The Final Steps:Guidelines on the Completion of theMaster’s Degree in International Management

Issue date: June 2020

How do I get my diploma?

Step 1:

Master Thesis

Step 2:

Submission of Master’s

Thesis

Step 3:

Online Submission

of ePB

Step 4:

Registration for Final

Exam

Step 5:

Final Exam

Step 6:

Graduation

Certificate

Step 1: Master’s Thesis –

General information: Financial Management –Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship –Marketing – Operations Management and Logistics

Formal Requirements

• Thesis work

– Structure: depending on the topic & field of research (clarify with your supervisor)

– Length:

● empirical thesis 60 pages (+/- 10%)

● theoretical thesis 80 pages (+/- 10%)

→ clarify with your supervisor

– Citation style (clarify with your supervisor)

Formal Requirements

• Submission:

• Online submission of Master thesis in the Campus System

• Please ask your supervisor if a hard copy (print version) of the Master thesis should be submitted

Formal Requirements

• Submission date:

• Submission date of Master’s thesis:

12 weeks prior to the final examination date (!)(a shorter time period might be accepted in exceptional cases, please clarify

with your supervisor in advance)

Formal Requirements

• Submission date:

• Final examination date?

You find the recommended examination dates for International Management here:

https://campus.aau.at/antraege/public/stap?lang=en

Grading Criteria

• Same criteria applied by all departments

• Criteria

– Structure of thesis

– Aim of the research/Research question (Problem discussion)

– Analysis and contribution (Problem solving abilities)

– Appropriate literature

– Language, Expression

– Referencing

– Formalities

New: Opportunity of a phased assessment

• You can request the phased assessment of your Master’s thesis following the successful completion of defined components

• For example:

– 1st completed component: Proposal

– 2nd completed component: At least 1/3 of the final thesis

• For more information, please check the following link:https://www.aau.at/en/study/studying-at-aau/completing/master-and-diploma-theses/

Literature recommendations –Qualitative Research

• MAXQDA: Software for analyzing qualitative data (http://www.maxqda.com/)

• NVIVO: Software for analyzing qualitative data (http://www.qsrinternational.com/what-is-nvivo)

• F4: Software for transcriptions of interviews (http://www.audiotranskription.de/english/f4.htm)

• Berg, B. L. (2004). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences (5th edition). Boston: Pearson.

• Eriksson, P. (2008). Qualitative methods in business research. Los Angeles: Sage.

• Marschan-Piekkari R. and Welch, C. (2004). Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods for International Business. Cheltenham: Elgar.

• Neergaard, H. and Ulhoi (2007). Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods in Entrepreneurship. Cheltenham: Elgar.

• Patton, M. Q. (2005). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (3rd edition). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

• Saukko, P. (2003). Doing research in cultural studies : an introduction to classical and new methodological approaches. London : Sage.

Literature recommendations – Quantitative Research

• SPSS: Statistical Analyzing Program (http://www-01.ibm.com/software/at/analytics/spss/)

• PASW Statistics - SPSS license available at AAU ZID-Service (https://zid.aau.at/?q=content/softwareliste)

• Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (4th edition). Los Angeles: Sage.

• Fleming, M. C. (2000). Principles of applied statistics. London: Thomson learning.

• Punch, K.F. (2005). Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches (2nd edition). London: Sage.

• Zikmund, W.G. & Babin, B.J. (2009). Exploring Marketing Research (10th edition). South-Western College Pub.

Use of sources

• Use scientific sources only!

Journals (Journal of Business Research, Journal of International Marketing, International Business Review, International Marketing Review etc.)

Statistics (Datamonitor)

Databases (ScienceDirect, EBSCO, Emerald, SpringerLink etc.)

Google Scholar

Literature search

• Recommended: Participation in a courseon databases and internetresearch at the AAU library

• Please check for relevant dates and times on theAAU library website

Process - Thesis

1. Decision on the field of the Master’s thesis

Reflect the presented topics & select the field you want to write your thesis in

Participate in the course on databases and internet research at the AAU library

Contact (pre-)supervisor asap and enroll in the respective research seminar

Final decision & commitment including online application for supervision (via online student portal (Campussystem) →menu item “MeineAnträge” / “My applications”)

Process - Thesis

2. Master’s thesis writing process

Stay in contact with your supervisor to show that work is in progress

3. New: If you want a phased assessment of your Master’s thesis:

Online application in the Campus System > My applications > Submit

new application > Applications relating to academic theses > Application requesting the assessment of the 1st completed component of a Master’s thesis

4. Submission of 2nd component (see point 3)

Final submission according to Admission Office:

https://www.aau.at/en/study/studying-at-aau/completing/master-and-diploma-theses/

5. Submission of the Master’s thesis

Further useful information is available at:

https://www.aau.at/en/study/studying-at-aau/completing/master-and-diploma-theses/

Please read it carefully.

Step 2: Online submission of the electronicexamination-book (ePB = elektronischesPrüfungsbuch)

Successful completion of all courses

Approval of the electronic examination-book at theAdmission Office

Approval by the Study Programme Director

! You can access your ePB on the left side of campus.aau.at after you have logged in

Submit your ePB online in the portal

→ You can only register for the Final Exam after your ePB has been approved !

