Before starting the work
Familiarizing yourself with the topic
Choose the topic for your thesis: explore the literature and current discussion on the topic that interests you. Explore different ways of carrying out a thesis. Find possible co-operation partners from the working life.
Different types of theses
A thesis can be research-based, practice-based, diary-based, portfolio-based, or article-based. All the different thesis types are used in all degree programmes. All thesis reports, whatever their format, must be accompanied by a list of references and possible appendices.
Research-based thesis
The main focus of a thesis based on research is on developing working life, which is done with an investigative approach. It involves applied research, solving practical problems and questions that arise in the working life of one’s professional field. They guide the production of knowledge in a practical context. It is a strong combination of concrete development activities and the application of research methods, the analysis of the data obtained, and the use of theoretical knowledge.
- Introduction. The introduction leads the reader to the topic of the thesis. It sets out the background to the choice of topic and the perspective of the thesis. It explains the purpose and objective of the thesis and justifies the relevance and importance of the topic, its benefits for the field and/or the client. The introduction also includes a brief description of the methodology used.
- Purpose, objectives and research questions/development tasks. Description of the target organisation if the thesis has a client. (Can also be chapter 3.)
- Theoretical framework (create headings describing the content) (can also be chapter 2). Description of the theoretical framework used in the thesis, description of previous literature and research on the topic. The theorical framework is selected according to the way the topic will be dealt with.
- Description of the methods (create titles describing the content). Description of the methods to be used and the data collection plan in sufficient detail to allow a professional to assess their reliability. The data management plan is presented here.
- Implementation. Description of how the research will be carried out, depending on the data collection methods chosen. Description of the data, its collection and analysis. Considerations on the ethics of the research (can also be done in the discussion).
- Results. The results and outputs of the thesis will be published as required by the development/research task. One recommended way is to report the key findings by the research questions that have been addressed in the thesis. It is also worth ensuring that the results meet the objective set for the work. Particular attention should be paid to the way the results and conclusions are presented, as this is the part of most interest to the client.
- Conclusions and discussion. Conclusions are drawn from the results obtained in the thesis and discussed in relation to the starting points of the development/research task. The conclusions reflect on the theoretical framework used in the empirical study. The conclusions show how the thesis has changed or added to the knowledge in the area to be developed and how the results can be used in practice. The topic, its implementation, reliability, and ethical issues are evaluated. The thesis author presents their own views and opinions on the development/research task and their own professional development. Further research suggestions should also be made.
Practice-based thesis
The starting point for a practice-based thesis is a concrete, existing task, for which a solution is sought through the thesis. A practice-based thesis is workplace-oriented, it aims to develop, instruct, organise or improve the efficiency of practical activities. It results in an output, which can be, for example, a concrete product, a set of guidelines, an implementation of a service, a field-specific plan, a concept, or a model. A practice-based thesis often has an external sponsor. The thesis report should include an appropriate theoretical framework as well as a description and evaluation of the operational component in relation to it. The report should also present the operational part, i.e. the stages in the production of the output, in a coherent manner from a specific, predefined perspective.
An indicative structure for a practice-based thesis. To be agreed in more detail with the supervisor of the thesis.
- Introduction. The introduction leads the reader to the topic of the thesis. It sets out the background to the choice of topic and the perspective of the thesis. It explains the purpose and objective of the thesis and justifies the relevance and importance of the topic, its benefits for the field and/or the client/sponsor. The introduction also includes a brief description of the methodology used.
- The purpose, objectives, and research and development tasks of the thesis. Description of the target organisation if the thesis has a client/sponsor. (Can also be chapter 3.)
- Theoretical framework, theory (create headings describing the content) (can also be chapter 2).
- The methods used in the thesis (create titles describing the content). Description of the methods to be used in the practice-based thesis and the data collection plan in sufficient detail to allow a professional to assess their reliability. The data management plan is presented here if needed.
