Master's Thesis (MSc Thesis)
The Master’s Thesis (CTM-MT) is the capstone component of the MSc in Clean Technologies Management (CTM) and carries 30 ECTS. It is an individual piece of academic work written in English, demonstrating the student’s ability to formulate and investigate a clean-technologies management problem using appropriate scientific and analytical methods, and to communicate results in a rigorous and professionally relevant manner. The thesis is expected to integrate knowledge and skills acquired in the taught modules (e.g., research methods, statistics/econometrics, operational research, data-driven decision making, sustainability economics) and to produce a coherent argument supported by evidence.
The thesis topic must fall within the broader domain of clean technologies management and may be research-oriented, applied, or industry-linked, provided it involves a clearly defined question, an explicit methodology, and a defensible analysis. Indicative themes include technology and innovation management in clean-tech, techno-economic and sustainability assessment, energy systems and green fuels, waste valorization pathways, data-driven decision support for clean-tech deployment, and policy or market mechanisms relevant to the green transition. Where external data, industrial collaboration, or organizational information is used, students must ensure lawful access and appropriate handling of data, including confidentiality where required.
Allocation and supervision follow a structured academic process. Students normally submit an expression of interest and a brief proposal outline (topic, motivation, preliminary research question, proposed approach and data sources). The Program then assigns a thesis supervisor, considering academic fit, supervisory capacity, and the feasibility of the proposed work. The supervisor provides guidance on refining the research question, selecting methods, structuring the study, ensuring ethical and academic integrity compliance, and maintaining a realistic work plan. Supervision is conducted primarily online through scheduled meetings and written feedback, with expectations for communication, responsiveness, and milestone delivery clarified at the start of the thesis period.
To ensure consistent academic standards, the thesis process includes minimum quality requirements. Students must demonstrate: (i) a well-defined problem statement and objectives, (ii) a justified methodological design, (iii) appropriate use of literature and sources, (iv) sound analysis and interpretation, (v) clear conclusions and limitations, and (vi) correct academic referencing. The Program may require interim deliverables (e.g., proposal form, literature review, methodology plan, progress report or draft chapters) to support timely completion and to allow formative feedback.
The thesis is examined by an appointed examination committee in accordance with the University procedures. Examination includes submission of the final thesis through the designated University/LMS channels and an oral defense (viva) conducted online, with identity verification and rules ensuring the reliability of the process. The committee evaluates the thesis against published criteria, which typically cover originality and contribution, methodological adequacy, quality of analysis, coherence of argumentation, academic writing and referencing, and the student’s ability to defend decisions and results. The final thesis grade is recorded according to the University grading scale.
Academic integrity is integral to the thesis. The thesis is subject to originality checking using University-approved tools, and the student is responsible for ensuring proper citation, avoiding plagiarism, and adhering to ethical standards. Any misconduct is handled under the applicable University rules. Upon successful completion, the thesis is considered evidence that the graduate can carry out an independent, high-level piece of work in clean technologies management, bridging academic rigor with real-world relevance.