Standard for master's thesis

Scope of the master’s thesis:

The scope of the master's thesis is 35 000 words +/- 10 percent.

Included in the word count:

  • Front page
  • Abstract
  • Table of contents
  • Footnotes

Optional to include in the thesis, but will be included in the word count:

  • Acknowledgements
  • Preface
  • List of figures, maps etc. after the table of contents
  • Abbreviations after the table of contents

In addition to the word count:

  • Reference list
  • Appendices

Formatting

Line spacing?is usually one and a half (1,5).

Text size:?Standard text sizes are usually 11 for modern fonts, such as Calibri, or 12 for traditional fonts, such as Times New Roman.

Notes: May be footnotes or endnotes in each chapter or at the end of the main text.

??More about formal requirements and formatting

References:

Provide references at the end of the thesis, after notes. Use double line spacing. The bibliography should only include texts that are referred to in the thesis.

??More about reference styles

Table of contents:

The table of contents should clearly mark what are chapters, sub-chapters, or parts. Avoid marking sub-chapters with numbers (ex. 2.1, 2.3.3 o.s.v.) in the final version.

See Microsofts help pages on how to create and format table of contents:

??Create table of contents

??Formatting table of contents

Summary:

In addition to submitting the master's thesis you are to submit a separate summary of the thesis. The summary must be identical to the abstract in the thesis. The summary (approximately 300 words) must be pasted into Inspera as part of your exam.

Title page:

The title page should include the candidate’s name, title and subtitle, semester and year of submission, and institutional affiliation: Department of Social Anthropology, University of Oslo.?You should not include your candidate number.

??Template for title pages for master’s thesis

This?standard above?was adopted by the SAI Program council under item 05/05 of February 1st 2005, revised?October 2nd?2019, and revised October 5th 2023.

Published Oct. 12, 2023 9:56 PM - Last modified Nov. 7, 2025 8:54 PM