The degree project, an independent activity, completes the degree programme. The work can be carried out at a department within the home higher education institution, in industry or at another higher education institution/university in Sweden or abroad.
The degree project is carried out in pairs with another student or, in exceptional cases, individually. If the degree project is carried out in pairs with another student, it is important that each individual's contributions can clearly be distinguished so fair grading can be made.
Before the degree project course starts, the student shall identify an appropriate degree project task and formulate a project proposal that can be presented to the examiner for approval. The assignment must be chosen so that it implies a natural progression of the knowledge and skills that have been acquired within the education.
After the project proposal has been passed, the student designs an individual plan for the degree project where knowledge and methods from the education are applied, whereupon the work is started.
The work must build on a scientific foundation and engineering experiences and contain examples of investigation and analysis. Practical construction work can be part of the work and shall mainly intend to verify set models and theories for solving the assignment, as well as be an application of the chosen scientific and engineering methodology.
The student completes the course with an oral presentation and defence of his work and a critical review on the degree project of another student and a self-assessment.
The language of instruction is Swedish or English. The report, with appendices, can be written in Swedish or English. Title and summary are always stated in both languages.
Learning activities
Before the degree project course is started, the student should have identified an appropriate degree project task and formulated a project proposal so that this can be presented to the examiner for approval. The assignment must be chosen, so that it implies a natural progression of the knowledge and skills that have been acquired within the education.
The student should write an individual plan for the degree project in which the problem description/assignment and the preconditions for the implementation of the work should be specified. The individual plan for the degree project should include a background including a problem description and scientific aspects/question formulations, purpose(s), goals limitations, relevance of the project, methods and a time schedule for the implementation of the degree project. The individual plan shall also include a brief self-reflection where the student accounts for her/his knowledge to carry out the assignment and the planning for how any remaining courses, that are required for higher education qualification, shall be completed. The individual plan for the degree project shall be approved by the examiner.
The student shall carry out a specialised pilot study including discussion of method choice and theoretical background with a literature study, that is reported as part of a draft to a preliminary version of the written degree project report.
The student shall carry out an individual independent project, where knowledge and methods from the education are applied.
The student should write and present a written degree project report, where the student clearly accounts for and discusses his or her conclusions in the degree project and the knowledge and the arguments that underspin them.
The student should plan and carry out an oral presentation and defence of his or her degree project.
The student should carry out an oral and written review of another degree project at the same level.
The student carries out a self-assessment of the degree project according to the model for assessing quality of degree project for engineers.