Personal Study Plan – PSP
All Master’s degree students do a Personal Study Plan (PSP/HOPS) in the beginning of their studies (first autumm). PSP/HOPS is an informal agreement between the student and the Faculty (teacher/student advisor) and it can be rechecked and corrected during the studies. PSP/HOPS is a timetable of the courses the student is planning to take. It also includes information about thesis, estimated graduation time, and some open questions.
Steps:
- Study the Handbook for Master’s Degree Students (University of Vaasa, Academic Information, University Studies in Finland, Practical Information and the parf of your own Master’s Program) and courses in web pages
- Fill in the Personal Study Plan form
- Part A: Open questions
- Part B: The degree structure and courses
Discuss the personal study plan with the Head of the Programme Mohammed Elmusrati (please take the personal study plan with you)
- Discuss the personal study plan with Planning Officer Sami Ilomäki
- Update your personal study plan and send it every autumn by 30 October at the latest to the Head of the Programme Mohammed Elmusrati
You may update your study plan during your studies.
Yearly or Every Second Year Courses
There are some courses which are given once per year and other courses once per two years. However, it should be clear that in case where the number of registered students is less than 5, the course may not be given. But the students can require an exam for the course.
Important Web Pages
Tools and application forms for Students of the Faculty of Technology (in English)
Student’s toolbox (in English)
Student’s toolbox (in Finnish)
Application forms (in Finnish)
Practical Work Training Instructions
Official Writing Guidelines in Practical Works and Master’s Thesis
Master's Thesis and Maturity Test (30 ECTS)
Master's thesis (30 ECTS credits) is done on a subject related to the field of the major subject, agreed upon by the student and the teacher of the subject. The Board of the Faculty confirms the subject and language of the Master’s thesis, and appoints a supervisor, an instructor and two inspectors (usually supervisor and instructor are inspectors). The Dean makes the decision on approval of the Master's thesis and grades it (sufficient, satisfactory, good, very good or excellent), taking into account the inspector’s written statement. The supervisor of the Master’s thesis shall be a university professor and the instructor shall have at least a higher university degree.
The student shall show maturity in the handling of the subject. The maturity test is a written work (an essay on a given topic) which shows the student’s knowledge in English and his/her intimate knowledge of the subject field of the Master's Thesis. The test is arranged by the instructor or the supervisor in the final stage of the Master's Thesis. The Master's thesis work includes a seminar presentation or an equivalent situation.
The subject of the Master’s thesis may be applied for when (all of supplementary studies and) most of the advanced studies of the Master’s degree programme have been completed. The time for completion of the Master's thesis shall be agreed between the supervisor and the student: with a maximum of one year. If the Master's thesis is not submitted within the set time, the subject becomes invalid and the student shall submit more time or a new subject for the board of the Faculty’s approval.
Please note:
- During the time the Master’s thesis is being done, the supervisor shall give the student the opportunity to report on the progress of the work and receive feedback from the supervisor. Similarly, the supervisor may require the student to report on the progress of the Master’s thesis work.
- The Master’s thesis is a public document and as such shall be displayed in the faculty. At least four copies are to be submitted. In questions concerning copyright, general copyright legislation shall be followed in the case of the Master’s thesis.
- The General Writing Guidelines and The Thesis Writing Guidelines and the application forms for degree certificate are available at the faculty websites.
- More detailed instructions for Master’s theses are given by the faculty.
- The application forms for Master’s thesis subject and degree certificate are available at the faculty.
The M.Sc. thesis is the study part which should be done mainly by the student. The main task of the professor will be as an adviser. The M.Sc. thesis is good chance for the student to practice his gained knowledge to produce high quality scientific report. The student should be able to search for the required information/data and to collect the useful material either from internet or from the library. He/She should be able to assist and evaluate the material that they have collected. The student should have contribution in his thesis. The contribution can be new or modified algorithm, new presentation of known topic, comparisons between different techniques, simulations for known algorithms, practical work, etc. The professor and the thesis reviewer will evaluate the novelty of the thesis contributions. The grade of the thesis depends on:
- The novelty of thesis contributions
- The clarity of presentation
- How consistent are the thesis abstract and the conclusion
- The thesis topic
- The student behavior during the M.Sc. thesis study (like his/her commitment for deadlines)
Finally, it should be clear that the student has full responsibility about his thesis contents (such as scientific mistakes or copyright violations).
