18 ECTS credits
525 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4012401ENW for working students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.
The master thesis is an essential final piece of an academic education. It must make a scientifically based substantive contribution, however small and modest, to the field of study of health care management and policy.
By completing a master thesis, the student proves that he/she has mastered the chosen research field and that he/she has the skills to
be able to work systematically according to the academic standards of the social health sciences taught during the educational program.
Consult the MBG Master Thesis Regulations on Canvas for a detailed description of this course unit (including the procedures for registration and submission of the Master thesis).
The master's thesis is an "integration exercise" of all knowledge and skills from the MBG program. It reflects the student's acquired academic competencies throughout the program. By creating a master's thesis, the student demonstrates mastery of the following competencies:
- The student works systematically on a master's thesis project under the supervision of a supervisor.
- The student applies a health science approach to a chosen management and/or policy perspective.
- The student appropriately applies scientific methods from the social health sciences.
- The student reports scientific results both in writing and orally.
- The student applies an attitude of critical scientific and social reflection.
- The student produces a scientific report under supervision of a supervisor in a businesslike, structured manner and in correct Dutch (or English).
- The student presents and defends the contents of the master's thesis.
- The student frames a topic with relevant scientific literature through an adequate process of research, processing, critical analysis and reporting.
- The student formulates a problem statement, arguing its scientific and social relevance.
- The student indicates the scientific objectives and identifies the central general and operational question.
- The student uses an appropriate scientific method and argues why this method was chosen.
- The student goes through the scientific process of collection, selection and analysis of data.
- The student formulates an answer to the proposed question.
- The student critically reflects on his/her own trajectory, the strengths and limitations of the research and the place of the master thesis in the existing insights from literature and practice.
- The student identifies policy or management implications and translates these into recommendations.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Master Thesis determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Master Thesis category, the following assignments need to be completed:
The master's thesis is evaluated by the supervisor and at least one commissioner.
The final result of the master's thesis consists of the following aspects:
- Work process (10%)
- Master's thesis (65%)
- Oral presentation (5%)
- Defense (20%)
The final score is the weighted average of the sub-scores provided that all the sub-scores are higher than 10 points out of 20 and there is no discrepancy of more than 5 points out of 20 between the evaluations of the supervisor(s) and commissioner(s) for the same evaluation component. If either of these two conditions is not met, the weighted average may be adjusted by up to 2 points up or down provided the decision is made by consensus among the evaluators and clearly justified.
Failure to submit a master's thesis or late submission or a student's failure to participate in the examination automatically results in a final score absent for the course unit master's thesis for the relevant session time.
Please refer to the master thesis regulations on the electronic learning platform for a detailed description of assessment information.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Management and Policy in Health Care: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)