Regulation for Thesis (in greek)
Application (in greek)Regulations for Diploma Thesis (DT)
The Postgraduate Diploma Thesis (DT) is prepared on a topic related to the academic field of the Joint Postgraduate Studies Program (J.P.S.P.) entitled “New Technologies in Environmental Education and Sustainable Development.” The DT is undertaken during the third (3rd) semester of studies and corresponds to thirty (30) ECTS credits.
- Description of the Diploma Thesis
The Diploma Thesis (DT) is original, in the sense that its design and implementation constitute the author’s own work. The purpose of the Diploma Thesis is to demonstrate the postgraduate student’s research and methodological competence, as well as familiarity with the academic field to which the thesis pertains. The topic of the Diploma Thesis falls within one of the subject areas (compulsory or elective) of the Programme of Studies in force at the time within the J.P.S.P.
- Announcement of Diploma Thesis Topic Categories
At the start of each academic year, the general categories of Diploma Thesis topics are announced by all faculty members of the collaborating Departments and by contracted instructors. Students are informed accordingly by the Secretariat of the postgraduate programme (Department of Environment Secretariat), providing the relevant instructions.
- Selection of the Thesis Topic and Supervision of the Diploma Thesis
The topic of the Diploma Thesis (DT) is proposed by the student (based on the relevant announcement of topics), following consultation with one of the faculty members of the postgraduate programme of the collaborating departments or a contracted instructor, who will serve as the Supervisor of the DT. The approval of the topic and its assignment to each student lies at the discretion of the Supervisor. The Supervisor assumes responsibility for guiding the DT for the entire duration of its completion. The DT is completed individually by each student or, if the nature of the topic requires and only by exception, by a group of up to two (2) students, provided that the individual work and contributions of each student are clearly distinguishable both during the preparation and the presentation of the thesis.
The Coordinating Committee of the J.P.S.P. approves the topic and the Supervisor, as well as the three-member Examination Committee for the DT. In the same meeting of the Coordinating Committee, and upon approval of the Diploma Thesis topic, two additional members are appointed who, together with the Supervisor, constitute the three-member Examination Committee for the respective DT.
Members of the three-member Examination Committee may include tenured faculty members (ΔΕΠ) or members of other categories of teaching staff in accordance with applicable legislation, or instructors from other departments of Ionian University with the same or a related academic field to that of the thesis topic.
The three-member Examination Committees (records of which are kept by the Secretariat) must include at least one tenured faculty member (ΔΕΠ) of the postgraduate programme. If serious difficulties arise in the collaboration between the Supervisor and the student, the issue is referred to the three-member Examination Committee of the DT.
Each student must submit an application to the Secretariat for the undertaking of a Diploma Thesis (DT), specifying the proposed topic and the proposed three-member Examination Committee, from the start of the third (3rd) semester. Students who have failed more than six (6) Course Units of the Programme are not eligible to submit an application for the completion of a postgraduate DT.
Applications for undertaking a Diploma Thesis (DT) must be submitted within the first three weeks of the winter or spring semester, in accordance with the applicable academic calendar.
Applications submitted beyond the above deadlines are not accepted.
The standard duration for the completion of the Diploma Thesis is one academic semester. This period may be extended by one academic semester upon the student’s request, subject to the approval of the Supervisor. In exceptional cases, and following a substantiated request by the student, the completion period of the thesis may be extended for an additional academic semester.
Upon finalization of the topic of the Diploma Thesis (DT), any change of topic may be effected only following submission of a justified request by the student, subject to the Supervisor’s approval, and subsequent submission to the Coordinating Committee through the Secretariat. A change of Supervisor may be requested by the student due to a change in the DT topic or for a serious reason, without further consequences and must be submitted to the Coordinating Committee via the Secretariat. Replacement of a member of the three-member Examination Committee (other than the Supervisor) may be effected at any time during the academic year, following a duly justified request by the student.
