Assignment Procedure and Information
• By the end of the second semester, postgraduate students must select the topic of their Master’s Thesis and their Supervising Professor from a published list of Thesis Topics. The topic of the Master’s Thesis must fall within the fields of study of the taught courses. The selection is made by submitting the Thesis Assignment Form to the Secretariat, signed by the Supervising Professor. As supervisors, faculty members who teach courses in the postgraduate program are appointed. The supervisor is responsible for monitoring and controlling the progress of the thesis, ensuring that the objectives and research specifications are met. The Supervising Professor is appointed by the Coordinating Committee.
• For the thesis examination, a Three-Member Examination Committee (T.E.E.) is appointed by the Coordinating Committee. The members of the T.E.E. must have the same or a related scientific specialization to the subject area of the postgraduate program. The T.E.E. consists of the supervising professor and two other members of the postgraduate program’s teaching staff.
• The Master’s Thesis may be written in a foreign language, following agreement with the Supervising Professor and approval by the Department Assembly.
• Changing the topic of the Master’s Thesis is allowed within four months from its approval, following a justified proposal by the supervising professor and a decision by the Department Assembly. Changing the thesis topic does not, under any circumstances, justify an extension of the set deadlines. In exceptional cases, if there is an objective impediment or a serious reason, the supervising professor or a member of the T.E.E. may be replaced by decision of the relevant Department Assembly.
• The specifications for the Master’s Thesis are determined based on the thesis writing guide of the postgraduate program. Upon completion of the thesis writing, and its approval and acceptance by the T.E.E., a final evaluation is scheduled within a specific time frame. This evaluation includes an oral presentation of the topic before the Three-Member Examination Committee.
• Upon submission of the Master’s Thesis, the student is responsible for the originality of the work and is held accountable in cases of plagiarism, etc.
Plagiarism is defined as the partial or full copying or use of another’s work, published or unpublished, without the necessary exact and clear reference to the specific source, as well as the presentation of any documentation material, even from the candidate’s own previous studies, without relevant exact and clear reference. Plagiarism constitutes a serious academic offense. In confirmed cases of plagiarism, following a justified proposal by the supervising professor, the Assembly may decide to permanently expel the candidate from the postgraduate program.
The selection of the Master’s Thesis is made by submitting the Thesis Assignment Form to the Secretariat, signed by the Supervising Professor.
The preparation of the Master’s Thesis is mandatory for postgraduate students and is evaluated by the Three-Member Examination Committee as (a) rejectable, (b) acceptable, or (c) acceptable with distinction as “good,” “very good,” or “excellent.” The T.E.E. consists of the supervising professor and two other members of the postgraduate program’s teaching staff, appointed by the Coordinating Committee. It may also include faculty members or researchers from other higher education institutions or research institutes, either domestic or foreign, according to the Coordinating Committee’s decision.
Types of Master’s Theses
The types of Master’s Theses can be: (a) a structured literature review on a current topic with corresponding discussion, leading to the formulation of research hypotheses for future research, or (b) empirical research, which requires a brief literature review and verifies (or not) the theory, or (c) the development of a new model, or possibly (d) a limited combination of the above. In all cases, the Master’s Thesis must demonstrate scientific rigor and be based on valid Greek and international bibliography (relevant scientific journals from recognized international publishers).
Thesis Submission Deadline
• The maximum time allowed for submitting the thesis is twelve (12) months from the date of its approval. In special cases, after a student’s request and approval by the Assembly, the deadline can be extended by up to one (1) additional year, but it must not exceed the maximum study period allowed.
Defense Procedure and Required Documents
Thesis Defense Procedure: The thesis is defended publicly during one of the three (3) examination periods each academic year (January – February for the first exam period of the winter semester, June – July for the first exam period of the spring semester, and September for the second exam period of both semesters), except for special cases decided by the Special Committee after a justified request from the student co-signed by the supervisor. Public defense is announced by the Secretariat on the official program website under the responsibility of the Program Director. The process includes the following steps:
• Application: The student completes a form provided by the Secretariat. The application must be signed by the supervisor and submitted by the student. One (1) printed copy of the thesis (following the study guide rules) and one (1) electronic copy (attached to an email as Word or PDF) must accompany the application.
• Contact by the Secretariat with the Supervisor: After coordinating with the Special Committee, the Secretariat contacts the supervisor to schedule the thesis defense date.
• Announcement of the Defense Date: The Secretariat announces the defense date on the program’s official website.
• Thesis Defense: During the defense, the student presents their work and answers questions from the Three-Member Examining Committee and the Program Director. After the defense, the Committee meets privately to grade the thesis and fill out the official Evaluation Report, which the supervisor submits to the Secretariat. If corrections or improvements are needed, the student must resubmit the thesis according to the Committee’s instructions. The corrected version is evaluated for a final grade without needing a second defense. If the thesis is not graded as a pass, the student receives a certificate of course completion (Diploma) instead of the degree.
• The student can request a change of supervisor, and likewise, the supervisor can request to be released from supervising the student. The Special Committee decides on such requests based on a justified proposal.