- The implementation of the practice-based thesis and the description of the results/output. The design and implementation of the desired output is described in a coherent manner. The choices made are justified on the basis of the chosen theoretical framework and existing evidence. Research questions and their answers may be used to present the results. Particular attention should be paid to the presentation of the results and conclusions, as this is the part of most interest to the client.
- Discussion. The topic of the thesis, its implementation, results/output and reliability as well as ethical questions are evaluated. The results/output of the thesis are compared with the previous results and knowledge base presented in the theoretical framework. The thesis writer presents their own views and opinions on the thesis and their own professional development. It is also important that the thesis presents the feedback that the client, target group or professionals have given on the produced output.
Article-based thesis
An article-based thesis includes articles or blog posts published in a professional or scientific journal of the field. The target audience of the articles should always be the community of experts in the field. Article-based theses are suitable if the topic is particularly topical, forward-looking, or of interest to the general public. Demonstrating expertise in the form of an article can give more visibility if it is necessary, for example, from the point of view of further education. The thesis may include one or more professional or scientific articles presenting the results of research or development work. The possible publication channels will be chosen in a guidance discussion with the teacher in accordance with the professional field and the nature of the work. The medium of publication of the article (journal or electronic platform) must have an editorial board that approves articles for publication. In the case of a co-written article, it must be possible to clearly identify the writer's own independent contribution. In addition to the articles, the thesis will include a report containing an introduction, conclusions, and a discussion.
An indicative structure for an article-based thesis. To be agreed in more detail with the supervisor of the thesis.
- Introduction, conclusions and discussion. Definitions of the objectives, theoretical framework and methodology of the article(s) and the assessment of the relevance and usability of the results of the publication(s) at the time of publication. The actual results are left in the article, as the results to be published in the article must be previously unpublished. If there is more than one article, this part should include a description of how they relate to each other and what kind of a whole they form. If there are several authors, their roles in the design, implementation and writing of the thesis are clearly identified here.
- Article(s). The article(s) are written according to the guidelines of the chosen publication channel as a professional journal article (D), in the SAMK publication series (D), as a peer-reviewed scientific article (A), a non-peer-reviewed scientific article (B) or other appropriate publication (E). For A and B categories, one article is sufficient. For categories D and E, more than one article is required. A single article can only be submitted to one publication channel at a time and the results must be previously unpublished. The publication channel must have an editorial board. If the article includes more than one student, their names are listed in alphabetical order. The supervisor will be listed as the last author. The manuscript of the article may be accepted as a thesis before publication. In this case, the thesis submitted to Theseus will indicate the publication channel to which the article has been submitted. The results of the article or the manuscript of the article will not be submitted in Theseus, as the results to be published in the article must be previously unpublished. If the article(s) has/have been published before the thesis is submitted in Theseus, the bibliographic details of the article (see bibliographic reference) will be included in the report.
Portfolio-based thesis
A portfolio-based thesis is suitable for students with a strong commitment to the field. Students gather the work they have produced at different stages during the studies. It is also possible to use pre-study or extra-curricular work, provided that it meets the requirements of the field and the skills. The outputs do not have to be written, but they must be documented. The different outputs will be linked to each other by means of the theoretical framework and as a whole, they form the thesis. The research problems/questions of the work are defined and formulated, and the research methods are chosen.
The advantage of a portfolio-based thesis is that it can make use of the outputs produced during studies in other courses, as students can choose a topic of their own interest early on in their studies and take it into account in their course assignments.
An indicative structure for a portfolio-based thesis. To be agreed in more detail with the supervisor of the thesis.
- Introduction. The introduction sets out the background to the choice of theme(s) and the need for the thesis. It can also describe the writer’s interest in and the background of the chose theme. The introduction tells the objective of the thesis and justifies the relevance and importance of the topic, its benefits for the field and/or the client.
- The purpose and objective of the thesis and the research questions. Description of the target organisation if the thesis has a client. Explanation of the purpose and objective of the thesis in a way that clearly shows the need for it in terms of content and timeliness. It can be commissioned by a client, but it can also be a means of increasing the student's own expertise and tools. The objective of the research is expressed in the form of research questions.
