Guide in PDF format

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Master's Degree Dissertation

Code: 44795
Credits: 12

2026/2027

Degree programme	Type	Course
Paleobiology and Fossil Record	OB	1

Contact lecturer

Name :: Judit Marigo Cortes
Email :: judit.marigo@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

- Having signed up for the rest of the master's modules.

- Completion of the Final Master's Thesis will necessarily be carried out during the second semester. Exceptionally, students may be authorized to carry out and defend their Final Master's Thesis during the first semester, if the rest of the modules have been satisfactorily completed during the previous year, and for some justified circumstance the alumni have not been was able to complete the Final Master's Project during the second semester of the previous year.

- Make-up TFM defenses will take place in July.

Objectives

- Delimitation of the problem. Contextualization of a scientific objective to be solved based on previous scientific debates.

- Setting up a working hypothesis. Determination of suitable methods or likely to be used to demonstrate or refute the validity of the initial working hypothesis.

- Obtaining primary data. Statistical or discriminant treatment of numerical data. Descriptive work and development of qualitative data. Discussion of the data obtained and contextualization within a previously defined scientific debate.

- Obtaining conclusions. Elaboration of a scientific report in article format. Oral presentation of the most relevant results derived from the research tasks carried out.

Learning outcomes

CA14 (Produce a written and illustrated document related to palaeontology and observing specific format parameters.) Produce a written and illustrated document related to palaeontology and observing specific format parameters.
CA15 (Acquire the appropriate verbal communication and body expression techniques to make an efficient public presentation on the study of fossils.) Acquire the appropriate verbal communication and body expression techniques to make an efficient public presentation on the study of fossils.
KA14 (Identify the importance of fossils as tangible evidence of the evolution of life on Earth.) Identify the importance of fossils as tangible evidence of the evolution of life on Earth.
KA15 (Recognise the cross-cutting nature of palaeontology as an instrument for resolving problems and debates of a biological and/or geological nature.) Recognise the cross-cutting nature of palaeontology as an instrument for resolving problems and debates of a biological and/or geological nature.
KA16 (Recognise modern techniques for fossil analysis and consequent processing of the data obtained.) Recognise modern techniques for fossil analysis and consequent processing of the data obtained.
SA15 (Define a problem based on an active debate in specialist palaeontological literature and actively search for fossil material that might offer new evidence to help solve the issue.) Define a problem based on an active debate in specialist palaeontological literature and actively search for fossil material that might offer new evidence to help solve the issue.
SA16 (Select the most appropriate analyses or experiments to solve a problem posed in palaeontology.) Select the most appropriate analyses or experiments to solve a problem posed in palaeontology.
SA17 (Summarise the most important aspects of one's own research and convey them to an audience that is specialised in the field of palaeontology.) Summarise the most important aspects of one's own research and convey them to an audience that is specialised in the field of palaeontology.

- Will depend upon Final Master's thesis project

Learning activities and methodology

Title	Hours	ECTS
Final Master's degree Thesis	120	4.8
Final Master's degree Thesis	5	0.2
Final Master's degree Thesis	25	1

- Will depend upon Final Master's thesis project

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title	Weight	Hours	ECTS	Learning outcomes
Autonomous hours	16,66%	25	1	CA14, CA15, KA14, KA15, KA16, SA15, SA16, SA17
Directed hours	3%	5	0.2	CA14, CA15, KA14, KA15, KA16, SA15, SA16, SA17
Supervised hours	80,33%	120	4.8	CA14, CA15, KA14, KA15, KA16, SA15, SA16, SA17

Global evaluation of the work 40%:

• Clarity in the formulation of objectives and problems

• Internal coherence of the work

• The work shows the use of critical thinking

• Importance: utility, originality and/or innovation

Use of theories 20%:

• Explanation of the theories underlying the work

• Synthesis and integration of theories and the theme

• Contribution to theoretical progress

• Clear explanation of the working hypothesis

Research methodology 10%:

• Adequacy of the methodology to the theme

• Appropriate research instruments

• Description of the methods used

• Interpretation of data and results

• Consistency and adequacy of the conclusions

Formal aspects 10%:

• Order and transparency in the work structure

• Regulations (spelling, syntactic, etc.) and formal correctness

• Updated and adequate bibliographical references

Defense of the TFM 20%:

• Oral explanation: communicative and informative ability

• Adequacy in the use of new technologies

• Quality of arguments and debate

• Ability to defend one's own ideas

• Capacity for synthesis and adaptation to the assigned time.

The presentation of the written TFM in English (for students from non-English speaking countries) will add 0.1 points to the final grade. Similarly, the defense in English (for students from non-English speaking countries) will add 0.1 points to the final grade.

In the evaluation of the TFM, the panel will be made up of three instructors of the Master's degree, representing each of the institutions involved in teaching.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) must be declared in your TFM in a transparent way. You must give details of the tools used as well as the exact function that it played in your research work (generation of ideas, translation, correction or organisation).

Irregularities by students, copying and plagiarism:

Without prejudice to other disciplinary measures that may be established for the purpose, and in accordance with current academic regulations, assessment activities in which students have committed any type of irregularity that may affect their grade will be graded with a zero (0).

The irregularities contemplated in this procedure include, among others,

The total or partial copy in an exam, practical exercise, report, or any other type of assessment activity.

Allow copying by others.
Presenting group work that has not been done entirely by group members, as well as using AI applications to do it.
Have access to any kind of communication device (mobile phones, Smartwatches, etc.) during the development of an evaluation test.

Bibliography

- Will depend upon final master's project (TFM)

Software