Education planning and administration handbook - Chapter 9

Independent projects (degree projects)

9.1 Starting points
9.2 Course syllabus
9.3 Work plan
9.4 Implementing independent/degree project courses

Shortcuts to other parts of the handbook

9.1 Starting points

Important concepts

At SLU, we use the term independent project or degree project. The term Master’s thesis can be used for independent projects (degree projects) of at least 30 credits at second-cycle level. In this chapter, independent project is used. Bachelor’s essays (G2E) are at first-cycle level, theses on Master’s programmes (60 credits, A1E, and 120 credits, A2E) are at second-cycle level.

Policy

As of the 2018 autumn semester, the same wording is used in all course syllabuses for independent projects. The intended course learning outcomes for independent projects have been worded in line with the qualification requirements. Independent projects are handled in accordance with the same procedures and responsibilities as other higher education.

Independent projects at first-cycle level can be carried out individually or in pairs. If it is done in pairs, it must be possible to assess individual student efforts.

Independent projects at Master’s level are normally carried out individually. Course coordinators can make exceptions.

National regulations

The annex to the Ordinance for the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences contains a complete list of all degrees SLU offer. “A requirement for the award of a Higher Education Diploma is completion by the student of an independent project (degree project) within the requirements of the programme.”

All independent projects must follow a course syllabus, just like other courses. See Chapter 6. Course syllabus and course instances.

SLU rules

An independent project can only be classified into one main field of study (subject). Double classification is never allowed. See SLU’s examination procedures for a complete list of degrees and main fields of study. Programme syllabuses for programmes that lead to professional qualifications include specific requirements.

At SLU, we use the same wording in all course syllabuses for independent projects. Each programme board can add programme- and degree-specific intended learning outcomes, for both professional and general qualifications. However, this must be done restrictively and only if it is vital to add something which is not included in the joint intended learning outcomes. The Board of Education approves any exemptions.

An independent project carried out and assessed at another higher education institution can be transferred and included in an SLU qualification if it meets the objectives and other requirements for the intended qualification.

Links

• Lokal examensordning – regler för examina på grundnivå och avancerad nivå vid SLU (SLU’s examination procedures for first cycle and second cycle level – only in Swedish). Includes teaching and research duties for SLU’s main fields of study.

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9.2 Course syllabus

Important concepts

Joint independent project wording at SLU is included in the course and programme database.

Policy

All independent projects must be checked for plagiarism (in Urkund) and be deposited in SLU’s electronic publishing system (Epsilon). The amount of supervision (in hours) must be included as additional information in the course syllabus.

SLU rules

Level and scope

Independent projects are offered at the following level and scope:

• G2E, 15 credits (Bachelor’s)
• A1E, 15 credits (Master's, 60 credits)
• A2E, 30 credits (Master’s, 120 credits)
• A2E, 60 credits (Master’s, 120 credits), when decided by the programme board

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for joint independent project wording at SLU are included in the course and programme database.

First-cycle level (G2E)

Knowledge equivalent to 120 credits, of which 60 credits within the main field of study. The student must take at least one course at specialisation level G2F within the main field of study, at the latest in connection with the independent project. At least one course relevant to the project subject must be carried out before carrying out an independent project. 

Second–cycle level (A1E)

Knowledge equivalent to 15 credits at second-cycle level within the main field of study. Independent project with a pass grade at first-cycle level or a Bachelor’s degree. At least one course relevant to the project subject must be carried out before carrying out an independent project. English knowledge corresponding to English 6.

Second–cycle level (A2E)

Knowledge equivalent to 30 credits at second-cycle level within the main field of study. Independent project with a pass grade at first-cycle level or a Bachelor’s degree. At least one course relevant to the project subject must be carried out before carrying out an independent project. English knowledge corresponding to English 6.

A programme board may adjust the entry requirements for independent projects for professional qualifications. This is to be applied restrictively.

