Admission requirements
To be admitted to the graduation project, students need to have passed Elective Sustainable City: Biodiversity in the City and Inferential Statistics.
Please note that it is advised to take Linear Models for Urban Research in the second year.
The graduation project is only available for students in the BA Urban Studies, who have obtained 100 EC of the Urban Studies programme, including two Methodological and two Thematic Electives.
Course description
The Environmental Science graduation project introduces students to independently designing and conducting scientific research.
Thesis Preparation Module and Research Proposal
During the proposal phase, the students will be guided through the process of designing an independent research project, from formulating a research idea to developing research questions and appropriate methodologies, collecting data and analyzing results, to drawing conclusions and writing the final report or a scientific publication. The Thesis Seminar culminates in a Research Proposal, which includes a problem definition, the research question(s) and the subquestions, theoretical and methodological considerations, and a time frame of steps to take. The Research Proposal will need to be around 1,000 words long (excluding notes and bibliography). At the end of this first month, the student will present their Research Proposal to their fellow students and the supervisor(s).
Research Thesis
The BA Thesis is the final and most important written assignment of the programme. During the thesis phase, the student will apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the programme. The Thesis is a research paper of 10,000 words and is the result of independent research and writing, starting from the Research Proposal that the student developed during the thesis seminar, and that has been approved by their supervisor.
The student is expected to:
Carry out primary data collection. This may include conducting biodiversity surveys in urban environments (e.g. plants, insects, birds), or surveys with people to understand behaviours and opinions related to urban nature and biodiversity. Alternatively, students may analyse existing open-access datasets or policy documents related, for instance, to urban green space distribution, land use data, or species occurrence records.
Analyse the results using appropriate statistical methods. Students are expected to go beyond descriptive statistics and, where suitable, apply regression or other analytical techniques to identify patterns and test hypotheses or relationships.
Interpret the results, placing them in the context of the recent scholarship and linking them to the research question(s).
Report on their research in a scientific-style paper.
The supervisor needs to be able to supervise the research topic. Therefore, the first supervisor has to agree on the Research Proposal before the start of the Research Thesis. The project must be feasible and relevant, showing the student's academic knowledge and skills.
In the case of capstone projects, topics are proposed by supervisors prior to the start of the course and consist of a broad research theme. Each capstone topic may include up to three individual student projects, with each student working on a distinct research question within the shared thematic framework. This allows students to collaborate around a common topic while developing their own research focus.
The deadline for the submission of the Thesis is June 5, 2026.
Course objectives
At the end of the Thesis Research Project, the student:
Has acquired in-depth knowledge about concepts and approaches in a particular research area of environmental sciences, such as urban ecology and sustainability, to analyse and/or develop solutions to urban problems.
Has designed and carried out a research project under supervision but with a high degree of independence.
Is able to formulate a meaningful research question and, where appropriate, research hypotheses.
Is able to gather and analyse data by employing qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
Is able to report their findings in a well-argued, logically structured written report and convincingly present them.
Can relate their research to the broader framework of the discipline(s) within which it falls and explain how it addresses or contributes to understanding the interdisciplinarity and complexity of urban issues.
Demonstrates a critical attitude and uses feedback from peers and supervisor(s) in a constructive way.
Mode of instruction
At the start of the course, the students follow several introductory seminars (compulsory attendance) as part of the Thesis Preparation Module. The module guides the students through the proposal phase. If a student is unable to attend a seminar, they should inform the teacher in advance, providing a valid reason for absence. The teacher will determine if and how the missed session can be compensated by an additional assignment.
Following on the collective supervision during the seminar, students will receive individual supervision specifically focused on the subject of their research. Consultation and feedback during the project are provided by their first supervisor. Students will have four meetings with their supervisor: a kick-off meeting, two midterm progress meetings (one during data collection and one during the analysis phase), and a final feedback meeting.
Assessment method
The final grade is calculated as follows:
| Partial grade | Weighing |
|---|---|
| Presentation of Research Proposal | 10% |
| Written Research Proposal | 10% |
| Practical work | 30% |
| Written BA Thesis | 50% |
The assessment of the ‘Practical work’ component is based on the student’s general working attitude and the practical skills demonstrated during the thesis project.
To successfully complete the course, please take note of the following:
The grade for the Thesis needs to be a 6.0 or higher.
If the evaluators of the thesis agree on a grade between 6.0 and 6.5, the Board of Examiners will appoint a third reader who will double check whether the thesis meets the criteria for passing.
Thesis evaluators will mark a (re)submitted thesis within four weeks of its submission (six week in the months of July and August).
Reading list
Not applicable.
Registration
In the course of block 2, students will receive an application form to apply for the thesis seminar in semester 2. In the form, students elaborate on their motivation for this particular thesis seminar.
Do not register for this course in MyStudymap.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Urban Studies board.
Remarks
This information is subject to change.