MASTER THESIS

The fourth semester is fully dedicated to the preparation of a Master thesis, which can be realized:

• (full academic mode) under the main supervision of one of the three SMACCs universities of the student’s mobility path, and possibly under the remote supervision of another SMACCs university. Fourth semester mobility is accomplished in that case at the university of the main thesis supervisor,
• (academic internship mode) through an internship at the facilities of one of the Associated Partner universities, and under the joint supervision of a teacher/researcher of the partner university and a teacher/researcher of one of the three SMACCs universities of the student’s mobility path,
• (company internship mode) through an internship at the facilities of one of the Associated Partner companies/municipalities/research institutes, under the joint supervision of the partner and a teacher/researcher of one of the three SMACCs HEIs of the student’s mobility path.

The Master Thesis is a key element of the excellence of the programme, in the sense that, depending on their wishes, the student can decide to focus on an academic topic for expanding their research CV, or can work in collaboration with a company/municipality to boost post-Master employment opportunities.

The thesis must be submitted in written form in English and presented orally by the student at the end of the 4^th semester. Students have the choice to defend their thesis orally during the Summer School, in front of the consortium and Associated Partners, or at their main supervizing university. The Thesis defense is always in face-to-face mode. Students may adopt a theoretical or empirical approach or a combination thereof, but are encouraged to address a concrete problem related with the material taught.