- Theoretical framework for the chosen theme. Description of the theoretical framework that ties the chosen theme and outputs together: what is known about the theme previously, i.e. literature, studies and reviews are consulted and used.
- Description of the research and development methods used. Description of the methods and data collection related to the outputs of the portfolio and the methods of data analysis per output, taking into account the reliability of the data collection. The data management plan is presented here if needed.
Presentation of portfolio outputs. Description and analysis of the outputs as well as the selection, design and implementation processes for each output, and the usability of the outputs. The linkages between the outputs and the theoretical framework and working life are also described. - Conclusions and discussion on the outputs. In the conclusions and discussion, the writer critically considers and evaluates the usefulness and development curve of the theoretical framework and the thesis package formed from the outputs, as well as further plans. The discussion also describes the feedback from the possible client of the outputs and critically examines the writer's own learning.
Diary-based thesis
The objective of the diary-based thesis is to develop and demonstrate the student's ability to apply their knowledge and skills in a practical, expert task related to professional studies. A typical feature of a diary-based thesis is that information is gathered as the work progresses. This approach is particularly suitable for students who are already in a strong expert role in the work required for the degree. In terms of research, a diary-based thesis is a form of autoethnographic research, like a portfolio-based thesis. In addition to the diary, the report contains a theoretical framework, which includes a conceptual definition as an extended theoretical framework for the chosen theme(s). The diary can be written, for example, by theme or on a weekly basis. The work includes student reflection, brainstorming and conclusions.
An indicative structure for a diary-based thesis. To be agreed in more detail with the supervisor of the thesis.
- Introduction. The introduction presents the topicality and background of the chosen theme(s), justifies the need for the field and the potential client. It may also describe the writer's interest in and background to the chosen topic. The introduction presents the objectives and the starting point on a general level, and a plan for the work. The introduction sets out the research problems/questions
- Description of the current situation. A brief description of the context of the field (stakeholders, resources, team, etc.) and the potential target organisation. Description of one’s role in the work community and the related competence requirements, including for other employees. Description of one’s professional development stage and needs in relation to the degree to be obtained. Description the chosen topic and the theoretical framework required: key theoretical and professional concepts based on studies, reviews and recommendations.
- Purpose and objectives. Specification of research problems/questions as well as the purpose and learning objectives of the work. Description of the plans for keeping the diary, such as the timetable, the method of reporting (thematic/weekly/daily) and the content of the diary report (development plans/other findings).
- Job description and learning in theform of diaryentries. Description of the issues raised by the work in relation to the objective, the theoretical framework and the research problem. It is important to highlight what new information was gained during the reporting process. Bringing forward the findings and related good practices to improve the situation using the theoretical framework Analysing the findings and evaluating different approaches, justifying their suitability or unsuitability for one’s work or developing new approaches. It is important that the thesis report brings forward the development of knowledge by the diary entries.
- Summary of results. The results give a summary of what the diary produced, i.e. how the result compares with the set objective. The student will then make choices and suggestions to solve the problem at hand. This can be done by answering the research questions and reflecting on the theoretical framework. The reliability of the results is assessed.
- Conclusions and discussion. In the conclusions and discussion, the writer critically reflects on and evaluates the overall quality, usefulness, and development of the diary thesis, as well as further plans. In the reflection the student also describes the feedback from the potential client and critically examines their own learning.
A thesis is a public document
It is published either in the open or restricted collection in Theseus:
• open collection, i.e. the thesis is available to everybody to read and find on the internet
• restricted collection, i.e. the work can be read only in the SAMK network
In both collections, basic information about the thesis (author, title, subject headings, abstract) is openly available and can be found in the library's Finna and other search services. Anyone interested has the right to access the thesis, regardless of the collection in which it is published (Act on the Openness of Government Activities) Read more about the collections.
Use of artificial intelligence in SAMK theses
SAMK has common instructions for the use of artificial intelligence (hereinafter referred to as AI) in studies and work, which also serve as the basis for these guidelines for using AI when writing a thesis.
