6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4022270ENR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Om een inschrijving te kunnen nemen voor 'Master Thesis Part 1' moet men ingeschreven of geslaagd zijn voor 'Master Classes Statistics (Quantitative & Qualitative)'
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculteit Geneeskunde en Farmacie
Department
Gerontology
Educational team
Ivan Bautmans (course titular)
Nico De Witte
Matthias Eggermont
Veerle Knoop
Activities and contact hours
24 contact hours Lecture
15 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
60 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

In this course, the student identifies the subject of the thesis and writes a research proposal under the methodological guidance of the teaching staff and substantive supervision of the promoter. The master thesis procedure and related guidelines and regulation are covered in this unit. The student learns specific study designs relevant in the field of research on Gerontological Sciences and applies this knowledge to his / her own research question. The medical/ethical aspects of scientific research in older persons (whether or not mentally competent) as well as the deontological principles of scientific research and publications are taught. It is intended that the student submits a study protocol at the end of this course, with a view to obtaining a medical-ethical advice. At the end of this course the topic of the thesis and the associated promoter(s) are approved by the Curriculum Council.

 

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching methods include lectures and workshops leaded by the teaching staff. The student will work on his/her manuscript under close guidance & supervision of his/her promoter(s).

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Course materials and links to relevant sources will be made available
Additional info

Course materials and links to relevant sources will be made available through the dedicated interface for this course on the online learning platform of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

KNOWLEDGE

The student knows

  • the master thesis procedure and related guidelines and regulations
  • specific study designs relevant in the field of research on Gerontological Sciences
  • the medical/ethical aspects of scientific research in older persons (whether or not mentally competent)
  • the deontological principles of scientific research and publications as described in the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity
  • the requirements of a study protocol on a specific topic of Ageing to be eligible for ethical approval

INSIGHT

The student has insight in the progression from a research idea on a specific topic of Ageing to a study protocol that is eligible for ethical approval.

SKILLS

The student is able to write a study protocol on a specific topic of Ageing that is eligible for ethical approval. The student is thereby able to:

  • formulate an appropriate research question on a specific topic of Ageing
  • identify a suitable research design based on a research question on a specific topic of Ageing
  • design the different components of a study protocol
  • write a suitable informed consent document for study participants
  • design recruitment materials for the recruitment of study participants
  • complete all required documents that accompany the submission of a study protocol to the institution’s ethical committee for approval
  • present his/her study protocol by means of a power-point presentation at the level of his/her peers

 

ATTITUDES

The student shows an attitude in compliance with the deontological principles of scientific research and the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Examen Andere with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

English:

On the first day of the exams period of the second semester the student submits the final version of the study protocol and all other related documents (informed consent, submission checklists for the ethical committee, recruitment materials, etc.) through the dedicated interface for this course on the online learning platform of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The study protocol is formatted according to the guidelines of the institution’s ethical committee.

This study protocol is evaluated by the student’s promoter (25% of the total score) and the teaching staff (50% of the total score). During the exams period of the second semester the student presents his/her study protocol by means of a presentation of maximum 10 minutes; this presentation is evaluated by the teaching staff (25% of the total score).

In exceptional circumstances a student can submit a motivated request to the head of the programm in order to be allowed to take an online exam.

Nederlands:

Op de eerste dag van de examenperiode van het tweede semester dient de student de finale versie van het onderzoeksprotocol in, samen met alle andere gerelateerde documenten (informed consent, checklist aanvraag ethische commissie, recruitment materials, enz.), via het leerplatform van de Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Het onderzoeksprotocol is opgesteld volgens de richtlijnen van de ethische commissie van de instelling. 

Dit onderzoeksprotocol wordt beoordeeld door promotor van de student (25% van het eindcijfer) en het docententeam (50% van het eindcijfer). Tijdens de examenperiode van het tweede semester presenteert de student(e) zijn/haar onderzoeksprotocol via een presentatie van maximum 10 minuten. Deze presentatie wordt beoordeeld door het docententeam (25% van het eindcijfer).

In uitzonderlijke omstandigheden kan een student een gemotiveerd verzoek indienen bij de voorzitter van de opleidingsraad om online examen te mogen doen.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Research Master of Gerontological Sciences: Standaard traject