The third semester of study (30 ECTS) is devoted exclusively to the preparation of the Master’s Thesis. The thesis is assigned following the successful completion of all compulsory courses in the first and second semesters.
The Master’s Thesis must be an individual, original piece of work of a research-oriented nature. Through its preparation, students explore a specific research question in depth, become familiar with scientific research methodologies and develop their critical thinking skills.
The thesis may be written in Greek or English, as determined at the time of assignment.
1. Thesis Assignment Procedure & Appointment of the Examination Committee
Submission of Application: The process begins with the submission of an application by the student, specifying the proposed thesis title and supervisor, accompanied by an abstract of the research proposal.
Appointment of the Examination Committee: The Assembly of the School of Medicine appoints the Supervisor and establishes the Three-Member Examination Committee, of which the Supervisor is also a member.
Teaching Staff & Supervisors: Supervisors and examination committee members are primarily appointed from among the teaching staff of the Master’s Programme. By decision of the Assembly, supervision may also be undertaken by members of the Teaching and Research Staff (DEP), Special Educational Staff (EEP), Laboratory Teaching Staff (EDIP) and Special Technical Laboratory Staff (ETEP) of the NKUA School of Medicine who do not teach on the Programme.
Modification of the Thesis Title: The thesis title may be finalised or subsequently amended following an application by the student to the Coordinating Committee, subject to the Supervisor’s approval and the provision of a brief justification.
2. Supervision & Academic Support
The Master’s Thesis is prepared under the continuous guidance of the Supervisor. To ensure satisfactory progress and maintain high academic standards, the Programme provides specialised support:
Master’s Thesis Coordinator: A specialist academic who provides guidance and practical support throughout the thesis preparation process.
Scientific Writing Seminars: Dedicated educational sessions delivered by the Programme’s teaching staff, focusing on research methodology and academic writing.
Academic Adviser: Provides advice and guidance to students from the initial stage of selecting their research topic.
Guidelines & Supporting Documents: Students receive a comprehensive package of supporting materials, academic writing guidelines and specialised planning templates (such as Gantt charts) to facilitate effective research planning and the monitoring of project timelines.
3. Research Ethics & Academic Integrity
Research Ethics Approval: Where research involves human participants, biological material of human origin or personal data, prior approval must be obtained from the Research Ethics Committee (REC) of NKUA. The relevant application must be signed by the Supervisor.
Prevention of Plagiarism: Every statement, opinion or finding originating from another researcher must be accompanied by an appropriate bibliographic reference. Reproducing text, whether verbatim or in translation, without acknowledging its source constitutes serious academic misconduct (plagiarism) and may result in the student’s dismissal from the Programme.
4. Thesis Writing Requirements
Length: 12,000–15,000 words, excluding references, appendices and the glossary.
Abstract: The thesis must include an abstract of approximately 300 words in both Greek and English.
Formatting: The thesis must be prepared in strict accordance with the Programme’s official Thesis Writing Guidelines.
5. Assessment, Publication & Institutional Repository
Thesis Defence & Grading: Upon completion, the thesis is defended before the Three-Member Examination Committee. It is assessed on a scale of 0–10, with a minimum passing grade of 5 out of 10.
Submission to the PERGAMOS Repository: All approved Master’s Theses must be deposited in the PERGAMOS Digital Repository of NKUA.
Protection of Original Research Findings: Where a thesis contains original, unpublished research findings, it is possible to make only the abstract publicly available initially and defer public access to the full text. This requires a request from the Supervisor, countersigned by the student.
Scientific Publications: The Programme actively encourages students to present the findings of their Master’s Theses at national and international scientific conferences and to publish their research in reputable peer-reviewed scientific journals.