Approved entry requirements exemptions:

• Veterinary students admitted to the Veterinary Medicine programme VY009 (UN decision, 12 October 2016, SLU.ua.2016.3.1.1-3818)
• The entry requirements for the main fields of study business administration (first- and second-cycle level) and environmental sciences (second-cycle level) must include methodological knowledge (at least 5 credits) in syllabuses for independent project courses (UN decision, 13 December 2017, SLU.ua.2017.1.1.1-4818)
• The entry requirements for the main field of study bioeconomy management (second-cycle level) must include methodological knowledge (at least 5 credits) in syllabuses for independent project courses (UN decision, 10 October 2024, SLU.ua.2024.1.1.1-3331-1)

Language

General and professional qualifications

The language of independent project courses is usually the same as the degree programme's language of instruction. In general, courses at first-cycle level are taught in Swedish and courses at second-cycle level are taught in English. However, a programme board can decide differently.

The independent project is usually written in the course's language of instruction. The examiner can allow a student to write their independent project in a different language, provided this is possible.

Who is responsible for what?

• The Board of Education approves joint wording for course syllabuses (learning outcomes, entry requirements, etc.).
• The Board of Education approves any exemptions. These are then listed in the course syllabus in question.
• Each programme board then establishes the course syllabuses. Degree- and programme-specific intended learning outcomes, and degree- and programme-specific entry requirements for professional programmes may be added, but restrictively.
• The examiner can allow a student write their independent project in a language other than the language of instruction on the course.

Instructions

See Chapter 6. Course syllabuses and course instances.

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9.3 Work plan

SLU rules

The student must draw up a work plan, following consultation with their supervisor, as soon as possible. This is done to facilitate planning and implementation of the independent project within the given timeframe. The work plan should be drawn up using the template for this purpose and include the following information:

Project description:

• preliminary title
• background/problem description
• purpose and issue/hypothesis/theory
• material and method
• implementation and demarcation
• form of presentation
• information about whether the project processes personal data and if so, the relevant measures taken in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation.

Schedule, including the dates of the following:

• project start
• collection period, revision and compilation of the material, editing text/pictures
• handing in the preliminary version to the supervisor
• handing in the project to the examiner
• presentation preparation (assessment) and public discussion and examination
• final presentation
• possible completion and handing in the final version to the examiner.

Change of independent project subject

• If there are special reasons, a student may be allowed to change subject (within the main field of study) during the current course instance. This is dealt with in the same way as a revision of the work plan.
• Possibilities for changing independent project subject are limited by the availability of supervisors.

Deadline

• The deadline specified in the work plan counts as the first exam session;
• An exam session is regarded as spent if the project is not handed in by the deadline specified in the work plan;
• The work plan may not limit a student’s right to submit their independent project even if the schedule is not followed.

After a course ends

If a student did not achieve a pass grade, occasional supervision may be offered after the course ends. Regardless of whether the student receives further supervision or not, they are entitled to a renewed final assessment.

Who is responsible for what?

The student and the supervisor approve the work plan on recommendation by the examiner.

If the work plan cannot be followed, the student and supervisor must jointly revise it or write a new one. The supervisor and student must propose the revised work plan and notify the course coordinator. The course coordinator must approve a revised work plan.

Links

Work plan for independent projects.

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9.4 Implementing independent/degree project courses 

Important concepts

Independent projects can be carried out in two ways: with a joint course start, teaching steps and joint conclusion or without. Both alternatives must meet the objectives and requirements in the course syllabus in question. Also see Instructions.

Policy

Before the beginning an independent project, students have the right to be clearly informed of what is expected of them and what support is available. This applies to teaching, number of supervision hours, library support and any other resources such as laboratory, computer and workplace access, etc. It cannot be expected that the student carries out other tasks than those connected to an independent project and the intended learning outcomes in the course syllabus.

SLU rules

Admission, registration

A student is registered on an independent project course after their registration form (individual or course-date specific) is signed by the course coordinator or the person delegated by the course coordinator. It must also be checked if the student meets the entry requirements.

Grading criteria 

There must be clear grading criteria for independent projects, just as for other courses. In cases where the grading criteria for a course need to be coordinated by several departments or examiners, the programme board decides on criteria.

