Master's Thesis in Structural and Mechanical Engineering (MKOMAS)
The master's thesis is an independent project in which you will apply the knowledge acquired during your studies for solving a given assignment or problem in mechanical or structural engineering. Students will show their skills, competence, abilities, creativity and critical thinking capabilities as becoming an engineer.
The assignment will normally be carried out during the last semester of the study program.
Course description for study year 2025-2026
Course code
MKOMAS
Version
1
Credits (ECTS)
30
Semester tution start
Autumn
Number of semesters
2
Exam semester
Spring
Language of instruction
English, Norwegian
Content
Since the master theses are very different it is difficult to set up joint guidelines for project execution and reporting. Normally, the master thesis will result in a report. Each Department may have their own examples or requirements in their guidelines and you should agree with your advisor in advance how your project should be carried out and documented. At an overall level many reports will have a rather similar structure. First an introduction presenting the background of the thesis, its purpose and contents. Then there will be a presentation of relevant theory, existing methods and models relevant to the project, laboratory tests etc. This will be followed by a presentation of the analyses/experiments/developments done and the results hereof. For non-experimental projects the results may include (further) development of principles, methods and models. A discussion of the results achieved should be included. How are the results achieved compared to existing theory, methods and models? What conclusions can be drawn? The description of the problem given will in many cases give you a hint as to how the contents should be organised. If you are working on several problems it may be a good idea to complete one problem complex with theory, results, discussions before you start on the next one.
Learning outcome
The master thesis is an individual project during which the candidate shows that he/she has the ability to independently make an in-depth study of a narrowly defined area. The project is concluded with a written report and may on the basis of a relevant problem include an experimental part based on thorough theoretical studies.
A candidate who has completed and passed his or her master thesis has acquired the following learning outcomes:
He/she
is able to present and communicate extensive independent work
can describe the problem clearly and masters the terms and expressions within the academic field
has acquired an overview of relevant international literature, scientific reporting and ethical standards in the field, and manages to deal critically with various sources of information
is able to analyse relevant theoretical models and/or studies supported by scientific research
masters analysis of relevant scholarly tools and techniques
is able to give an account of the academic problem and analyse results and independent conclusions according to the problem
is able to reflect upon and evaluate his/her own work in a critical manner
is able to defend high moral standards in scientific, as well as other, context, thus being a good role model
Required prerequisite knowledge
Please refer to the TN faculty’s Rules for Master’s Theses for the credit requirements needed to begin the master’s thesis.
Exam
| Form of assessment | Weight | Duration | Marks | Aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master Thesis | 1/1 | 4.5 Months | Letter grades | All |
The master's thesis can be carried out individually or in groups of maximum two students. For rules, important deadlines and more information, please refer to our website «Thesis writing at the Faculty of Science and Technology»Note that you primarily have only one attempt for writing the master's thesis, see section 3-10 number 4 in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at the University of Stavanger. Deadline for withdrawal is April 1st.
Course teacher(s)
Course coordinator:
Vidar Folke HansenCourse coordinator:
Ove Tobias GudmestadCourse teacher:
Kenneth Alasdair MacdonaldCourse teacher:
Jasna Bogunovic JakobsenCourse coordinator:
Ove Kjetil MikkelsenCourse coordinator:
Samarakoon Mudiyansele S M K SamarakoonCourse coordinator:
Jayantha Prasanna LiyanageMethod of work
It is important both to the student and the advisor that a good cooperation routine is established during the execution of the project. This may e.g. take the form of regular meetings in which the student will present and discuss his/her work as it develops. Preferably the student should have written something that can form the basis of the conversation/discussion with the advisor. It is an advantage to start writing the thesis at the earliest possible stage. Make a preliminary table of contents for the thesis. As your work progresses, the various chapters and part chapters will be filled with text. At the start the text will often be incomplete and take the form of key words. But be sure to write down all your ideas and thoughts as they come to your mind. Otherwise, good ideas may easily be forgotten. When working on a thesis, you may from time to time find yourself in a period of frustration where everything looks hopeless and where there is no progress. In such periods it is an advantage to be able to take out part chapters that are almost finished.