- Purpose of use. AI applications can be used to help, for example, in
- getting ideas for essential themes related to the topic, planning the structure of the work and selecting the research method (example)
- general discussion and guidance on problematic issues ("how to proceed...", "I have the following problem..., what are the alternatives to solving it", etc.) (example)
- planning and ideation for information retrieval (example)
- analysing the research data (remember data protection, see section 4)
- checking and translating one’s text.
- The student is responsible for the content of their thesis. The author ensures that the ideas and thoughts presented without citations in the thesis are their own or of common knowledge. The original meaning of a text rewritten using AI must not change significantly. AI is only a tool and a research assistant.
- AI is not a scientific original source of information. The text it produces is neither error-free nor original. One must always check the accuracy of the information and refer to the original sources.
- Data protection. One must not include sensitive or confidential information or information compromising someone’s privacy (name, contact details, date of birth, personal identity code, student number, etc.) in the conversation with the AI. One must read the terms of use and privacy policies of the applications.
- Students are expected to be transparent in their use of AI. If shortcomings are identified, SAMK may launch an ethical review process to assess the use of AI. The use of AI in the thesis should be described in the introductory chapter. In it, the author describes
- which AI applications (ChatGPT, Bing, Bard, DeepL, Grammarly, etc.) have been used to complete the work
- how they have been used (example).
If you are referring to an AI application as software or to a discussion you have had with an AI application, please use the SAMK Reference Guide, chapter 10 “Statistics, data, computer software". The discussion with the AI application etc. can be added as an appendix or web link to the thesis, if necessary.
- These guidelines will be updated as necessary.
Artificial intelligence applications
The following AI applications are free, but some require you to register. Please do not use your SAMK email address to create an account.
- ChatGPT for brainstorming, reviewing, summarising, proofreading, translating, etc.: homepage, terms of use, privacy policy
- Bing for brainstorming, reviewing, summarising, proofreading, translating, etc.: homepage, terms of use, privacy policy
- Google Bard for brainstorming, reviewing, summarising, proofreading, translating, etc.: homepage, terms of use, privacy policy
- DeepL for translation, language checking: homepage, terms of use, privacy policy
- Grammarly to check language: homepage, terms of use, privacy policy
Planning state
(Bachelor 5 ECTS credits, Master 10 ECTS credits)
Choice and approval of the topic for the thesis
The student starting their thesis should have adequate abilities, as regards content and methodology, to complete the work, i.e. a sufficient amount of studies and knowledge of the field in question as well as methods to get started. To support the student in the thesis process, the university provides guidance in research communication and methodology. The topic of the thesis should support the development of professional skills, one’s career or the field, or the general objectives of a university of applied sciences. Often it is also a stepping stone to working life, i.e. it is important to consider the topic selection also from this point of view. From the perspective of the actual progress of the thesis, it is important that your topic means something to you and the results are worth pursuing.
The topic and implementation methods should be discussed with the teacher or supervisor coordinating the theses and with the possible working life contact person. At this stage, students move on to submit a topic proposal to Wihi. In the proposal, they enter their details (e.g. degree programme, which must be precise and use the official name of the education so that the coordinators can identify and process the proposals of their education from the list), the title of the thesis in Finnish and English (can be changed at the completion stage of the thesis), the type (research-based, practice-based, portfolio-based, diary-based), the planned timetable, a description of the content, objective and outcome of the work, the methods and possible tools used, and the details of the company that commissioned the thesis.
The topic will be approved in Wihi and a supervisor(s) will be assigned to the thesis.
Project plan for the thesis
At the planning stage, a plan for the thesis is drawn up, including the background, purpose, objectives, approach, methodological choices, description of the implementation process, assessment of ethics and reliability, and timetable. If the thesis has several authors, a division of tasks is defined.
The plan is written on the thesis template. The plan is worked on via Wihi, i.e. the student returns the plan in Wihi to the teacher for comments. Other communication related to the thesis will also take place in Wihi.
