Course description

Title of the Teaching Unit

Thesis

Code of the Teaching Unit

22XP080

Academic year

2025 - 2026

Cycle

Number of credits

Number of hours

190

Quarter

1-2

Weighting

Site

Anjou

Teaching language

English

Teacher in charge

GERARD Simon

Objectives and contribution to the program

At ICHEC, the Master's thesis is defined as a personal and original research project, closely connected to real-world practice, grounded in a strong conceptual framework and supported by a rigorous methodology. It differs significantly from a professionally oriented Bachelor's thesis or an internship report, due to the higher levels of reflexivity, analytical depth, and critical thinking required.
(See: Guidelines on source referencing in academic work and theses, 2024–2025 edition)

The thesis enables students to mobilize the full range of their academic learning and to engage in a structured, in-depth personal reflection. It is typically linked to a professional internship conducted within a company, non-profit organization, public institution, or similar setting. The thesis addresses a research question that emerges from the internship experience.

This course unit is designed to support students in the design, execution, and valorization of their Master's thesis, in alignment with their professional aspirations, the challenges of the socio-economic environment, and the standards of academic research.

Prerequisites and corequisites

This unit is related to the Internship-Thesis Track (22XP072).

Content

The thesis is developed progressively under the supervision of an academic advisor. The main stages of the thesis process include:

1) Formulating a research problem
2) Developing a research question
3) Constructing the theoretical framework and critically reviewing the academic literature and/or high-quality documentary sources
4) Choosing the research design and methods for data collection and analysis
5) Analyzing and interpreting the results
6) Highlighting the thesis contributions and formulating concrete recommendations for professional stakeholders

Teaching methods

Students are expected to define their topic by setting realistic objectives, taking into account the feasibility of the project and factors such as access to the research field, availability of data, and adherence to deadlines.

The thesis involves applying the various stages of the scientific research process as outlined above (see Course Content).

In addition to independent work, students are required to maintain regular communication with their supervisor, submit deliverables progressively and within reasonable timeframes, and actively seek feedback and guidance throughout the process.

Assessment method

The thesis is evaluated by a defense jury composed of a chairperson, the academic supervisor, the internship mentor, and an external reviewer (if the thesis is not confidential) or an internal reviewer (ICHEC faculty member if the thesis is confidential).