TUNTREET
Writing a thesis in the Corona Times The semester has been different for all of us, but for students writing a bachelor’s or master’s thesis, the situation may feel even more difficult. What are the new guidelines for the theses, and how has the altered everyday life affected the work? Sofia Basma Moen Journalist Hanna Bruun Tørnby Photographer Nora Helgeland Translator
Deferred deadline and online guidance All theses with a deadline of May 15th have been postponed to June 2nd. The submission is electronic, and no printed copies are required. Also, medical certificates are not required for applications for further postponements of the deadline, but you must attach an approval from the supervisor. Guidance is held over Zoom or Skype. If a student did not complete the necessary lab, field work or the like before the situation arose, the student is responsible for contacting their main supervisor to clarify how the assignment will be worked on. Each case will be assessed individually.
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Issue 05 Year 75
Most have been negatively impacted Thus, students writing their thesis this spring have had their lives turned upside down. Tuntreet has investigated how the students themselves have experienced the situation. As many as 84% say the situation has negatively affected their task. 13% do not think the degree thesis has been particularly affected, and only 3% state that the situation has actually affected the thesis positively. 22% will still deliver the task on May 15th, despite the extended deadline. Almost half state that they have not received as much guidance as planned. Over 50% have also not benefited as much from the guidance, but 25% think online guidance has worked well. One third have had to alter the topic of their thesis due to the situation. Lots of challenges When asked what the biggest challenges have been, these answers are recurring: poor guidance, less motivation, lack of good routines, access to printer, lab data and necessary software, and not being able to sit with a partner or others who write theses.
What has been the biggest challenge? “That a lab master is now theoretical. An everyday life with a good distribution of practical work and writing is now just writing every day.”
“Working at home when the others in the collective are fucking noisy.”
“Missing my reading room space. Not being able to separate workplace and a place to “chill” feels all wrong.”