1. Introduction
- presenting and justifying the topic for the thesis (what is being studied/developed and why) and, where appropriate, delimiting the topic and justifying this delimitation
- presenting the link between the topic and the student's education and working life
- justifying the choice of the topic
- presenting and writing down the division of labour if the thesis has several authors
2. Theoretical framework (create headings describing the content)
- presenting the theoretical framework relevant to the topic, and describing previous literature and research on the topic
- defining the key concepts relevant to the topic and the chosen perspective
3. Purpose, objectives, and research questions
- stating the purpose of the thesis as precisely as possible (why this research/development is necessary, try to describe the purpose in one sentence)
- defining the objectives of the thesis (what is the benefit of the thesis and for whom) and what can be achieved through the thesis
- identifying the questions/problems/development areas to be addressed by the thesis, based on the purpose and objectives
4. Methodological implementation
- describing and justifying the research or development method by which the objectives of the thesis can be achieved
- illustrating the step-by-step progression of the process/research process of the practice-oriented thesis
- presenting the results, development plan, or other output to be achieved and how they will be reported
of the work
5. Ethical and reliability issues and data management plan
- describing the ethical assumptions of the thesis and how they are taken into account
- describing the factors affecting reliability
- where appropriate, a separate Data Management Plan is completed or included in the thesis project plan
6. The structure of the thesis
- describing the tentative structure of the thesis
- the tentative table of contents
7. Timetable and required resources
Agreement on the preparation of a thesis
An agreement on the preparation of a thesis signed of all theses written in SAMK. The thesis plan and agreement are submitted to Wihi at the stage ‘Project plan’.
The agreement is made for all theses by filling in the form OPO7A/B which you can find from Intra – Forms (requires logging in with SAMK username and password). The agreement on the preparation of a thesis is a written agreement between the student, the company/community commissioning the thesis, and SAMK to write a thesis. If the thesis is done for SAMK, the client signing the agreement is the head of the administrative unit for which the work is done. On behalf of SAMK, the agreement is signed by the dean of faculty in question and the supervising teacher. The person responsible for writing the agreement is the student. When signing the agreement, it is important to make sure that all the parties involved understand that the thesis report is always a public document. The possible confidential part can be located in a document separate from the actual report, delivered to the client.
Please, first load this OP07B form below on your computer, then prefill, save, and get electronic signatures through SAMK's ServiceDesk service: "Get signatures to thesis agreement". ServiceDesk serves at: servicedesk.samk.fi).
OP07B Agreement on the preparation of a thesis
Research Permit
The research permit procedure follows the procedures of the organization to which the thesis relates. The practices vary from field to field and the student should always clarify with the client the type of research permit required for their study. It is important to note that, depending on the organisation, it can take several weeks to obtain permission.
A research permit must always be applied for a study concerning SAMK students, personnel, or operations and producing public information about SAMK and the people at SAMK. The research permit is applied with the form OP21A/B. The application is addressed to the Quality Manager who decides on the research permits for theses concerning SAMK. The student should add a preliminary research plan approved by the supervisor to the application. The Quality Manager informs both the dean of the faculty where the student writing the thesis studies and the head of the administrative unit in which the study is to be carried out of the permits granted.
For more information
Procedural instruction for thesis agreement ME1206 Thesis, Research Permit ME1206 Thesis.
Approval of the planning stage
The student will receive a mark ‘approved’ for their performance to Wihi and Loki for stage 1/3 of the thesis when the thesis project plan has been approved by the supervisor and the thesis agreement has been signed, the student has obtained the necessary permits and completed any other degree-specific tasks in stage 1/3.
Implementation
(Bachelor 5 ECTS credits, Master 10 ECTS credits)
Template for the thesis
The thesis template guides you in the process of writing the written report for your thesis. The template can be used directly as the basis of a thesis. You should save it immediately with the name surname_firstname required by Theseus.
The template has been updated in October 2022: the font is Arial, page numbering continues throughout the work, appendices are shown separately in the table of contents, additional instructions for illustrating the text.