The grading criteria must state if it is possible to receive a higher grade than pass (4 and 5).

The deadline specified in the work plan counts as the first exam session, but the work plan may be revised. If there are special reasons (see Section 8.5 Special reasons), or other reasons related to the project which are beyond the student’s control, and the revision is done before the original deadline for the project, it must still be possible to receive higher than a pass grade (4 and 5, where applicable).

Student remuneration

If the student receives financial remuneration from SLU or externally, this is regulated in a special agreement. Where applicable, this is an agreement between the student and the external partner.

Supervision hours

Supervision can be individual or in groups. Students who have not been awarded a pass grade may be offered occasional supervision also after the course has ended. For students admitted to an independent project course up to and including the 2025 autumn semester, information on supervision hours can be found under Additional information in the course syllabus (UN decision, 22 May 2025, Section 48/25, SLU.ua.2025.1.1-2149).

Change of supervisor

• If there are special reasons, a student may be allowed to change supervisor. The student must submit a written request, specifying their reasons, to the course coordinator (or equivalent), who then decides on a possible change of supervisor, unless the head of department has said otherwise.
• The possibility of changing supervisors is limited by the availability of supervisors.
• Section 3.15 Complaints procedure provides instructions on how the student (or group of students) who is dissatisfied should go about finding a solution to the problem.

Presentation

Examination formats and requirements to pass a course are listed in the course syllabus.

• all independent projects must include a summary in English;
• at second-cycle level, all independent projects must include a popular science summary in Swedish or English;
• all independent projects must be presented orally, and each student must at least publically discuss and examine one other independent project.

Assessment and grade

The same examination and grading deadlines that apply to other courses apply to independent projects as well. See Chapter 8. Assessment (exams) and compulsory components. In addition, examiners can decide that completion is allowed after the deadline has passed, and that it counts as part of the examination session. Such supplementary work may affect the grade for the independent project, provided it is done before the grading decision has been made.

Independent projects must be reported in Ladok with the original title and the title in English (translation). This means that for projects written in English, only the English title is required. For projects written in Swedish, a translation of the title in English is required.

Publishing

Independent projects (degree projects) that have received a pass grade are deposited and published in Epsilon, SLU’s electronic publishing tool. The student owns the copyright to their independent project and equivalent work. According to the Copyright Act, SLU must obtain the permission of all authors involved to publish their work. The department must document and archive this permission. If an author does not agree to publishing, the work must still be deposited to register metadata and archiving (see below under Archiving). The SLU library provides a document template and publishing advice. For more details, see Annex 8: Information to include on the cover and title page of independent projects (degree projects) at SLU.

The course coordinator is responsible for ensuring that the administrator receives the final version of the project. The administrator deposits finalised projects and the library reviews the bibliographic information.

The supervisor or an external partner cannot control the process of making an independent project public as this would be contravene the Freedom of the Press Act and the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act. In exceptional cases, publication can be postponed (reading embargo):

As students own the copyright of their independent project (see above), they must approve all decisions to publish their project. In principle, independent projects (degree projects) are published immediately, provided the student gives their approval. Supervisors who wish to postpone publication of an independent project must first obtain the student’s permission. Publication should only be postponed in exceptional cases, and not for more than 12 months. If the supervisor wants to postpone publication, this can be indicated in the work plan.

Changes to independent projects published in Epsilon are only allowed in exceptional cases. Examples are factual errors, formatting errors which affect readability, or violations of the law. Supplementary documentation in the form of corrections (an errata page) is preferable to replacing the file. Annex 10, Changing a pdf file already published in Epsilon, describes how to make changes to a file that has already been published.

Removing the full-text versions of published independent projects, depublishing, can be done at the request of the copyright owner(s). Depublishing can also be done for other reasons such as plagiarism or violation of the law. Annex 9, Depublishing a pdf file already published in Epsilon, contains information on workflow and who does what in other cases than a request by the copyright owner.

