Degree Project in Nutrition Science, 30 credits

At least grade pass for the courses "Diet and health - scientific basis, recommendations and sustainability" (3NT000) and "Diet, physical activity and fitness - assessment and evaluation" (3NT002) in semester 1 within the Master's Programme in Nutrition Science.

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• formulate a clear and limited aim with a research project which is motivated by and grounded in scientific literature.
• plan, carry out and document a research project with given time frames and given resources.
• choose and motivate study design and methodology used to answer the research question.
• analyse and interpret data obtained and critically discuss results and conclusions as well as their generalizability.
• search, read, review, compile and critically interpret relevant scientific literature in relation to all parts of the project.
• put together and compose a scientific report.
• discuss the societal and ethical aspects of the research project.
• orally present, explain and discuss research results in dialogue with others.
• critically and objectively assess other people's scientific work and  be able to provide relevant feedback. 

The course consists of a project work that may consist of literature studies or empirical studies. An study plan is written by the supervisor together with the student. The project work can be performed at other universities or government agencies than Karolinska Institutet or at a company. The work can be done together with another student. The oral presentation and assessment of the fulfilment of the course's learning outcomes is done individually.

The work is done under supervision, but with a certain degree of independence, participation in seminars, meetings and other similar activities taking place where the work is carried out. Studies of scientific literature according to the recommendation of the supervisor and the student's own assessment. Compulsory seminars in research ethics are included that are common for all students on the course.

In order to begin the work, the student, in collaboration with the supervisor, must write and submit a project plan for the project (a pm) that must be approved before the project can be started. The course also includes a mandatory mid-term follow-up.

The examination consists of a written projekt plan, a written report and oral presentation and discussion of the report as well as oral evaluation and feedback of another student's report. The examiner sets the grade after consultation with the supervisor and the grading teacher, based on the student's work performance and final presentation.

Compulsory participation
In order to begin the work, the student, in collaboration with the supervisor, must write and submit a projekt plan for the project (a pm) that must be approved before the project can be started. Seminars in research ethics, mid-term follow-up and presentations of the degree projects are compulsory. The examiner assesses if and how absence can be compensated. Before the student has participated in or completed all compulsory parts or compensated absence in accordance with the examiner's instructions, the grade for the course wll not be determined.

If submission of the report occurs later than the set deadline the student loses the opportunity to obtain the grade of pass with distinction for the course. 

If, at or after the mid-term follow-up, it becomes evident that the student has deviated significantly from his/her work commitments, agreed with the supervisor, and which seriously complicates the project and the supervision, the examiner may decide to terminate the course earlier for the student.

Limited number of examinations or practical training sessions
Students who have not passed the course after their first presentation (written or oral) are entitled to rework their report and/or presentation and participate in five more presentations. If the student has not passed the course after four presentations, he/she is recommended to retake the course the next time it is held, with a new project. In connection with that course the student will be granted two more opportunities to present. If the student has failed six presentations, no additional presentation opportunity  or possibility to retake the course will be offered.

In case of the existence of special reasons, or need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to depart from the syllabus's regulations on examination form, number of examination opportunities, possibility of completion or exemption from compulsory educational elements, etc. Content and learning objectives as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities must not be altered, removed or lowered.

The course will be offered for the last time in the spring term of 2022 and will thereafter be cancelled. Examination according to this syllabus will be offered for the last time June 2, 2024, for students who have not completed the course with passing grade.

The course language is English.

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Committee for Higher Education.