FACULTY OF PHILOSOPHY
AND LETTERS
THESIS FOR A MASTER'S DIPLOMA IN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE
REGULATIONS
2015-2016 ACADEMIC YEAR
CONTENTS
1. The place of the thesis in the master's course
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2. Terms and conditions for admission/enrolment requirements
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3. The subject of the master's thesis
3
4. Guidelines
4.1 Aspects relating to the content
4
4.2 Aspects relating to the format
4
5. Guidance
5
6. Evaluation
5
7. Timetable
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1. THE PLACE OF THE THESIS IN THE MASTER’S COURSE
The thesis is a paper completing a master’s programme which constitutes proof of
the
student’s capacity for analytical work, ability to synthesize information and
(limited)
independent
problem
solving
skills
at
an
academic level. The paper reflects the student’s general capacity for critical
reflection and research. In the master's thesis, the student demonstrates that he/she
properly masters the skills that are the final objective of Master's course in
Languages and Literature, and is capable, with guidance from a supervisor, of
adopting a scientifically based and critical approach to a subject.
The course unit description for the Master's Diploma in Languages and Literature
can be consulted on the faculty website under 'course catalogue'.
2. TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
ADMISSION/ENROLMENT
- Only students holding an academic bachelor’s diploma in Languages and
Literature, or a diploma declared to be equivalent, granting access to a master’s
course in Languages and Literature, and students who have completed the bridging
or preparatory programme can enrol for the "Master's diploma in Languages and
Literature" course unit.
- Students who have not yet been awarded an academic bachelor’s diploma in
Languages and Literature but have passed the thesis for the bachelor's diploma in
Languages and Literature at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel are also admitted to the
"Master's thesis" course unit (course prospectus 4019474FNR) (subject to
compliance with the current Teaching and Examinations Rules and with the
enrolment requirements).
- It is not possible to enrol for the “Languages and Literature master’s thesis”
course unit under a course-credits contract or examinations contract.
3. THE SUBJECT OF THE MASTER'S THESIS
The subject matter of the master’s thesis must relate to a field connected to the
Languages and Literature master’s diploma to be obtained. Moreover, the subject of
the master's thesis must fit in with one or more of the course units from the master's
curriculum.
For the joint-languages Languages and Literature master's programme, the master's
thesis must be written in one of the two main languages chosen for the master's
programme; for the single-language Languages and Literature master's thesis, the
thesis must be written in the language chosen for the master's programme.
The subject is chosen in consultation with the Supervisor. A thesis supervisor must
be a senior academic staff member (“ZAP”), a post-doctoral research assistant, an
assistant professor, a professor on the teaching staff or another member of the
academic staff who holds a doctorate.
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4. GUIDELINES
4.1 Aspects relating to the content
The master’s thesis must be an original contribution to the field of research. The
work must be personal and original; plagiarism in any form is strictly forbidden.
See also the Teaching and Examinations Rules, Art. 118.
The master's thesis must contain the following:
1. an introduction to the problem area and an outline of the boundaries of the
subject concerned;
2. a critical perspective on the chosen subject, including the research methodology
(if applicable);
3. a presentation of the findings (if applicable) and a reflective conclusion;
4. a complete list of the publications and other sources used;
5. any appendices (illustrations, statistics, etc.).
Art 124 of the Teaching and Examination Rules states that "The Master’s thesis
must be submitted both in writing and in electronic form. In the Supplementary
Faculty Teaching and Examinations Regulations, it is stated that, together with
their Master’s thesis, students must submit a publishable summary as well as an
abstract to be included in the standard lists of theses published in Belgian specialist
journals.”
The summary (in English and in the language in which the master's thesis has been
written) must consist of 500-1000 words; the abstract must be a brief statement in
English of 100 to 150 words; moreover, there must be a series of key words in
English that describe the essence of the master's thesis. All of these must be bound
together with the master's thesis.
4.2 Aspects relating to the format
- The following must appear on the title page:
- the Vrije Universiteit Brussel logo;
- the student’s name at the top right (first name and last name);
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel;
- Faculty of Philosophy and Letters;
- Field of study: Languages and Literature;
- Name of the thesis supervisor (first name and last name);
- Title;
- Evidence submitted to prove that the degree of Master in Languages and
Literature has been obtained(*);
Academic year at the bottom right (2015-2016)
(*) an indication of whether it relates to a single language or to joint languages.
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-
On the second page, the student should also give an English translation of the
title of the master’s thesis.
-
Finally, the master’s thesis must contain the following solemn declaration on
the rules on plagiarism, which must be bound with the manuscript:
I solemnly declare that I have written this master’s thesis (title) myself.
I am aware of the rules on plagiarism and have therefore ensured that
these have been applied in this master’s thesis.
Date
Name + signature
The master’s thesis must have a minimum of 30,000 words, excluding the
appendices. Use a standard font, e.g. Times 12, and 1.5 line spacing.
5. GUIDANCE
The supervisor will provide the student with guidance in all the phases of the
research and will supervise the reporting of the findings of this research.
The supervisor will provide guidance on aspects relating the content of the master's
thesis, such as, for example, the support with respect to the substantive aspects of
the thesis, such as the problem issues, the methodology and the logic and structure
of the arguments given in the report.
As laid down in the Teaching and Examinations Rules, Article 122 applies here
too:
“A supervisor undertakes to supervise the student on a regular basis, while the
student undertakes to keep his supervisor informed of the research progress made.
In the event of any failure to comply, the student or the supervisor concerned may
notify the Dean in writing. The Dean shall subsequently come to a decision, which
may lead to a change of supervisor or annulment of a supervisor’s duties vis-a-vis
the
student
concerned
and
shall
report
this
circumstance to the Faculty Council.”
