* Students acquire academic reasoning skills through the undertaking of a research study. Student acquire the skill to relate problems to theoretical frameworks, research methods and analysis. In their search for relevant literature, research questions, methods, students will be confronted with a lot of questions – in order to answer these, students develop problem solving skills. These problem solving skills acquired can also be process related (how to communicate with my thesis supervisor? or how to team up with other students?) Students learn how to approach a problem and deal with the problem through conducting a research study. Students develop research skills in order to unravel a problem, develop a theoretical framework and method, do analysis, summarize findings and have a discussion on the findings.
* Students acquire English writing skills through the writing of a master thesis. Good communication skills are also developed through discussions with the thesis supervisor.Sometimes, students write a master thesis in close collaboration with a company. Though this, good oral and written communication skills are required.
* Students work on their master thesis in a self-directed manner; i.e. planning the research project, follow-up and integration of feedback of the supervisor, …

The thesis trajectory of the Master SSP programme consists of two phases: first, the Thesis Research Proposal (SSP3011) and second, the Thesis Research, Writing and Presenting period (SSP3021).

The Master’s thesis builds on knowledge, attitude and skills (competencies) you have acquired in the courses of the SSP programme. Content-wise, your thesis should focus on a real-world sustainable development problem and comprise an (integrative) analysis that might result in recommendations for further research and/or policymaking in pursuit of sustainable development. Methodologically, your thesis should be based on a scientific approach in the emerging field of Sustainability Science and, where appropriate, makes use of different methods for data collection and analysis.

The Thesis Research, Writing, and Presenting period is scheduled after the other courses of the SSP programme. The entry point is your final Thesis Research Proposal (TRP). During this period most of your time will be spent on doing research (e.g., reading literature, collecting data, analyzing data) before you start writing your thesis. You submit drafts of the thesis (or parts of it) to your supervisors, and meet according to the time schedule your supervisors and you agreed. A good thesis gives a clear description of what you have done. It should not be a description of what you are planning to do. The research is done, and in the thesis you report it.

After completion and approval by the supervisors, you present your research to your supervisors, classmates and others interested in the topic. There are two rounds for presenting: in early July and in late August.

Through your Master thesis you show that you are competent to organize and implement a piece of independent scientific research on your own, and that you are able to write up an account of that research in a report, and present it publicly. Your supervisors will guide you during this process, but you are mainly responsible for your own research and writing.

Your Master’s thesis can be an important ‘entrance ticket’ for your further career. So, make the best of it!

Prerequisite is that the Thesis Research Proposal (course) has been passed and that at least 5 of 7 core courses have been passed.