2311)
For track ECE:
  • Environmental Systems Analysis (GEO4-2303), and
  • Global Change Theories (GEO4-2310)
For track ESG:
  • Research Strategies ESG (GEO4-2304)
  • And 1 out of 2:
    • Foundations of ESG Research (GEO4-2306)
    • Governance Theories (GEO4-2332)
For track PES:
  • Research methods for PES (GEO4-2345)
  • And 1 out of 2:
    • Introduction to Political Ecology (GEO4-2344)
    • Natural Resource Management and Society (GEO4-2339)

Werkvormen

Individueel
Toelichting

See course manual

Toetsing

Eindresultaat

Verplicht | Weging 1% | Minimum cijfer 5,5 | ECTS 45

Research proposal, thesis content (70%); process (20%); presentation (10%), attending at least ten other students' presentations. The grade for the thesis content must be at least 5.50.

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Je moet inschreven staan voor de volgende opleiding:

  • Sustainable Development

Je moet minimaal 60 punten van het master programma hebben behaald en er moet voldaan zijn aan de cursussen:

En Je kunt deze cursus niet volgen als je één van de volgende cursussen hebt afgerond:

Voorkennis

Specific entry requirements apply to each track. See course content.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de verplichte literatuur bekend


Aanbevolen materiaal

  • LITERATUUR
    B. Malmfors et al., Writing and Presenting Scientific Papers. Nottingham: UP, 2004 (2nd edition).

Opmerkingen

Students who started before 01-09-2023 must enrol for GEO4-2321 (30EC) possibly in combination with GEO4-2322

Coördinator

dr. F.S.J. van Laerhoven F.S.J.vanLaerhoven@uu.nl

Docenten

Inschrijving

Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.

Inschrijving
Van maandag 2 juni 2025 tot en met maandag 31 augustus 2026

Naar OSIRIS-inschrijvingen
Permanente link naar de cursuspagina
Laat in de Cursus-Catalogus zien