For practical support, students can also contact members of the academic support
staff or special academic staff of the Department.
6. EVALUATION
Study points
The master’s thesis counts for 20 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and
Accumulation System) course credits. If a student is not awarded sufficient points
for a master’s thesis (that is to say, fewer than 10/20), he/she will not pass the
master’s course. Students who do not attend the master's thesis presentation day in
the first teaching week of the second semester will fail the master's thesis (10 mins
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in the language of the thesis + max. 10 mins commentary/questions in the language
of the thesis or in English).
Composition of the Thesis Defence Panel
The composition of the jury is determined by the Languages and Literature
department and consists of two members, including the thesis supervisor. The
second member of the Thesis Defence Panel can be either a member of the senior
academic staff, a member of the academic support staff (assistants) or a Flanders
Research Foundation post-doctoral research fellow within the department (who has
been appointed to the department for at least two years) or an external expert.
Procedure
The two panel members will read and assess the master’s thesis independently from
each other and each draws up an evaluation report and a mark (out of 20) for the
thesis. The evaluations are then discussed at a meeting of all the panel members.
The final evaluation is the average of the marks given by the two panel members.
Pursuant to Article 125 of the Teaching and Examinations Rules, students may, on
request, obtain the final mark (but not the figure given by each of the panel
members) and consult the written reports, or receive a copy thereof, at least four
working days before the end of the examinations period (students are notified by
the department secretariat of the mark obtained).
Depending on this figure, students may be entitled to attend an oral defence of their
master’s thesis (for more details, see Art. 125 of the Teaching and Examinations
Rules + the supplementary faculty Teaching and Examinations Regulations, which
may be consulted on the faculty website). The results of the master thesis are made
known no later than Monday to the students of the final exam week; the students
who wish, they must request an oral defense by Wednesday of that final exam week
to the Department Chairman, who then immediately take the necessary steps to
organize the oral defense.
Evaluation criteria
The final figure is determined on the basis of the written master’s thesis submitted.
The panel takes the following criteria into account in evaluating a master’s thesis:
A. Content and interpretation
- problem area
Are the research subject and the actual problem area clearly formulated? Is the
choice of body of original sources justified?
Is the student aware of the key theories relating to the subject examined? Is the
chosen theory suitably and clearly expressed? Is the terminology used properly
clearly defined?
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- methodology and/or theory
Is the method and/or theory used properly described and proposed? Have they been
properly applied?
- presentation and discussion of any results.
What are the findings of the research? Are they well presented?
- interpretation and decision
Does it close with a conclusion on the problem raised? Does the conclusion provide
interesting insights?
Can the assessor agree with the interpretation given by the student to the
presentation?
B. Language and style
- style and register
Is the study clearly written and easy to read? Is the language register appropriate to
the nature of the research?
- structure
Is the presentation logically structured? Are there any repetitions that could be
avoided by structuring the material more effectively?
- language
This last criterion is of the greatest importance. A master's thesis full of linguistic
mistakes can never get a pass mark, no matter how good the content.
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The subject and name of the supervisor for the master’s thesis must be submitted to
the department secretariat by 30 October 2015 at the latest using the requisite
form (form available on the faculty website http:/www.vub.ac.be/LW).
N.B. If a student repeats a year, the subject and the name of the supervisor must be
submitted again, even if it remains unchanged.
Sanctions may be imposed by the Dean for any failure to comply with the timetable
and/or any other of the requirements laid down in Article 118 of the Teaching and
Examinations Rules and in the Supplementary Faculty Teaching and Examinations
Regulations.
N.B.
Any student wishing to change the subject of a master’s thesis or the thesis
supervisor must apply in writing to the Dean, stating the reasons therefor (see also
the Teaching and Examinations Rules, Art. 121).
Deadline for submission of the master’s thesis (also see Art. 123 of the Teaching
and Examinations Rules)
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The master’s thesis may only be submitted by the student to the department
secretariat (room 404, building B, fifth floor) and this must be done at the latest on
the date and at the time given on the faculty website.
The number of hard copies to be submitted is equal to the number of panel
members + an additional copy for the library. Together with the hard copies, the
student must submit an electronic version on an electronic carrier (USB stick or
DVD) which subsequently remains in the possession of the faculty. The electronic
version of the master’s thesis provided by the student must be in MS Word or be
converted into this format.
When submitting his Bachelor paper or Master's thesis, the student must attach a
printout of the Turnitin confirmation screen (plagiarism- prevention software). If
the student does not do that by the submission date and time, than he will be given
an "Absent" for this course unit in that session.
If students are unable to deliver the master's thesis to the department secretariat in
person due to special circumstances, they may, subject to approval by the Dean,
submit the necessary copies to the department secretariat by registered mail or
courier service.
The reasoned request for this departure must reach the Dean at least 14
calendar days before the final date for submission of the master's thesis.
Final dates for submission:
- at the latest on 23 May 2016 (first examinations session)
- at the latest on 16 August 2016 (second examinations session)
- at the latest on 30 November 2015 (first examinations period of the first
session)
The summary in publishable form, together with the abstract for inclusion in the
standard lists of theses published in Belgian specialist journals must be bound
together after the title page in each copy of the master’s thesis (see Art. 124 of the
supplementary faculty examinations regulations).
Special rules for outgoing Erasmus students
If a student will be departing before 1 November 2015, he/she must make the
necessary arrangements to identify a subject and meet with the thesis supervisor
prior to his/her departure.
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