Who is responsible for what?

Student

The student is responsible for writing a work plan and schedule in consultation with their supervisor. The student carries out their independent project with the aim to meet the intended learning outcomes. Students who processes personal data as part of their independent project are responsible for ensuring that the work is carried out in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation. The student initiates meetings with their supervisor in accordance with the stipulated supervision hours. A student’s right to supervision is linked to the specific course instance.

Supervisor

The supervisor’s function is to supervise the student to help them meet the intended learning outcomes. The supervisor should inform the student of the available number of supervision hours, help them plan their independent project and co-write their work plan. A supervisor can supervise several students within the same course instance. In certain cases, a student is allowed several supervisors – one must act as the principal supervisor, the others as assistant supervisors. If a student processes personal data as part of their independent project, the supervisor must ensure that the projecjet is registered in the SLU register of processing of personal data.

A supervisor can discourage students from submitting the final version of their independent project for defence if it risks receiving a fail grade. However, it is ultimately up to the student to decide what to do. If necessary, the supervisor must submit bases for assessment to the examiner. If a student did not achieve a pass grade, occasional supervision may be offered after the course ends.

Head of department

The head of department at the department where the principal supervisor works is responsible for ensuring that there are supervision resources.

Examiner

The examiner and supervisor cannot be the same person. There may be several examiners in one course instance; however, there may only be one per student project. The examiner assesses and grades a student’s independent project, using the intended course learning outcomes and grading criteria as the starting point. The examiner must make the grading decision without any influence from the supervisor. If necessary, the examiner can require bases for assessment from the supervisor. If several students have written an independent project, the assessment of student performance must be individual. If necessary, the examiner may request that each student provides a report of their individual work on an independent project.

Students who do not receive a pass grade for the course instance in question have the right to be reassessed in the same manner as for other courses.

Course coordinator

The course coordinator has a general role and coordinating function at department level, and they approve the work plan. The course coordinator is contacted if, for example, there are cooperation problems or if the student wishes to change subject or supervisor. The course coordinator is also responsible for applying course evaluation procedures on independent projects.

External partners

Agreements with external partners are made through separate agreements, and between SLU and the partner in question, not the student (any remuneration exempted). In cases where the student carries out their project externally and has an external supervisor, they must also have a principal supervisor at SLU who is responsible for ensuring that the project is carried out in accordance with SLU guidelines and a course syllabus.

Instructions

Independent projects can be included in the following:

a) a course with joint beginning, teaching steps and conclusion.

In courses with established course components, supervision can be individual or in a group, as well as scheduled.

b) a course without a joint beginning and teaching steps.

It is very important to write and follow a work plan when students carry out an independent project alone without an established course instance (e.g. within a research project, abroad or with an external client). Other teaching steps may also be included in these independent projects; the work plan states how to carry them out.

It is usually possible to submit a late application for independent project (degree project) course instances throughout the course period.

Archiving

As of the autumn semester of 2018, all independent projects at SLU are digitally archived. The version deposited in Epsilon is downloaded automatically, meaning that all independent projects that are deposited will also be preserved.

Preservation is done in accordance with the governing document Strategi för bevarande av elektroniska handlingar (strategy for preserving electronic documents). The department running the course is the archive holder and responsible for depositing independent projects to ensure that archiving requirements are met. The Archives, Information Governance and Records Unit and the SLU Library are responsible for the technological solution.

Submission of independent work

An independent project at SLU constitutes a public document. A public document is a document received or drawn up by an authority. This means that an independent project is a public document and must be disclosed on request unless the work is covered by confidentiality.

This also applies in cases where there is an embargo or where the student has opted not to publish the full text in Epsilon. The student owns the copyright to their work, but copyrighted works created by public authorities are also public documents.

Responsibility for disclosing work on request lies with the department responsible for the course, if necessary in consultation with the supervisor.

Links

The SLU library provides a template package for student papers containing the following:

• front and title pages (Swedish)
• front and title pages (English)
• content/insert (regardless of language)
• instructions for the insert template.

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