Master of StatisticsMaster thesis

A short introduction for the Master thesis student

2019-2020

1

Step 1: Selection of the topic1st master year: March- April

1. Selection of the topic- List of topics will be made available (start of April) on website

(http://lstat.kuleuven.be/masterBologna/master-thesis-2-year-programme)

- Students have two weeks to choose at least 2 and at most 3 topics from the list (or they have agreement concerning an own topic). (Deadline: April 22, 2020)

- If they want, students can contact supervisors individually with regard to the topics they are interested in.

- Own topic

Student write at least 1 A4 document with a proposal on a topic of own interest.

They contact a professor who works in that field of interest.

If the professor agrees to guide you on that topic, then you have your thesis topic.

Specify this own topic on the ‘selection thesis topic’ document. In this case, only first choice is needed. Put in attach the A4 document with your proposal.

Only for EMOS students:

- Emos students have to indicate on the “thesis selection” document that there are an “Emos” student. The do not have to choose a thesis topic from the list. They alsocannot submit an own thesis topic.

- Since for those students the thesis topic is related to the internship, the topic will be determined later (May-June).

- When we (at Lstat) have a list of possible internship topics for next year, we’ll contact the EMOS students and ask them for their preferences.

Step 2:Allocation of topics to students1st Master year: May (1st round), June ( 2nd round)

A subcommittee of the Programme Steering Committee assigns a topic to each student to the extent possible. (taking into account: preferences of the students, background, study progress).There is a mail to all students about the assignment of thesis topics.

- Some students will have to make a new choice in the 2nd round. (based on the list of still available thesis topics or you can propose a topic of your own).

- Students with a global January percentage below 40%, no thesis topic is assigned to you. You get the advice to focus on courses. In case you obtain at least 48 ECTS in September, you can make a choice of thesis topics at that time.

Step 3: Contact promotor 1st master year, early July

- After the June exams, take contact with your promotor.

- Read carefully all the instructions about the thesis on

http://lstat.kuleuven.be/masterBologna/master-thesis-2-year-programme

Working on the master thesis2nd master year

• Add thesis to your ISP (next to other courses) (when you’ve obtainedat least 48 ECTS in September).

• Use the Milestones tool in Toledo (pilot project since 2018-2019)

Contact promotor

1. Research proposal / Written summary (before December 1st)

Contact promotor

2. Intermediate presentation (mid March)

Contact promotor

3. Submit thesis (June 1st)

Purpose of the Master's thesis Milestones

• The different milestone forms offer you (the student), your supervisor(s) and the faculty a tool to centralize and streamline all communication regarding your master's thesis.

• Offer guidelines about timing and requested actions

• Document the different steps in the master thesis procedure

• Formalize the (minimum) contact moments (minimum 3, at different stages of the work) between the student and his/her promoter/supervisor

• Avoid misunderstandings between student and supervisor

Good to know

• The milestone forms are divided into 3 categories:A. important to read at the start of the master's thesis (preparation)

B. to use when you're writing your master's thesis (interim versions, etc.)

C. important to read/to do before submitting the final version (finalization)

• Every milestone form has a top part to be filled in by you and - if feedback is expected - a bottom part to be filled in by one or more other people (supervisor, mentor, faculty employee,...). What is expected from you is always listed at the top under "Method - Instructions".

Master of Statistics – Milestones flow

Category Milestone DeadlineAcceptance/Confirmation needed from Feedback needed from

A Acceptance and purposeEndorse the faculty guidelines regarding the master thesis 1/12/2018 Student NA

Useful information List of information and tools that may come in handy 1/12/2018 Student NA

Plagiarism/scientific integrity Statement on plagiarism 1/12/2018 Student NA

1st mandatory contact with promotor Confirmation of meeting between (co-)promotor and student before handing in research proposal 15/11/2018 Promotor Promotor

B Research proposal/Start reportDescription of the proposal for the research elaboration 1/12/2018 Promotor Promotor

2nd mandatory contact with promotor Confirmation of meeting between (co-)promotor and student before intermediate presentation 1/03/2019 Promotor Promotor

Intermediate presentation Permission to have intermediate presentation 1/03/2019 Promotor Promotor

Feedback on Individual assignement(= intermediate presentation)

Confirmation that intermediate presentation was given and feedback understood 15/04/2019 Promotor Promotor

3rd mandatory contact with promotor Confirmation of meeting between (co-)promotor and student before submission of thesis 15/05/2019 Promotor Promotor

EmbargoYou can request an embargo to be placed on the research 1/06/2019

Promotor + Faculty Responsible+ Program Director NA

C Submission of final master thesis Request for permission to submit the master's thesis 1/06/2019 Promotor Promotor

Summary Master thesis procedure

1. List of topics will be available (April of the 1st phase)

2. Indicate 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice or propose your own topic

3. Topics will be allocated to students (May- June)

4. Contact promotor

5. Research proposal/Written summary (before December 1st)

6. Contact promotor + Intermediate presentation (mid March)

7. Contact promotor + Submit thesis (June 1st)

8. Defense of thesis (end of June)

9. Evaluation criteria http://lstat.kuleuven.be/masterBologna/master-thesis-2-year-programme

Please read the instructions on our website carefully!

Students are obliged to stick to the deadlines!

No reminders will be sent!

Only under special circumstances, deadlines will be waived!!

Website: https://lstat.kuleuven.be/masterBologna/master-thesis-2-year-programme

Intermediate presentations

• Students present their work in front of panels• A fixed panel serves for a 2.5-hour session (either 8.30-11.00 or 11.30-

14.00 or 14.30-17.00) • Panels consist of three members, one of the panel members is the chair of

the panel. • Sessions:

• 20 minutes per student, hence 6 (or 7) students per session:• 5-minute presentation by student• 10 minutes for questions and interaction• 5 minutes for deliberations in between students

• The students should, therefore, present with a general statistical audience in mind

Final Presentations

• Students present their work in front of panels

• A fixed panel serves for a 2.5-hour session (either 8.30-11.00 or 11.30-14.00 or 14.30-17.00)

• Panels consist of three members

• The panel for the intermediate presentation might not be the same as for the final presentation. So students should not expect that the panel ‘still knows the topic from the intermediate presentation’ because it may be partially or entirely different members.

• The panel members act as readers: they read the thesis text prior to the session and provide a score for the text (same as in the past)

Thesis presentation

• Regular studens: June or September

• There is a session in January but..

under the condition that only (and maximum) two courses of the first semester are fulfilled/passed by then. If you want to graduate in January, you have to submit a request via the https://wet.kuleuven.be/studenten/mastersthesis/graduating-in-january

Plagiarism

• Plagiarism is any identical or lightly-altered use of one's own or someone else’s work (ideas, texts, structures, images, plans, etc.) without adequate reference to the source.

http://www.kuleuven.be/plagiarism/avoidance.html

• KU Leuven has a tool for plagiarism detection• Turnitin

• Learn to provide appropriate citation! (see mandatory ethical class of Prof. Molenberghs on March 5 2020, 9.00 )

How to access the Milestones tool in Toledo?

• Start the Toledo portal• Files and portfolios > Toledo portfolio

Final deadlines

3 mandatory contact moments

Informative milestones

For Master of Statistics1 individual assignment =

intermediate presentation

Advice of supervisor prior toupload of thesis in KULoket

Example of a Milestone in Toledo

How to contact your supervisor for feedback?

Only possible for forms where feedback is requested

Go to Button “Ask Feedback”

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