Research topic

Topic

The thesis topic should focus on a theme in international studies

Research question and originality

The thesis must represent a substantial piece of original research carried out by an individual student. 

"Original research" means that the student has defined an important question, has closely examined the existing scholarly literature and relevant primary sources on that topic, and has offered some argument, evidence or ideas on the topic that go beyond what is contained in primary and secondary source material. 

In other words, the thesis should tell us something about the world or help us see the world in a new way. As these criteria suggest, a successful thesis must present evidence that the student has gone well beyond the normal requirements for a term paper for a single course.