Finding information and use of sources
In the thesis process, information retrieval and sources are in a key role. The use of sources reveals the higher education level of the student’s development and research skills. Signs of good source material are reliability, objectivity, and topicality. The proper use of sources is unbiased and respects the original source.
Compiling a list of sources for the thesis starts with the very first source used in the thesis. It is a good idea to be careful with references right from the beginning, as it can be difficult to go back to them.
Guidelines for searching and using sources:
- Library Moodle – Citing
- Materials from the courses Research Communication and Research Methods
Good starting points for information retrieval:
Citing and referencing
Students who have started their studies in spring 2020 or earlier can, when agreed with their supervisor, use the older guide, which is available on the Oiva intranet on the page Citing and the reference list.
Reference management tools can be used to help you save and reference sources. For tips, see the Citing section of the Library Moodle.
Compliance with the methodological plan
The implementation plan written in the planning stage is taken into use and the selected approaches and research methods are used as described in the literature.
Methodological solutions for the thesis should be discussed with the thesis supervisors. They are able to guide you on the methodological choices that will best lead to a successful outcome.
The different methods are introduced in the research method courses, and source material on research methods is also readily available, see the section on research methods in Finna.
Written output
The writing process including visualization and accessibility
The practical piece of work – a guidebook, device, event, training module, sculpture, work community development project, etc. – related to the thesis does not constitute the entire thesis, even if it meets the highest standards and comes in extremely useful. The client is usually more interested in the application, the end product, but a report is always written to describe the process leading to the outcome. The report is the piece of work that shall be evaluated. Therefore, it is important that all the work you have done is documented in the report as well as possible – in the body of the text or the appendices. Reporting skills are essential in working life.
Two basic things about writing
- your text communicates to others
- writing elaborates your thoughts; as you formulate the matter, your thinking also takes it forward.
From reading the introduction and the final paragraph, the reader should understand what the report deals with – although the text in between describes the process and how the results were achieved.
When revising the thesis report, pay attention to
- readability: Is your text clear? Does it progress logically and without unnecessary repetitions? Does it convey the message you want?
- argumentativeness: Why was the text written and why is it worth reading?
- credibility: Are the conclusions valid? Was the method appropriate and reliable? What are the limitations?
- usability: How did this work? Can it be applied elsewhere? What could be done based on this in the future?
Visualisation
To summarize and illustrate research results you can use tables, pictures, figures, or direct quotations selected from empirical data. You can also use figures to illustrate e.g., the progress of work – especially of a product, work of art, etc.
The tables and figures must be clear, informative, and appropriate. They must be understandable on the basis of content and heading, without additional text. A table or graph that is not essential for understanding the text may be included in the appendices. Its purpose is to provide additional information. The template for the thesis provides guidance on the layout and referencing of tables, figures, graphs, and diagrams. Images published by others may be cited in a scholarly presentation, such as a thesis or art historical study, and in a critical presentation, such as a theatre or visual arts review. The right to quote images is fairly limited in copyright law and in practice usually allows the use of an image in a scientific publication (such as a thesis) and only if the image has a clear illustrative link to the text of the thesis.
You can use pictures taken or created by yourself freely as long as you pay attention to the right to privacy of the persons appearing in them. If there are clearly recognisable persons in a picture, ask them for permission to use it. Please note that theses with their pictures are generally available in the Theseus online archive for anyone to view.
If you use a picture taken or created by someone else, e.g., an acquaintance of yours, that has not yet been published elsewhere, you must as for permission to use it. The creator’s name must be mentioned in connection with the picture, and it must be stated that the use of the picture is authorised. Furthermore, you must ask the persons appearing in the picture for their consent before you can use the picture.
A separate list of pictures does not have to be attached to the list of references. Photographs of works of art can be used in a thesis. Remember to provide information on the object of the picture (name of the work of art, artist, and year, if known) in addition to the information on the creator or photographer.
For more information:
Accessible thesis
The accessible thesis is accessible online, even if you have reading or viewing disabilities. Make your thesis accessible according to the Theseus guidelines.
