Doing a Master’s thesis with an external partner
Doing your Master’s thesis/practical project work in collaboration with a company or organisation gives you the opportunity to put your academic knowledge into practice. You will gain insight into how the organisation works, while also developing skills that are valuable for your future career. Collaborating with an external partner can also help you build professional networks that may be useful when entering the job market.
Degree project courses may differ between programmes regarding timelines, supervision and approval procedures. Always consult your programme’s course information for the specific requirements that apply to you.
Define the project and research question
Together with the company or organisation, you should identify a relevant problem or area to investigate. Based on this, you develop a research question or set of research questions.
The proposed topic normally needs to be approved by the course leadership, examiner, supervisor or equivalent, depending on your programme, to ensure that the project meets the academic requirements in terms of scope, depth and relevance.
Academic requirements
Your Master’s thesis is an independent academic project and must meet the formal requirements of your programme. This means that you need to follow the guidelines for academic writing and methodology within your subject area.
In some cases, the organisation may request a more practice-oriented summary of your results. This can be provided as a complement but does not replace the academic thesis.
Roles and responsibilities
During your degree project, different people have different roles.
You are responsible for planning, carrying out and writing your project in accordance with academic requirements.
Your academic supervisor and/or the course leadership (usually the course director or examiner) approve the topic and help ensure that the work meets the requirements for a degree project and can be examined.
The external organisation may also provide a contact person or co-supervisor who supports you with access to relevant information and provides input from the organisation’s perspective.
It is a good idea to clarify expectations early on, for example regarding scope, timelines and communication.
Public access, confidentiality and agreements
KI is a public authority and falls under the principle of public access to official documents. This means that the thesis will become a public record after the examination. The thesis that is assessed and graded should therefore not contain sensitive or confidential information. If a company wishes to keep large parts or the entire thesis confidential, the project is likely not suitable as a degree project.
When conducting your thesis in collaboration with a company or organisation, you may be required to enter into confidentiality agreements (sometimes also referred to as non-disclosure agreements, NDAs). In addition to conditions regarding information that you are not allowed to disclose, such agreements may also regulate other rights, for example relating to results, data or written material. In the absence of other agreements, you as a student hold the copyright to the written report.
You are responsible for reviewing any agreement proposed by the collaborating organisation and considering whether the terms may affect your ability to complete your degree project. If needed, you may consult your supervisor or examiner for guidance. The examiner should also engage in a dialogue with you to ensure that the material used for assessment meets the requirements for a fair evaluation and grading.
It is important that any agreements and other terms are clarified before the work begins. The external party is responsible for initiating such agreements.
Keep in mind that:
- information that cannot be shared with KI cannot be used as a basis for supervision or examination
- the thesis must contain sufficient information to allow for assessment and grading
If an agreement is needed, it is made between you and the external organisation. Karolinska Institutet is not a party to such agreements and does not review or approve them. If you are unsure about rights to results, data or written material, you should clarify this before the project begins.
Contact at the company or organisation
During the project, you are expected to maintain ongoing contact with the organisation. A designated contact person or co-supervisor should be available to support your work and provide relevant input throughout the project.
To facilitate the collaboration, it is recommended to agree early on how you will work together, for example by scheduling regular meetings and clarifying expectations regarding communication, feedback and availability.
FAQ
Yes, many students carry out their degree project in collaboration with an external partner. However, the project must be approved according to your programme’s procedures and meet the academic requirements of your programme.
In most cases, yes. However, the project must be feasible in terms of supervision, data access, and academic requirements. Your programme may have additional guidelines.
The topic is usually developed together with the external partner, but approval is required from the course leadership, examiner, supervisor or equivalent, depending on your programme. The project must be suitable for academic examination.
You may often plan and prepare for the project before the official course start date, for example by identifying a topic and organisation. However, practical project work carried out before the course begins is normally separate from the course itself. Until the official start date, the course has not yet begun and you may, for example, not be covered by student insurance. Contact the course leadership if you have questions.
You should have a designated contact person or co-supervisor who can:
- provide relevant information and context
- give feedback during the project
- support practical aspects of the collaboration
- be available for regular contact during the project
The academic requirements of your programme always take precedence. It is important to clarify expectations early to avoid misunderstandings.
Degree projects are part of your education and are normally unpaid. Some organisations may offer compensation or employment, but this must not affect the academic independence of your project. You are responsible for understanding any implications regarding taxation, scholarships, residence permits or other regulations.
Usually not. Your thesis is part of a public examination process and will become a public document once submitted.
If the project involves sensitive or confidential information, you should discuss this early with your supervisor or course leadership to determine whether the project is suitable as a degree project and how any such issues can be managed.
The thesis must be assessed and graded by KI. If certain information cannot be shared with the university, it cannot be used as a basis for supervision or examination.
Sometimes. External organisations may require an NDA or similar agreement, especially if sensitive information is involved.
Before signing, make sure that the agreement does not prevent you from:
- sharing necessary information with your supervisor or examiner
- completing and submitting your thesis for examination
Any such agreement is between you and the organisation. KI is not a party to such agreements.
If important information cannot be included or shared with KI, the project may not be possible to examine. In such cases, you may need to revise the project or choose a different topic. If you are unsure, discuss this with your course leadership.
Degree project courses differ between programmes. Always consult your course webpage or contact the course director, examiner or programme administration.