What is the Master’s Thesis Defense Exam?
In a thesis-based master’s program, a student writes their findings according to the writing guidelines set by the senate and defends their thesis orally in front of a jury.
What is required to take the Master’s Thesis Defense Exam?
Before defending their thesis (and in cases where revisions were previously requested), the student completes the thesis and submits it to their advisor. The advisor indicates their opinion on the thesis’s readiness for defense on Form 9 and submits it along with an unbound copy of the thesis to the department chair. A plagiarism report generated by the relevant software is also attached to this form. Additionally, the form should contain the Master’s Thesis Defense Jury Proposal and Exam Date Proposal. This form must be signed by both the student and the advisor.
Who Comprises the Master’s Thesis Defense Jury?
The master’s thesis jury is appointed with the approval of the institute’s administrative board, based on the recommendation of the thesis advisor and the relevant department chair. The jury consists of three or five faculty members, including the student’s thesis advisor and at least one member from outside the student’s higher education institution. If the jury is comprised of only three members, the second thesis advisor cannot serve as a jury member. Appointment letters and an unbound copy of the thesis are delivered to the jury members by the student, and signatures are collected on Form 11.
NOTE: The student’s advisor should contact the primary and alternate members of the proposed Master’s Thesis Defense Jury in advance to confirm the exam date and attendance. Otherwise, delays may occur in the process.
How is the Master’s Thesis Defense Exam conducted?
The jury members convene within one month of receiving the thesis to conduct the thesis examination. The thesis defense consists of a presentation of the thesis work, followed by a question-and-answer session. The defense takes place in a public setting, where faculty members, graduate students, and experts in the field are welcome to attend.
How is the result of the Master’s Thesis Defense Exam announced?
Following the defense, the jury decides by majority vote to accept, reject, or request revisions to the thesis. Form-6 is completed in detail by the jury members and the department chair and is submitted to the Institute along with other graduation documents. If the thesis is rejected, the student is dismissed from the higher education institution. If revisions are requested, the student must resubmit the corrected thesis to the same jury within three months. If the student fails the re-defense, they are dismissed from the institution.