Compliance with the ethical ground rules
The ethical ground rules based on good scientific practice apply to a thesis as well. This means using honest, responsible, and correct measures when doing research: the agreement on the preparation of a thesis has been signed, the research permit and privacy statement exist in the theses requiring them, the sources are reliable and cited appropriately, the research material and process have been well documented, and the conclusion of the work is reliable. In addition, in interviews and similar research where people, or what they say or produce, compose the research material, it is obligatory to exercise particular caution related to privacy and data protection when writing the thesis report. The student should check whether personal contact information is unnecessarily visible in the thesis. You can replace addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and birth dates in the word processor, for example by typing XXXXXX instead. Note. Changing the text background to black will not help, as the text can still be copied.
The objective and competent interpretation of the research material is part of being ethical. The outcome and conclusions of the work must be reliable.
Completion state
(Bachelor 5 ECTS credits, Master 10 ECTS credits)
Approval of the work by the client
If the client considers that any part of the thesis is confidential, such content may not be published in the report uploaded in Theseus. In such a situation, the report should be written in such a way that the content is sufficiently anonymous.
Plagiarism check
All theses go through a plagiarism check before the final evaluation. SAMK uses the Turnitin plagiarism detection system. When a student returns a completed thesis to Wihi, it is automatically sent to the Turnitin plagiarism detection system. If the thesis is not done in Wihi, the teacher indicates a submission space in Moodle where the student returns the work and it is sent to Turnitin for plagiarism detection. The thesis supervisor gives more detailed instructions on how to send the work to the plagiarism check. The student accepts the Turnitin plagiarism check procedure when submitting the thesis for assessment. Turnitin enables the thesis supervisor to check, for example, the electronic sources used in the thesis and the accuracy of references. The evaluation report is accompanied by a statement on the plagiarism check, signed by the supervisor. The student can attach the statement to their CV, for example.
Evaluation
The thesis is evaluated by the supervisor according to the thesis assessment criteria at SAMK. If the Bachelor’s thesis has been started in August 2021 or later, the thesis will be evaluated according to these thesis assessment criteria.
The items to be evaluated and their weight
- Choice and outlining of topic and objectives, weighting 10%.
- Definition of concepts and use of sources to build the theoretical framework, weighting 20%.
- Selection, description, and use of methods and approach, weighting 20%.
- Usefulness of the thesis, weight 20
- Reliability of the implementation of the results/output and compliance with the ethical recommendations of the thesis, weight 10
- Reporting and structure of the work, weight 10
- Ability to reflect on the thesis process and own development, weighting 10%.
If the Bachelor’s thesis has been started before August 2021, it will be evaluated according to these thesis assessment criteria.
The Master’s theses started in August 2021 and after will be evaluated according to these thesis assessment criteria for a Master’s thesis.
The items to be evaluated and their weight
- Topic and objectives, weighting 15 %.
- Theoretical framework and key concepts, weighting 15%.
- Implementation, weighting 24%
- Results and discussion, weighting 31%
- Reporting, weighting 15%
If the Master’s thesis was started before August 2021, it will be assessed according to these criteria for the Master’s thesis.
Maturity exam
The maturity exam is an exam based on the thesis and written in supervised conditions. It is an independent study performance, which does not affect the evaluation of the thesis.
With the maturity exam, the student demonstrates their familiarity with the field as well as Finnish or Swedish language skills (A1129/2014, Sections 7 and 8). According to the procedural instruction (ME2107), this procedure concerns all theses written in SAMK (both Bachelor’s and Master’s theses). If the student's mother tongue is not Finnish or Swedish, the maturity test can be taken in English.
The maturity exam is regulated by Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies 424/2003, The Government Decree on the Demonstration of Proficiency in the Finnish and Swedish Languages in the Civil Service 481/2003, the Law on Universities of Applied Sciences 932/2014, the Government’s Decree on Universities of Applied Sciences 1129/2014 and SAMK Degree regulation.
