AI281X Degree Project in Architectural Design

and Construction Project Management 30.0 credits

Spring 2020
2020-01-13

Andreas Ekeskär
 Course Information
The degree project should be a part of a deeper study within the specialisation (e.g. Architectural
Design and Construction Project Management) and be on an advanced level in order to fulfil the
requirements for a Master of Science in Engineering degree/Master of Science degree.

The degree project should focus on an advanced issue, phenomena or problem within the
specialisation that is of relevance theoretically and practically and the work should be both analytical
and applied and based on scientific theory and method.

The extent of the degree project should correspond to 30.0 credits on advanced level. The degree
project should be carried out individually or in a team of no more than two students. If carried out
in a team (which is recommended), it should be possible to distinguish the contribution of each
student in order to make sufficient assessment possible.

Learning outcomes
After completed degree project, the student should be able to:
1. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the scientific foundation and best practices
for the chosen subject, as well as an advanced understanding in current research and
development within the area, and in-depth knowledge of research methodology.
2. demonstrate the ability to search, develop and integrate knowledge and to identify if there
is a need for additional knowledge, all with a holistic, critical and systematic work approach.
3. demonstrate the ability to identify, analyze, assess and handle complex phenomena, issues
and situations also with limited information.
4. demonstrate the ability to plan and with adequate methods carry out qualified assignments
within given time frames and to evaluate this work.
5. demonstrate the ability to develop and evaluate products, processes, systems, methods or
technical solutions with respect to human´s circumstances and needs as well as society´s
goals in term of economically, socially and ecologically sustainable development.
6. demonstrate the ability, both orally and in writing, in dialogue with different groups, to
clearly account for and discuss the conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which
these are based
7. demonstrate the ability to make assessments considering relevant scientific, social and
ethical aspects
8. show such skills that is required to participate in research and development or to work
independently in other qualified activities

Eligibility
Degree of Master of Science in Engineering (civilingenjör) (300 credits):
At least 240 credits should be completed before the degree project may be started. It is the examiner
that decides and controls that the student has the specialization specific knowledge that is required
and that the student has completed the main part of the studies before the degree project is started.

Degree of Master of Science (120 credits):

A main part of the studies, at least 60 credits of which 30 credits within the specialisation should be
completed before the degree project may be started for second-cycle studies within the main field
of study.

2
A course in scientific methodology (AI2150 or equivalent) shall be completely reported with a passing
grade.

Application
Use the application form for Degree Project application.

The form should be filled out by the student (the upper half) and then handed in to course
responsible Andreas Ekeskär for further administration and registration. This should be done as soon
as possible, i.e. when all the requirements are fulfilled and when the grades from the final courses
are reported.

The application form can be found https://www.kth.se/en/fob/studentexpedition/ansokan-om-att-

paborja-examensarbete-1.612518 or be given to you by the student office. Note that it cannot be
handed in in digital form, but must be handed in on paper.

Course activities – teaching and learning

The teaching and learning activities are literature studies, written and oral work, seminars and
tutoring. This includes problem elaboration, literature studies, research method, analysis,
discussion, conclusion, presentation and opposition. The seminars aim at providing support and
feedback based on team discussions and reflections while the tutoring aim to support the students
work based on individual needs.

If a student is not able to attend a seminar, the student should contact their supervisor as soon as
possible.

Mandatory seminars
Seminar 1: Thursday, 30 January, 09:15-12:00 in room Sahara, Teknikringen 10 B, floor 2.
Seminar 2: Tuesday, 10 March, 9:15-12:00 in room Sahara, Teknikringen 10 B, floor 2.
Seminar 3 (final seminar): 27 May 9:15-16:00 or 28 May 9:15-16:00 or 29 May 9:15-16:00 (Note: For
the final seminar each student/team only needs to attend half a day), in room Ocean, Teknikringen
10 B, floor 2.

Seminar 1: “Problem”

This seminar is closely connected to the course in research methods course (AI2150) and the aim is
to further elaborate on the problem and method in order to set the overall framework for the master
thesis. Each student/team should prepare a written “Degree Project Proposal” of approximately two
A4-pages including background, issue/problem, suggested research approach and method and
preliminary time plan and hand it in (by e-mail to both Andreas and your supervisor) at least three
workdays before you have seminar 1. (When working in teams, write a joint “Degree Project
Proposal”.)

Bring your time plan with you to the seminar (on a file on your computer or on paper).

Note! Make sure to inform yourself about GDPR from start.

3
Seminar 2: “Theory and first step analysis”

Each student/team should prepare a written “Preliminary Theory Chapter” of approximately four
A4-pages including the theoretical framework within the chosen issue/problem area. The
“Preliminary Theory Chapter” should be handed in (by e-mail, to Andreas and your supervisor) at
least three workdays before you have seminar 2. (When working in teams, write a joint “Preliminary
Theory Chapter”.)

