UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

Thesis

The student’s final assignment for the Undergraduate degree of International Relations UGM is Thesis. A thesis is a written result of research for many purposes, including for the final assignment, academic journal, or as a part of another research. The student may write their thesis into a research report (divided into several chapters) or a Journal article. The thesis format conforms with the guidance of the thesis supervisor.

Since the academic year of 2017/2018, FISIPOL UGM has employed a policy called One Semester Thesis. This policy obliges students to complete their thesis and pass their thesis defense during the same semester or when the thesis course is within their course selection sheet. Notably, The student has to complete their other classes(at least 138 credit course) before putting the thesis course in their course selection sheet, which is the prerequisite to do their thesis.
Here are the regulation and procedure of thesis writing that applies to the Undergraduate degree in International Relations of UGM:

1. Topic Submission

  • Students can propose a thesis topic once they have completed at least 94 credits.
  • The proposed topic needs to be in line with the student’s concentration.
  • The topic needs to be proposed to the instructor of the Independent Study course, a mandatory course taken during the fifth or sixth semesters.
  • Students who wish to change their topic need permission from their Independent Study course instructor. If the proposed change occurs after the Independent Study course is completed, students should consult with the Secretary of the International Relations Undergraduate Program and fill out the proper form (Formulir Perubahan Judul Skripsi).

2. Thesis Supervision

  • Initial supervision of the undergraduate thesis is provided by the instructor of the Independent Study course.
  • Upon completing the thesis seminar, students will be assigned a specific thesis supervisor.
  • The thesis supervisor is assigned by the Secretary of the Undergraduate Program based on (1) the recommendations given by the panel of examiners in the thesis seminar, (2) the correlation of the student’s topic with the lecturer’s expertise, and (3) the lecturer’s supervision load.
  • Thesis supervision follows FISIPOL’s academic administrative requirements, as stated in Panduan Akademik Program Pendidikan Sarjana FISIPOL UGM.
  • Under certain circumstances, such as the case of a thesis supervisor taking a leave of absence, students may request a replacement supervisor. Students who wish to ask for this replacement supervisor should consult with the Secretary of the Undergraduate Program and fill out the proper form (Formulir Penggantian Dosen Pembimbing).

3. Format of the Thesis Proposal

The thesis proposal consists of approximately 1.500 to 2.000 words, including footnotes. It should be around six to eight pages in length, with 1.5 spacing and a 12-point standard font size. The proposal must include the following components:

  • The relevancy of the proposed research (around 250 words)
  • A research question (composed of one or two paragraphs)
  • The conceptual framework, or how the research question will be answered (around 500 words)
  • The main argument or hypothesis of the research
  • The research methods, or how the research will be conducted, what kind of data needs to be collected, and how the data will be further analyzed
  • How the thesis will be organized, the two options being as either a report or a journal article

4. Thesis Proposal Seminar

  • As a replacement for the final exam of the Independent Study course, students present their thesis proposals in a thesis proposal seminar.
  • Each proposal is presented before a panel of three individuals, consisting of one Independent Study instructor and two examiners. The examiners are assigned by the Secretary of the Undergraduate Program, based on their familiarity with the topic.
  • The panel should (1) attentively follow the student’s presentation, (2) offer comments, critiques, questions, and/or suggestions, (3) determine whether the student can proceed with the proposed undergraduate research, (4) recommend one of the three-panel members to become the student’s thesis supervisor, and (5) grade the student’s presentation of their proposal.

 

1. Thesis Writing Format

A thesis manuscript must consist of approximately 10.000 words, including footnotes. It should be around 40 pages, with 1.5-point line spacing and 12 points standard font size. The manuscript should consist of several components:

  • Introduction, which includes the main points of the thesis – 2.000 to 2.500 words or a maximum of  ¼ of the total manuscript.
  • Analyses should be divided proportionally into several chapters (or sections), according to the proposed research design – around 6.500 words.
  • Conclusion, which includes a brief summary of the research results and a reflection on the research process – around 1.000 words.

2. Thesis Defense

  • Once a student’s thesis is approved by her/his supervisor, the student may ask UPIR UGM to organize a thesis defense. There needs to be a space of at least one month between the thesis seminar and the thesis defense.
  • The thesis defense is presented before a panel consisting of the supervisor and two examiners assigned by the Secretary of the Undergraduate Program.
  • Students who wish to hold their thesis defense should register with UPIR UGM’s secretary. If they wish to defend their thesis in a certain month, they need to register before the end of the previous month. The schedule of the defense is announced within the first week of each month, while the defense itself is held in the second or third weeks of the same month.
  • When registering for the thesis defense, students need to present certain documents, most importantly Surat Keterangan Lulus Teori (which states that the respective student has completed 138 credits).
  • In accordance with FISIPOL’s regulation, should a student not be able to complete their thesis in one semester, the thesis may receive a lowered grade.

The last update was on March 3, 2023!