Write your master's degree in another country – make a difference
Are you struggling to choose a topic for your master's degree? The solution may be "Master with Meaning". Combine education, helping other people and international experience.
Finding a topic for your master's degree can feel overwhelming and difficult. What are you passionate about? With Master with Meaning (MmM), you can land a thesis that is really useful and that gives you experience from other cultures.
What should I write my master's thesis about?
- The topic of the master's degree should be exciting enough for you to be able to live with it for a long time, at the same time the idea must be smart enough to be approved and actually be possible to implement, says Elise Skattum.
She is a project manager in the organization Engineers Without Borders (EWB) and encourages more engineering and technology students to choose this form of master's degree.
EWB-DK supports projects in Africa and the Middle East. - The research question is often created in collaboration with local partners, an organization or a company. This makes the task more concrete, more motivating and often much more meaningful, ranging from buildings, solar cells and water solutions, to community development and other local needs.
- MmM is about connecting what you know and are curious about, with needs out in the world
Elise Skattum
Examples of Master with Meaning
In Kenya, an underground water tank was built at a school, after the solution was first developed as a master's thesis.
In Zimbabwe, students have worked with structural engineering and the design of buildings that can be used by the entire local community.
- You get experiences that are difficult to get in a normal classroom, says Skattum.
- Students encounter other ways of building, planning, and solving problems. Perspective is important. We will not come from the outside and tell others what is right, but learn together and develop solutions that work locally.
Facts about Master with Meaning
- NITO is a partner of EWB-DK and encourages more engineering and technology students to write their MmM through EWB-DK. – An offer for master's students in engineering and technology, from all campuses in Norway.
- You will have a mentor for sparring, discussion and quality assurance in addition to a supervisor at your place of study. The mentor is often a NITO member.
- Many travel to another country and are in the field for two to four weeks.
- Deadlines:
5 January for assignments with fieldwork the following autumn semester.
10 June for assignments with fieldwork the following spring semester. - You do not need to write a master's degree alone, two master's students can apply together.