Check the following before publication
Ensure data protection
Make sure that your thesis (including any appendices) does not unnecessarily include student numbers, birth dates, addresses, telephone numbers, or other personal contact information that you do not want to be made public. You can delete them or replace them in a word processor, for example by typing XXXXXX in their place. Note. Changing the text background to black will not help, as the text can still be copied.
Make sure your work is accessible
Check the accessibility of your thesis according to the Theseus guidelines.
Want to share the rights to your work under a Creative Commons licence?
Do you want to give your work (report or appendix) more rights than the copyright automatically allows? If you do not use a CC licence, you retain all rights, and the work does not need to be marked as such. Readers will then be able to use your work in ways that are permitted by copyright, for example by citing it as a source.
If you assign additional rights under a CC licence to a user of your work, please indicate this on the opening pages of the work - in the report, on the abstract, and in the appendix, on the page containing the author information. Use the following text: “This work is licensed under [CC license name], [CC license URL]", e.g. "This work is licensed under a CC BY-SA license". Read more.
Save as PDF/A file as surname_firstname.pdf
Theses are archived permanently. Therefore, it is essential that the report is in PDF/A format for long-term storage. The file name must be "surname_firstname.pdf", for example, "meikalainen_matti.pdf". If there is more than one author, please enter the name in the format surname_surname_surname.pdf. Allowed characters are 1-9, a-z, A-Z and _. Do not use the diacritics in the file name. Read the instructions for creating a PDF/A file or watch a video on YouTube.
If you have problems saving a PDF/A file, please contact the SAMK Helpdesk.
Final glances and appendices
Finally, open the PDF/A file and see if everything seems to be in order.
If any appendices to the work cannot be converted into a PDF/A file and attached to the report file, they can be left in their original file format. Audio, image and video files, etc. can be saved in their original format. For more information on formats that can be stored and transferred.
The file size limit in Theseus is 1 GB. For publication and archiving of larger files, please contact the library by e-mail: theseus@samk.fi.
The work you submit must be the final, approved version of your thesis. The file name must be "surname_firstname.pdf", for example, "meikalainen_matti.pdf". If there is more than one author, please enter the name in the format surname_surname.pdf.
If your thesis has multiple authors, one author will submit the work on behalf of the others only once. The submitting process takes 10-20 minutes. If you encounter technical problems during the submitting process, please contact the SAMK Helpdesk.
More information can be found in the Theseus submission guidelines.
- If your thesis is in English, start on submissions.theseus.fi/en. See the instructions.
- Click on ‘Save thesis’ to start. Select Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu from the list and click Log in. Log in with your SAMK ID.
- Select a collection:
- open collection, i.e. accessible to everyone on the Internet
- Restricted collection, i.e. the work can be read only in SAMK network
- Theses are public documents and universities of applied sciences recommend the Theseus open collection.
- Accept the Distribution licence.
- Upload and save the file(s) (report and any attachments) from your computer to Theseus.
- Fill in the details of the publication on the deposit form. Under "Copyright/User Rights Information", select "All Rights Reserved" if you do not assign additional rights to the user of your work under a Creative Commons license. If you use a CC license to share access rights to the file(s) you are saving, select the "strictest" license you use. For example, if you are sharing the attached guide under a CC license, but not the report, select "All rights reserved".
- Review the information. Copy and save for yourself the URN from the data, as you will need it for the certificate request or Wihi (note: Wihi requires the URN to start with https://urn.fi/). You can still correct the information if necessary.
- Finally, click on Submit Publication.
- You will receive confirmation by email that your thesis has been transferred to the Theseus open repository. Your work will be visible online once the SAMK library personnel have checked the information related to your thesis. The estimated processing time is up to two working days.
With questions concerning/regarding Theseus, please contact the library by email theseus@samk.fi.
See also these
Agreement on the preparation of a thesis
Application for a research permit
Ethical guidelines
Ethical recommendations for thesis writing
Help with thesis
Individual support arrangements
Library’s INFOtelakka – Book a librarian
Literature on research methodology
Maturity exam
Reference management tips
Referencing guidelines
Thesis data management plan
Template for a thesis
Wihi