Prepare a reference list of your six most important scientific references and bring it with you to the
seminar. Be prepared to shortly describe at least two of the researchers that have written the papers
that you refer to and why they are important to your study.

Seminar 3: “Presentation and Opposition”

Each student/team should hand in (by e-mail, to Andreas and your supervisor, and to some other
students, see Canvas) the “Degree Project manuscript” at least one week before you have seminar
3 and be prepared to make an oral presentation of the work (including a ppt-presentation) and also
oppose on another student’s work. Note! There will be maximum 15 minutes presentation and
maximum 15 minutes opposition for each master thesis.

Optional seminar
There is an optional, non-mandatory seminar booked for 29 April 9:15-12:00 in room Sahara,
Teknikringen 10b, floor 2. This seminar is taking place one month prior to the final seminar, and is
intended to collect any questions or concerns that might have risen during the course. Focus of the
seminar could also be on final analysis and writing of the report. The seminar will only take place if
enough students/teams request it. Inquiry will be posted on Canvas in advance.

Individual tutoring
Each student/team will be assigned one supervisor and one examiner based on the topic. These are
two different persons. Students cannot choose supervisor nor examiner. Contact will mainly be with
the supervisor during the course.

There will be additional individual tutoring sessions with the assigned supervisor based on the
student’s individual needs. The student contacts the supervisor to make an appointment. Make sure
to come prepared. The number of tutoring sessions depends on the student’s needs, however
typically there will be around 3-4 sessions during the course of the project. Do not expect the
supervisor to read the entire master thesis until it has been sent in for seminar 3.

Individual tutoring can only be expected during the course, i.e. period 3 and 4 of the spring semester
2020.

Final hand-in
After seminar 3, all students have time to make final corrections and adjustments before the final
master thesis report is handed in (deadline June 5th at 12.00). The final report must be uploaded on
Canvas to ensure plagiarism test.

4
Note! Make sure to read instructions on how to make references to texts, figures and photos in a
correct way. You may NOT use other´s figures or photos without written permission from the one
who owns the copyright. See https://www.kth.se/en/biblioteket/skriva-referera/skriva-referenser-
1.856564

Assessment (AI281X)
Active presence is recommended at all four seminars. The assessment is based on the learning
outcomes. For further reading on the learning outcomes and also guidelines and criteria for pass and
fail:

https://intra.kth.se/polopoly_fs/1.661142!/riktlinje_examensarbetskurser_paborjat_efter_2015_0
7_01.pdf

https://intra.kth.se/polopoly_fs/1.661631!/Comprehensive%20guidelines%20for%20degree%20pr
oject%20courses%2C%20common%20goals%20and%20assessment%20criteria%20%28applies%20
from%2001.07.2015%29.pdf

AI281X Degree Project, 30.0, grade scale: P, F

The degree project should normally be carried out under the program´s last semester. The course
starts in Period 3 (January 15th 2020) and ends in period 4 (June 1st 2020). To pass the degree project,
the achievement must not be below any of the expected learning outcomes of the course.

Requirements for final grade

Passed degree project report that has been presented at a final seminar. Opposed on another
student’s thesis report.

Publication
The Master Thesis Report will be published on DIVA (Official KTH Internet portal for KTH publication).
It is requested that the Dep. of Real Estate and Construction Management form for Master Thesis
will be used.

Note! Make sure to follow research ethical principles. You find them here:
https://www.vr.se/english/mandates/ethics/ethics-in-research.html

Course Staff
Examiners
• Tina Karrbom Gustavsson, professor (tina.karrbom@abe.kth.se)
• Malena Havenvid, associate professor (havenvid@kth.se)
• Anna Kadefors, professor (anna.kadefors@abe.kth.se)

Examples of possible supervisors: Anna Kadefors, Andreas Ekeskär, Lilly Rosander, Susanna Hedborg
Bengtsson, Per Erik Eriksson, Melissa Candel, Malena Havenvid, Tina Karrbom Gustavsson

Administrative staff
Registration of courses and grades, the student office studentexp.fob@abe.kth.se
5
 Auxiliary information
Course Web
You find information about the course on the web-based notice board Canvas.

Academic cheating and plagiarism

KTH is punishing plagiarism and other kind of academic cheating. Plagiarism is, using of someone
else’s idea or text without referring to that person. This is a serious fault and will result in that the
report will fail. To avoid this, remember to indicate the origin of the text with the names of the
person or the name of the publication and the author in the following cases:
• When you using or referring to someone else’s word, idea from a journal, book, magazine,
website, electronic document or other medium.
• When you are using information received through an interview with a person.
• When you are using ideas that others have given you through conversation or e-mail.
• When you have copied phrases somewhere from.
• When you do transcript from diagram, illustrations, tables, pictures or similar from a report
or website.

Other facts
We recommend you to visit KTH´s student web – http://www.kth.se/student – to read about the
general policy that is applied at KTH. There you can find important information about ”The rights
and the obligations of the students”, ”functional disability”, ”examination rules”, etc.