One of our students, Rodrigo Ramos Sampaio, who studied international relations and international trade, defended his thesis two weeks ago. He chose to focus on sustainability and entitled it Towards a Green Future: An Analysis of Supply Chain Sustainability in the European Union Soy Products Industry.
We asked him about the thesis process, from concept creation to completion, and what he thought of the experience.
Thesis vs. Dissertation: Europe
In Europe, the original distinction between a thesis and a dissertation has been largely retained. A doctoral dissertation is focused original research conducted to obtain a doctorate. A thesis is part of a larger postgraduate research project.
Related: Hello! Have you finished writing your thesis? Grab a cup of coffee and visit our PhD Café now!
The importance of a thesis statement
Your thesis statement should always be specific. They should be able to:
- Summarize their ideas in one or two sentences
- Guide the reader to their argument
- Organize and improve their essay according to their point seen.
- It can seem like there is too much going on in a sentence or two.
We have tips you can use to come up with your best thesis statement.
Field Experience
Did you know that some graduate schools waive a thesis requirement for students completing a field experience? If you think this sounds like an easier option, keep in mind that your school may require you to complete 300 or more hours of supervised fieldwork after graduation. It can also mean that it will take you three years or more to graduate. Students who do a thesis often finish it in two years or less. Schools that offer fieldwork in lieu of a thesis often require students to complete detailed records of the work they do and submit these records to the department before graduation.
As a student entering college, you need to know which option is best for you. Some want an answer to the question of whether all graduate students do a thesis, since they dislike research and the idea of spending long hours in the library. A non-thesis track is ideal for those who want to learn more about their chosen field and take more courses without writing a separate paper. L’option de project de recherche est la meilleure pour ceux qui veulent créer un projet detaillé sans faire de recherche, et les programs d’expérience sur le terrain sont attractants pour ceux qui ne craignent pas de passer plus de temps à travailler avant d’ get a diploma.