Master's Thesis and Colloqium
The Master’s thesis (25 ECTS) will be written in the fourth semester and completed with an oral defence (colloquium; 5 ECTS). The calculated average grade of thesis and colloquium contribute 25% to the final Master’s grade.
Please use the Master Thesis Proposal (German) form for your thesis application and the Colloquium Report (German) for your defense.
| Identification number | 03-TNMST-1 | ||||
| Content | Independent investigation of an up‐to‐date scientific question from the neuroscientific field: over the period of 6 months, the student approaches the solution of the question by developing a project plan, by literature research and accordingly performing scientific experiments, data analysis and written interpretation of the findings. The written elaboration in form of a scientific manuscript describes the scientific findings as well as the way leading to these findings. It contains justifications for decisions regarding the chosen methods for the thesis and discarded alternatives. The student’s own substantial contribution to the achieved results has to be evident. | ||||
| Learning Outcomes |
The student gains the ability • to develop concepts and experimental approaches to enlighten a scientific question • to choose appropriate scientific methods and apply them to new and interdisciplinary contents • to work on a current scientific question applying the rules of good scientific practice to experimentation, documentation and data analysis • to critically analyse and reflect on theories, limits and specific features of the chosen topic • to deepen his/her knowledge in the specific research field • to plan, structure and perform a project • to manage a project within a given time frame of 6 months |
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| Formalities |
• the student finds a neuroscientific project and a supervisor (first supervisor) at the University of Würzburg the second supervisor’s affiliation can be a different university • the time limit for the preparation of the Master’s thesis is 6 months • the application form must be filled in by the student and both supervisors and approved by the study program speaker Prof. Carmen Villmann • a change of topic or supervisor must be approved by the examination board • the thesis must be written in English • the thesis must be submitted on time to the examination office as three hard copies (paper) and two separate memory sticks/CDs/DVDs with the thesis in pdf-file format on each of them. Additionally, images, tables and graphs (etc.) used in the written thesis have to be added as original data files on the storage devices, too. • both supervisors provide independent reports within six weeks after submission • the supervisors agree on a grade/ the grades of the two supervisors are averaged • the Master’s thesis is awarded 25 ECTS • find the application form here:https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/studium/pruefungsamt/master/translationalneuroscience/ |
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Format and Layout Reference |
The Master’s thesis has the form of a scientific publication including a table of content, abstract, a list of abbreviations and the following chapters: • Introduction • Material and Methods • Results • Discussion • (Future Perspectives) • References • Annex (if applicable) Furthermore, the thesis must include a statement that no other than the stated sources and aids were used. The title page should contain: • Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg • Title of the Master’s thesis • Translational Neuroscience (ENB) [note: leave out (ENB) if you started before winter term 2018/19] • Handed in by name of the student from place of birth The second page should contain: • Department: • 1st Supervisor: • 2nd Supervisor: • Topic issued on: • Date of submission: General format and layout recommendations: • Paper format: standard A4 format, same margins all around (e.g. 2.5 cm, top/bottom, right/left) • Size & line spacing: the text should be in 12 point font size and 1.5 spaced lines. Footnotes and legends beneath images or tables should be in 10 point font size and single spaced lines • Font: a commonly used font that provides a full character set • Tables & pictures: tables, graphs and other images are set directly where they belong in the text tables should always be on one page and never be divided between different pages • Pagination: the text should be paginated throughout (including notes, bibliographies, annexes) the page numbering for the title, table of contents and list of abbreviations should be in Roman letters the page numbering in Arabic letters should start with page 1 on the first page of the text |
| Identification number | 03-TNMST-2 | ||||
| Content | Presentation of the Master’s thesis in the framework of a colloquium: the student presents the work in a seminar in which the scientific quality and the scientific independence of his/her achievements are evaluated. The two supervisors evaluate the students’ knowledge in the research subject and related subjects. | ||||
| Learning Outcomes |
The student • presents the collected data in a scientifically correct form • presents, interprets and defends subject-specific contents in a clear, audience‐oriented form • compares the results to published data • demonstrates that he / she he is able to present the essential results of his /her thesis to a specialist audience and to apply the knowledge acquired in the study in its entirety, i.e. to recognize the interrelations of the examination areas, to classify specific questions in these interrelations and to have collected expertise |
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| Formalities |
• the colloquium will be awarded 5 ECTS • the colloquium lasts approx. 60 min and consists of a 30-min talk on the content of the thesis and a subsequent discussion, which, based on the topic of the thesis, can also refer to other related areas of the study subject • the colloquium will be taken by two examiners, by the first and second supervisors as a rule • a report will be made by a competent assessor (a doctorate at least) • the student agrees an appointment with the two examiners, then informs the examination board and the examination office • the colloquium should be held as soon as possible, four weeks after grading of the thesis is completed at the latest |
