GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM
FIELDWORK and THESIS AGREEMENT
Master’s Programme in International Development Studies
Student name and number:
Address:
Phone number:
E-mail:
Preliminary Title of Project:
Three key words describing your thesis (to be used for future reference):
1.
2.
3.
First Supervisor name:
E-mail:
Department:
Starting date fieldwork:
Deadline Fieldwork/ starting date Thesis: 7 September 2015
________________________________________________________________________
Deadline (handing in) Thesis: 25 November 2015
Deadline Retake: 15 January 2016
Exact requirements with respect to the retake eligibility will be communicated to you
upon return from the field (in the Thesis Writing Manual and in the Thesis Seminar)
Planned way of supervision while in the field:
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Planned way of supervision during thesis writing (i.e. number of meetings and
frequency):
…………………………………………………………………………………………....
Signatures for approval of attached thesis proposal (please note that another
signature is required on the last page of the agreement):
_______________
________________
signature first supervisor
signature study advisor
__________________
date
This form has to be handed in at the GSSS-desk
signed thesis agreement attached before you leave for your fieldwork
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM
THESIS AGREEMENT
1. The primary data gathering (fieldwork) for this research project will take place
from (date) ……………………………………………………………….………..……
until (date)………………………………………………………………………………
in …………….……………………………………………………….(place/country)
2. Before leaving, the student and supervisor have agreed on a time-scheme (please attach!)
signed by the supervisor and the student. After the agreed deadline as stated in this timescheme, the student is no longer entitled to supervision by the programme, unless the
examination committee allows an extension. In order to request such an extension, the student
is required to file a written request to the examination committee.
3. The student has taken out an adequate insurance to cover health and repatriation costs for
the period of his fieldwork.
Name of insurance company: ……………………………………………………….
Policy number………………………………………………………………..………
4. The student declares that he/she is in good health and has taken all necessary precautions
(including relevant vaccinations) to safeguard his/her health in the field.
5. Local supervision (if applicable) will be provided by:
Name:…………………………………..………………..………………………………………
Position: ……………………………………..…………….……………………………………
Contact details: ………………………………...………………………………………………..
……………………………………..………………………………………………(e-mail/fax)
6. The local supervisor has been contacted by the academic advisor, and has formally agreed
to be the student’s local supervisor?
[ ] yes
[ ] no
[ ] not applicable
7. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not advised against travelling to the
country/region where the fieldwork takes place.
[ ] yes
[ ] no
If yes: please request permission to leave from the Examination Committee IDS and attach
letter of approval.
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM
8. When special circumstances force the student to return from the field at an earlier date, the
programme in principle allows the thesis to be written on this topic based on secondary
sources. An expansion of the theoretical component might be required in this case. The
student will have to submit a revised thesis proposal within six weeks of return from the field
for these reasons. If needed, the examination committee can extend this period upon a
motivated request. The revised proposal needs approval of the supervisors and academic
advisor.
9. If the primary data-gathering takes place outside the Netherlands students of the master
International Development Studies are eligible for the GSSS fieldwork subsidy towards
accommodation and travel costs, the amount of which depends on the destination and
duration of the fieldwork. For the GSSS fieldwork subsidy procedure, see
www.student.uva.nl/mids.
The programme furthermore provides a lump sum subsidy of € 300 for local supervision, ,
provided that the academic advisor has approved the local supervision. The student advances
this money and will be reimbursed by the GSSS upon return from the field. For the local
supervision procedure, see www.student.uva.nl/mids.
10. During the entire fieldwork and thesis writing period the student has to be enrolled at the
Universiteit van Amsterdam to participate in the Master Programme in International
Development Studies of the GSSS.
11. Students need to be back from the field before the start of the compulsory Thesis Seminar.
12. The student is entitled to a maximum of eight meetings with his/her first supervisor to
discuss data-analysis, chapters, the final draft or other issues the student or supervisor
considers relevant. The date of submission of the thesis, the date of the thesis defence and
planned graduation date have to be carefully coordinated with the first and second supervisor,
to ensure their availability in the planned period.
13. The student should respect local ethics and institutional principles when carrying out the
fieldwork project. The student should adhere to responsible and deferential behaviour vis-àvis all people and institutions encountered during the field-research at all times whilst
representing the MSc IDS programme of the UvA.
14. The deadline for submitting your thesis is November 25, 2015. The deadline for the retake
is 15 January, 2016. Exact requirements with respect to the retake eligibility will be
communicated to you upon return from the field (in the Thesis Writing Manual and in the
Thesis Seminar). Should the student not be able to meet the final deadline of 15 January
2016, s/he needs to make a formal request for extension to the Examination Committee IDS
in consultation with her/his supervisor, including a new schedule and proposed deadline.
Please be aware that passing the set deadlines could have repercussions in terms of
supervision. The student should submit a full version of the thesis
15. If the student neglects, misuses or does not meet the conditions stated in this agreement,
the GSSS has the right to order the student to repay the fieldwork subsidy.
Please turn page
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM
Signatures for approval of the fieldwork project and thesis agreement:
_______________
signature first supervisor
________________
signature study advisor
______________________
signature student
__________________
date
Study Advisor: Please do not sign the form until the first supervisor has given the approval
by signing the form. Also make sure that you have read the time-scheme before signing. By
signing this form you approve of the topic of the thesis (this being indeed a topic that leads to
the degree the student is a candidate for), the time schedule, and of the conditions stated in
the agreement.
First Thesis Supervisor: Please read the proposal and the agreement with care before signing.
Make sure you agree with the content, the time schedule the student has planned, the manner
of supervision, the time schedule and the conditions stated in the thesis agreement. The grade
for the thesis has to be handed in to the Registrar. The supervisor and the second reader have
to agree on the grade and both sign an exam slip and evaluation form. The first supervisor is
asked to attend the graduation ceremony to sign the diploma and to address a few words to the
student.
Student: Please hand in this form - with your thesis proposal attached! - to the GSSS
information desk. Make sure that all required signatures are on the form and agreement and
all the required information is complete before submitting them.