Long Master's Thesis (60 ECTS)
The department has two fixed deadlines each year for the submission of long master's theses. If the deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday, it is postponed to the next working day.
- For the 2026 spring semester, the submission deadline is 15 May. The final master's exam, including the presentation, is usually scheduled between 5-20 June, and at the latest by 27 June.
- For the 2026 autumn semester, the submission deadline is November 15. The final master's exam, including the presentation, is usually scheduled between 1-15 December, and at the latest by 22 December.
Postponement of the Master's Thesis - Long Thesis
You can apply for an extension due to delays in your thesis work or in case of illness. If a thesis is not submitted by the deadline and no application for a postponement exists, the thesis will be graded as failed.
Postponement due to Delay
For long master's theses, you can apply for an extension to the next regular deadline. You must apply no later than 1 May /1 November.
You must submit a reasoned application to studieinfo@its.uio.no and include your supervisor. Your application must include a new timeline with at least three milestones (e.g., completing analysis). The application must be approved by your supervisor, who confirms in writing that the timeline is realistic and that they can supervise during the specified period.
In case of unforeseen events towards the end of the work, an exception can be made to grant up to a 2-week extension. This request must be submitted to the study administration by the supervisor.
Postponement due to Illness
If you are writing a long master's thesis and become ill after 1 May/1 November, you can apply for a postponement due to illness. You must submit a medical certificate.
You can be granted an extension of up to two weeks. If the illness extends beyond this, a postponement to the next regular submission deadline may be granted. Documentation must include a medical certificate stating the period (including dates) and the degree of illness.
You can find more information on the faculty's website (see section 4.3.5).
Short Master's Thesis (30 ECTS)
A short master's thesis is conducted in the final semester of the master's program. The work on the thesis should be completed within 17 weeks and cannot be spread over a longer period on a part-time basis.
- For the 2026 spring semester, the task is usually handed out (and the work begins) on the first working day (Monday) of week 3, with submission on 20th May. The final master's exam, including the presentation, is usually scheduled for week 24 or 25, and at the latest in week 26. If 1 May and/or 17 May falls on a weekday, the submission deadline is extended accordingly.
- For the autumn semester, the task is usually handed out (and the work begins) on the first working day (Monday) of week 34, with submission on the first working day (Monday) of week 51. The final master's exam, including the presentation, is usually scheduled for week 3 or 4, and at the latest in week 5.
In special cases where there is a need for different task release times, the student and supervisor can apply to the program council for this, and the submission time will be adjusted accordingly.
Postponement of the Master's Thesis - Short Thesis
If you are writing a short thesis, extensions can only be granted exceptionally for short-term illness or for unforeseen problems with the project through no fault of the candidate. In both cases, documentation is required, either in the form of a medical certificate or other relevant valid documentation. In cases of prolonged illness, a new task will be issued to the candidate, and the thesis must be submitted by the next regular deadline in the following semester.
If a thesis is not submitted by the deadline, it will be graded as failed.