Degree Project at LTH

This page is aimed at those who are supervisors (including assistant supervisors) or examiners for LTH's degree projects.

The degree project is an independent work that deepens knowledge in a chosen subject. It is done at a department at LTH/LU and possibly in collaboration with a company.

A degree project has different goals and includes various elements/mandatory parts depending on the type of degree project. Read more in the course plans. Each department has one or more course codes, but the content of the course plans is the same for the same type.

The student often contacts the supervisor and/or examiner before the formal process starts. Each student (even if writing in pairs) starts his/her own digital form by filling in the details, which is then automatically sent to the student's program planner/master coordinator who approves (or rejects) the application. Different general prerequisites are required for approval, depending on the type of degree project.

When the application is approved, the student receives a special link to forward it to the supervisor and examiner for them to "take their roles" in the form. This link contains a secret section.

Different Links

A link with a secret section must be used to designate oneself as a supervisor/examiner. Once this is done (role taken + saved), links without the secret section can be used to access the form, and one can also go to https://kurser.lth.se/exjobb to find their current degree projects under the "My projects" tab.

Taking the Role

After the supervisor/examiner have taken their roles, they must also approve the start of the degree project. The approval can be done immediately after taking their role or later. This approval gives permission to the student to start the degree project. The examiner must also check that the student meets the subject-specific prerequisites required for the degree project when approving the start. These approvals are made by ticking the respective checkboxes in the form and then saving the form.

Approval of start

When both the supervisor and examiner have done this, the form is automatically sent to the program planner/master coordinator who enters the admission (expected participation) in Ladok. Once this is done, the student receives an email that he/she can register for the degree project course in Ladok.

After this, the examinator marks the completion of different activities. Non-mandatory activities can also be noted in the form if applicable. The activities must be done by the student for the final grade to be set and entered in Ladok.

The start of the degree project involves the student writing a goal document. When the supervisor, examiner, and, if applicable, the company agree on the content, the goal document is uploaded to the form and must then be approved by all the members involved (a special link is sent to assistant supervisors who are not employed at LU). The activities to fill in are accessible only when the goal document is approved by all members involved.

In exceptional cases, the examiner can fully approve the goal document even when the other members (supervisor and possibly assistant supervisor) have not approved it in the system after ensuring that the other members are familiar with the goal document.

Approving the Goal Document

During the opposition, it is the the presenting student's examiner who must register and approve the opponent via the presenting student's form. This applies to both the oral and written opposition, each having its own approval box. During a transition period, the examiner of the opposing student can also approve the written material.

Activities

The main supervisor must be employed at Lund University. The requirements for supervisors for degree projects vary for the different types of degree projects and are clearly stated in the course plans. In addition to the main supervisor, assistant supervisors also can be appointed. The main supervisor supports the student in planning, ensures that necessary resources are available, and provides support during the work with expertise and knowledge of the degree project process, ensuring that the degree project meets the course objectives. Note that the objectives differ depending on the degree to be obtained.

People outside the university or with limited research education can serve as assistant supervisors. An assistant supervisor can, for example, be employed at a company where the degree project is conducted and can contribute expertise in a specific area.

The main supervisor should provide continuous supervision aimed at enabling the completion of the degree project within the framework of 20 weeks of full-time study. The student cannot claim supervision for longer than specified in the course plan for the relevant degree type.

The main supervisor decides when the report is ready for presentation. In case of any doubts, the main supervisor should contact the examiner for a dialogue before approval.

The examiner is employed at Lund University, appointed by the head of department, and holds at least a doctoral degree. For examining a bachelor's degree project, a licentiate degree is sufficient. Prior to the start of the project, the examiner must conclude whether the student is eligible and thus has sufficient prerequisites in the subject to carry out the degree project. Besides, the examiner finally examines the degree project and ensures that all elements of the course are completed and approved and that the work meets the applicable learning objectives.

If the main supervisor is unsure about what is required for approval, the examiner is contacted for a dialogue before the approval is given for the presentation.

The degree project presentation takes place at a public seminar where the examiner participates. Students who oppose the work have their opposition and written material approved by the examiner of the presenting student.

A NDA (Non-disclosure agreement) can be written between the student and the company. Supervisors and examiners never sign any confidentiality commitments and can only be subject to such confidentiality as provided by law within the scope of their duties. In cases where an agreement must be written between LTH and the company, it is always the head of department who signs.

Read more under LTH -> Collaboration with companies.