Dissertation (Part II) [ LGERM2992 ]

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The masters dissertation, irrespective of the subject, allows a student to :
- carry out a critical analysis and summarise a given scientific topic,
- put a specific issue/statement in context drawing on existing information,
- present the results of the dissertation by justifying the methodological choices, explaining the hypotheses and scientifically stating the results obtained.

The dissertation must demonstrate the author's ability to describe correctly the results of a personal, objective and methodical work. The length of the dissertation is not a criteria in evaluating its quality. Similar to the other forms of learning, the dissertation is an essential component of the programme to which it belongs. It consists of research work which students should consider as a first step in research in their particular field.

The dissertation is a research work :
- specific, as regards the other teaching activities ;
- methodical, the underlying methodology has already been acquired in the bachelor and masters programme ;
- integrated in the programme and limited to the scope of the subject. Guidelines regarding the dissertation can be found on http://www.uclouvain.be61093.html

Students are assigned a superviser to oversee their dissertation. A co-supervisor may be chosen if the subject of the dissertation necessitates it or at the request of the student or supervisor. The dissertation committee is made up of the supervisor, a reader, and a second reader in the event of a disagreement between the supervisor and first reader.

The evaluation of the dissertation is based on :
- the achievement of the objectives
- the ability to present a relevant and well documented summary
- significant personal input by the student as well as the ability to justify the methodological choices
- the coherence and completeness of the work
- the quality and relevance of the written and illustrated work.

The student must write his masters dissertation in one of the two languages in his programme and add a summary in French. The MA thesis of students enroled in two MA programs, one of which is the Master in Modern Languages and Literatures: German, Dutch, and English, must meet the usual requirements (see above) as well as the guidelines mentioned in the vade mecum. The supervisor of the second MA dissertation may, however, approve some modifications depending on the subject of the first MA thesis. Such modifications are at his/her entire discretion.

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The dissertation must present the results of a personal and critical study as well as the scientific methodology used to obtain these results. The scientific and bibliographical conventions of a dissertation must be respected.

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