Master’s thesis is an original and tutored work which is organised as a 12-ECTS course regulated by the Undergraduate dissertation et Masters Thesis Regulations of the University of Salamanca and by the Masters Thesis in the Translation and Interpretation Programme rules approved by the Master’s Academic Commission or by the Masters Thesis in Specialised Translation and Intercultural Mediation (MATEM) rules, approved by the mixed study Commission. The calendar for the Master’s Thesis in the University Masters in Translation and Intercultural Mediation programme has the dates for submission, defence and awarding for the Masters Thesis.
Information and formative meetings
Since the academic session 2019-2020,we have reinforced the information and formation about the elaboration of the Masters Thesis. During the first semester, basic information is given at the welcome meeting (in-person) and detailed information is given in a virtual information meeting (recorded and available on Studium). The guidelines for Masters Thesis and the Masters Thesis calendar are published before the information meeting.
A formative session also takes place on November, and a meeting called ‘The elaboration of dissertations and Master’s Thesis’ takes place during the first semester. With these academic activities focused on the the process of writing and supervising of Master’s Thesis’, the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this very important part of the programme, worth 12 credits, are strengthened.
Master’s Thesis Mini Presentations
Students do mini presentations about their Master’s Thesis’ during the second semester. Students are given a maximum of 5 minutes and can use a maximum of 5 PowerPoint slides; after each presentation, there will be 5 minutes for comments from teaching staff. Our experience of this activity is very good. USAL counts on the support of evaluators from the University of Heidelberg and other universities.
Assignment of topics
From the list of general topics offered for this course, students will fill in the form attached below with their interests and possible specific proposals. In October/ November time, students will be assigned their topics.
Supervisors
After the assignment of a supervisor for the Master’s Thesis, there will be a period for students to specify a research/translation topic and schedule a number of meetings with their supervisor. The first compulsory meeting will be in November.
Elaboration
About a month before the defence of the Thesis, there is a submission date when students must hand in a final draft to their tutor. Students will receive their draft back from their tutor with comments and suggestions around 2 weeks later. Subsequently, students should work on their Master’s Thesis independently and obtain the required Seal of Approval to submit their work.
Thesis Defence
Students should submit their Master’s Thesis (with their tutors Seal of Approval) to the virtual USAL Headquarters (along with a submission application) and also on the Master’s Thesis coordination page on Studium. Students can defend their Thesis at any of the following meetings:
First Examination
- Submission of Thesis: beginning of July.*
- Oral Defence: mid July.*
Second Examination
- Submission of Thesis: beginning of september.*
- Oral Defence: mid september.*
Early Examination
- Submission of Thesis: before March
- Oral Defence: usually mid March
Oral Defences
Students have 10-12 minutes for their presentation. At the end of the presentations, the three members of the Master’s Thesis Evaluation Commission have a similar period of time to make comments and pose questions where appropriate. Subsequently, the student has the opportunity to respond. The defences are recorded as evidence that the final evaluation has taken place.
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*Please, note that even if the information in this website is available in English, courses are taught in Spanish.
**Translated by Collin Reyman, Lara Pastor Minuesa, Marta Urzainqui Dueñas and Vidushi Jhamb (Master’s in Translation and Intercultural Mediation, 2018-2019 students).
***Translation updated by Maria Ward (Erasmus Assistant, 2021), Lisa Martínez, Patricia Curto and María Castaños (2023).