Registration for the Final Exam

1. Registration:

After your Master Thesis has been positively graded and your electronic examination-book (ePB) approved, you can register for the final examination via the student portal. Please note that you have to register at least 3 weeks before the exam date! (furtherdetails see separate slide)

2. Examination date:

There are multiple examination dates every year. You can find all current regularexamination dates online at:

https://campus.aau.at/antraege/public/stap?lang=en(recommended examination dates > International Management)

Example: Submission deadline Master Thesis

(approx. 2 months before exam enrollment)

Exam Enrollment

(3 weeks before exam)Regular exam date

(at least) 01. November 2019 till 01. January 2020 22. January 2020

Step 3: Registration for the Final Examination

Step 3: Registration for the Final Examination

• Applications for the admisson to the oral Master‘s examination are onlypossible ONLINE. In order to apply, please (1) log into your student account, (2) go to „MeineAnträge = My Applications“ and click on „Antrag zur studienabschließenden Prüfung =Application for the Final Examination“. The online portal allows you to change the language,so you sould be able to navigate around and fill in the application

•Your online-application is ONLY (!!) possible if you fulfill all requirementsand conditions for the registration:

– an approved electronic examination-book by the study programmedirector (Studienprogrammleiter)

and a positive assessment of your Master’s Thesis (incl. a written–assessment certificate = Gutachten).

• PLEASE NOTE that your application has to be submitted at least three weeksbefore the intended examination date! This deadline is obligatory asmentioned in the statutes (“Satzung”) of the Alpen-Adria-UniversitätKlagenfurt

Step 3: Registration for the Final Examination

Any open questions? Please have a look here:

https://www.aau.at/en/study/studying-at-aau/completing/final-examinations/

• Your final examination will cover two subjects. You will receive a grade on each of them:

– 1st subject: The subject which the Master Thesis has been assigned to (i.e. International Marketing, Thesis topic: Consumer Behaviour)

– 2nd subject: A subject of your choice according to §15 (Curriculum für das Masterstudium International Management, Version 1. Oktober 2019) that has not been assigned to the Master’s thesis: (3.) International Marketing, (4.) International Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, (5.) International Financial Management, or (6.) International Operations Management and Logistics; (i.e. in the upper case: International Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management OR International Financial Management OR International Operations Management and Logistics)

For each subject, an examiner is needed. The first examiner is usually your thesis supervisor, the second examiner comes from the department your second subject is related to.

Step 4: Final Examination

• The duration of the final examination is approx. 30 minutes. Students will be examinedindividually.

Step 4: Final Examination

Subjects Examination Time

Subject 1 • Short oral presentation of your Master Thesis (i.e. research question, main findings, limitations etc.)

→ no preparation of any digital or print-out materials is required !

Approx. 5 mins*

• Oral examination questions Approx. 10 mins*

Subject 2 • Oral examination questions Approx. 15 mins*

* These are rough estimates for your orientation and subject to change.

Final Examination format in International Management:

Step 4: Final Examination

Mandatory Literature for the Final Examination:

You can find the mandatory readings for each subject at the following links:

• International Financial Accounting or Finance:

https://www.aau.at/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Literature_Final_Exam_Financial_Management.pdf

• International Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management:

https://www.aau.at/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Literature-Final-Examination_Innovation-and-Entrepreneurship.pdf

• International Marketing:

https://www.aau.at/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Literature-Final-Examination_Marketing.pdf

• International Operations Management and Logistics:

https://www.aau.at/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Literature_Final-Exam_International_Operations_Management_and_Logistics.pdf

• If you have signed out of an exam or if you do not show up, this will not have an affecton your grade. If you have registered for an exam date and are not able to make it onthis date, you have to sign out/ inform us in advance. You have to inform your examinersor the Rectorate for Studies at least one day before the exam! If you do not show up for the exam unexcused, the Committee has the right to set a retention period of 8 weeksduring which you will not be allowed to repeat the exam.

Step 4: Final Examination

• If somebody fails at the final exam at the first attempt (in both subjects or in one of thesubjects) they are allowed to repeat it at a regular date.

• Any open questions? Again, please have a look at:

https://www.aau.at/en/study/studying-at-aau/completing/final-examinations/

You can pick up your final documents in person after you have receivedan email from the Admissions and Examinations Office. This email will state that you can now collect your certificate (in person!!!) at the administration office.

Usually this is a few weeks after the final exam, as the certificate has first to be issuedand signed etc.

On the website of the administration office, it is stated that you have to complete thefollowing survey in order to receive your certificate: https://www.statistik.at/uhstat/uhstat2/- please note that you cannot obtain your graduation documents prior to completing the survey.

PLEASE NOTE:

If you are not able to pick up your certificate in person, for example because you are not in Austria any more, please contact the Admissions and Examinations Office, i.e. Ms. RenateKnauder (Renate.Knauder@aau.at).

Step 5: Graduation Diploma

After passing your final examination, you can register for the official Degree Ceremony withyour student account. Log in, go to the tab “Meine Anträge” and select “Anmeldung zur Akademischen Abschlussfeier”.

Further information and dates (and application deadlines) for the next ceremonycan be found here:

https://www.aau.at/en/study/studying-at-aau/completing/graduation-ceremonies/

Please note that you DO NOT have to take part in the Degree Ceremony:

You can either

a)

b)

only pick up your official Master’s Degree documents in the administration office

opt to buy and pick up the graduation document (this is a larger, nicer version of the graduation certificatewithout legal value) in the official Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt roll (contains the certificate) in theadministration office, OR

take part in the official graduation ceremony (you can do so up until one year after your graduation) andreceive your certificate and roll during the formal ceremony.

c)

In both, option b) and c), you will have to pay a fee (about 40 €) for the documentand the roll that holds it.

Step 5: Graduation Diploma

The IM-Team wishes you good luck for the final steps in your Master’s programme