Dissertation

Language

French

Prerequisites

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The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.

Main themes

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.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	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.be/61093.html

Content

The dissertation must be written in one of the two major languages of their programme. It should 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.

Teaching methods

The dissertation is carried out through regular interaction with the promoter. In the first year, these interactions will be structured through the dissertation seminar. These interactions take place in the working language of the dissertation.

Evaluation methods

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 work.
NB : Generative artificial intelligence (AI) must be used responsibly and in accordance with the practices of academic and scientific integrity. Scientific integrity requires that sources be cited, and the use of AI must always be reported. 

Other information

The student must write his masters dissertation in one of the two languages in his programme and add a summary in French.
    The dissertation (length at least 20.000 words, without the appendix) is overseen by a supervisor. 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 and a reader. The dissertation is not subject to an oral defence and is assessed solely on the basis of the manuscript submitted by the student. 
    Besides the three copies, the student will send the PDF-file of his/her dissertation to the secrétariat MULT.

Faculty or entity

ELAL