Abstract:

A final project or thesis is a written document where students show their learning outcomes, knowledge, professional competences, scientific insight and theoretical and methodological skills in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification. In many cases it is a prerequisite for completing undergraduate or graduate studies.

In the framework of the current convergence process in the structures and in the organisation of the European High Education Institutions two Spanish royal decree about organisation of official university degrees, RD 1393/2007 and RD 861/2010 create the basis for the further development of specific norms for final projects or thesis at each university. Before norms were unclear, sometimes contradictory and quite scattered.

The aim of this paper is to compare the new norms that govern in the Spanish universities the final project or thesis at bachelor and master level.
This survey includes universities from different regions and sizes for the best representative sample, including many of the top ranking universities (Times Higher Education Ranking). The new normative framework will be analysed through different parameters, such as date of publication, submission requirements, general requirements, components, scheduling, deadlines, summons/call, project offers, ECTS, tutors, language policy, evaluation, oral defence and keeping/archive, in order to check similarities and main differences for the development, presentation and evaluation of a final project.

Keywords:

Final project, thesis.