- Diploma Thesis Guidelines
The collaboration between the student and the Supervisor is conducted through a series of scheduled meetings. The Supervisor provides specific guidance regarding the preparation of the DT and monitors its progress, identifying any areas requiring improvement. Once the thesis reaches its first complete draft, it is submitted to the Supervisor for review and feedback. Based on the Supervisor’s comments, the student revises the DT and submits the final version.
The Supervisor grants the student permission to defend the DT if the objectives of the thesis have been met. If the objectives have not been achieved, the thesis is returned to the student for further revision. Once permission to defend the DT has been granted, the student submits one copy to each member of the three-member Examination Committee.
A theoretical DT should range between 15,000 and 18,000 words. If the thesis involves practical work/tasks using new technologies or fieldwork, the written text may be fewer than 15,000 words, provided that all practical activities, measurements and supporting materials are included as attachments.
Each DT must include a 300-word abstract in both Greek and English, as well as a bibliography formatted according to APA Style, 7th edition. The thesis may be written in either Greek or English.
- Plagiarism Check Using Specialized Software
All Diploma Theses (as well as corresponding postgraduate and doctoral-level works) are subject to review through specialized plagiarism detection software, which identifies and records the percentage of similarity with content from other sources in its database. This review must be completed prior to the examination of the thesis. The process generates an Originality Report indicating the similarity percentage. The final assessment of the report is carried out by the Supervisor. If the authenticity and originality of the thesis are confirmed, the Supervisor authorizes its presentation before the three-member Examination Committee.
- Diploma Thesis Defense
The Diploma Thesis (DT) must be submitted, no earlier than the end of the third (3rd) semester of studies, to the members of the Examination Committee. For examination, the Supervisor notifies the postgraduate Secretariat (Department of Environment Secretariat) as well as the members of the Examination Committee. The student is responsible for submitting a copy of the DT in electronic and/or printed form to each member of the Examination Committee.
The defense of the DT takes place on a date and time determined by the Supervisor in consultation with the other members of the Examination Committee. The defense may be scheduled on any date within the academic year, subject to the agreement of the three-member Examination Committee, but not sooner than twelve (12) weeks from the date of submission of the application for undertaking the thesis.
Members of the academic community, including faculty members, undergraduate and postgraduate students and doctoral candidates, may attend the presentation of the Diploma Thesis (DT). The members of the Examination Committee attend the presentation and pose questions to assess the scientific validity, academic rigor and research completeness of the methodology employed and the results proposed. Following the defense, the Examination Committee evaluates and grades the DT. The final grade is calculated as the average of the grades awarded by the three members of the Examination Committee. The Supervisor submits the examination report, including the grades, to the Secretariat. The final grade is then communicated to the candidate, which is officially recorded by the Secretariat and entered in the current or in the immediately following examination period.
In the event that the Diploma Thesis (DT) is approved with comments or recommendations, the postgraduate student is obliged to address them, proceed with the necessary revisions within the specified timeframe, and submit the final version to the Supervisor. Depending on the nature and extent of the revisions, the members of the Examination Committee may request to review the revised thesis or authorize the Supervisor to grant final approval. Upon completion of this review, the Supervisor submits the final grade to the Secretariat of the Postgraduate Programme. The candidate is required to submit the DT in both printed and electronic form to the Postgraduate Programme Secretariat and to the Ionian University Library.
Submission of theses by students is mandatory and monitored by the postgraduate Secretariat. In cases where the scientific results of the DT are subject to patent protection, applicable legislation regarding intellectual property rights shall apply.
Students are required to submit two (2) printed copies of the Diploma Thesis (DT) to the Library of the Department of Environment, along with an electronic copy (on USB or CD), within two months of the thesis defense.
- Failure to Complete or Defend the Diploma Thesis
A student who fails to defend the Diploma Thesis (DT) by the end of the examination period of the academic semester (corresponding to the final approved extension) will have the assignment of the thesis automatically cancelled upon expiration of the deadline. The student must reapply for a DT topic in accordance with the prescribed procedure, either with the same or a new Supervisor.
Should a Diploma Thesis be deemed inadequate, it is referred back for further revision. In such cases, the presentation is scheduled on a date determined by the three-member Examination Committee, in agreement with the student, and the defense is repeated.
