Any Kenyan undergrad(s) in Kuopio University-Finland?

[kikolyo]

Greetings friends! I was in Kuopio Finland last summer and got interested in studying a masters in Molecular Biology. Later when I applied in the joint application, them guys at the International students office told me I must submit my 'undergraduate thesis'. Now,I went to KU for a B.Ed ( science) and I never heard of anything like that! Whats this guys? Cant I get admission without it? waiting to hear from you.

[KILL PROPAGANDA]

Great that you are also considering furthering your education.

What they mean by undergraduate thesis is the project that most people usually do in their final year of college. Did you do such a project? If so then send them a soft copy of the report of this project as your undergraduate thesis.

If you did not do a project, or suspect the report is not of very good quality (most undergrad reports are rather poor in quality) then you can just inform the university that you did not do a thesis in your undergrad.

While at it, why don't you also consider other universities in other countries especially the US, UK, South Africa and Kenya? Molecular Biology is a field you can get numerous scholarships on.

[KILL PROPAGANDA]

Yes, you can get admission without the undergraduate thesis. Good Luck

[Sanaa-]

Unfortunately, Universities in Finland require that you show evidence of having done a thesis during your undergrad (it marks completion and adds weight to your degree).They will also check your score/grade, because the competition in Masters studies is very stiff. Kama hukufanya, very slim chances of being considered at all.

Don't universities in Kenya do a thesis? or they call it by a different name?

[KILL PROPAGANDA]

Originally Posted by Sanaa-

Don't universities in Kenya do a thesis? or they call it by a different name?

Yeah, it's called Final Year Project in Kenya. But it's not compulsory though most people do it.

[Sanaa-]

Originally Posted by KILL PROPAGANDA

Yeah, it's called Final Year Project in Kenya. But it's not compulsory though most people do it.

Not compulsory? Thats amazing, never heard of it being optional.

[KILL PROPAGANDA]

Originally Posted by Sanaa-

Not compulsory? Thats amazing, never heard of it being optional.

It's optional in a way. This is how it works:

At end of third year, usually one goes on internship nd is expected to write a report on that internship.

In fourth year, one has two options, either go on internship again and write another report, meaning the lecturers will still be bothering you even after you've left the university and you might even fail to graduate if the lecturers do not pass your internship report.

The other option is to do the thesis, following all the procedures and write a report about it. The advantage of this is that you will usually get it passed before the end of the final year.

Unfortunately, many students do not take the thesis as seriously as they should. If we had known then that it matters when applying for Masters, we would have been much more serious about it.

[Sanaa-]

Kill P that's very interesting. Here you must do an internship (6 months) plus a thesis, I think writing a report for an internship is easy, problem is that students put it off till after they complete the internship, it's easier to write a bit of the report everyday/week, but yes, a thesis matters alot, the topic and how you performed. In fact, it could get you a very nice job, because you can do it with a company (or just do it with your lecturer/supervisor), companies here advertise for thesis topics and you get paid as well for doing it.

[KILL PROPAGANDA]

You know, Sanaa, that's where sometimes I feel like we're getting a raw deal. We need more tech companies in Kenya. Usually in Kenya the student depends on himself of the supervisor to come up with ideas for thesis. companies offer no ideas at all.

Also if Lecturers advised students how serious these things were, they would do a much better job with the reports.

Currently, even I dare not share with any employer or MSc Program my report for 4th year project. I cut too many corners then.

[A.M Nafusi]

Goes back to poor career counselling and a failure by the Kenyan govt/universities to focus on research.

Here in the US: The final year thesis is not mandatory, but your advisor will let you know (even profs) that if u intend to go to grad school, doing a few things in addition to what is required puts one ahead.

Local businesses link up with schools to offer Co-ops and internships. Profs. have state/federal grants to do research and employ some students to work for them. That was my saviour. Again, it remains a student initiative. But if profs. think you are good, they will throw your way some hints.

Alternatively, those who cut corners in the undergrad years can use work experience if they want to go to grad school. Law schools look at work experience more favorably than undergrad perfomance. Throw good scores in; GRE/LSAT and you are home.

I once thought of summer abroad in the Nordic countries, but then I saw a requirement for learning their languages. Hmm? How is that?