University of Jyväskylä Chemistry and Analytics for Circular Economy Master’s Thesis Guide

Start with the current CACE thesis map

The current University of Jyväskylä Chemistry and Analytics for Circular Economy thesis route is controlled by a compact Department of Chemistry package: KEMS9550 Master’s Thesis, 30 ECTS, grade 0-5; KEMS903 Thesis Seminar, 1 ECTS, Pass/Fail; and KEMS901 Maturity Exam for Master’s Degree, 0 ECTS, Pass/Fail. The programme is an English-medium Master of Science route under the Faculty of Mathematics and Science. Those three KEMS objects, Department guidance and the current Vasara workflow should control your planning, not thesis codes copied from Aquatic Sciences, Computer Science or another faculty.

1. Confirm the current programme object before thesis planning

The current Study Guide object is CACEMP2024, covering the 2024-2028 curriculum period. It records a 120+ credit Master of Science programme, English as the programme language, the Faculty of Mathematics and Science as responsible organisation and the Department of Chemistry as coordinating organisation. Its advanced studies module is KEMSYVCACE, 77+ ECTS. Start with your active Sisu structure and this current curriculum object before choosing optional studies, laboratory work or a thesis schedule.

2. Keep the 31 ECTS core thesis block exact

Inside KEMSYVCACE, the current Study Guide places KEMS9550 30 ECTS, KEMS903 1 ECTS and KEMS901 0 ECTS in Other Compulsory Advanced Studies. Together they form the programme’s core thesis/seminar/maturity chain. Do not add KEMS6880 laboratory credits or KEMS9800 miniproject credits to the thesis credit total. Those are separate advanced-study choices in the Laboratory Works selection. Likewise, do not substitute a similar-looking thesis or maturity code from another JYU programme.

3. CACE requires the thesis in English

KEMS9550 itself lists English and Finnish as course languages, and the current implementation metadata even displays Finnish. That does not change the programme rule. KEMSYVCACE states that the international programme is completed in English and that the Master’s thesis must be completed in English. JYU Degree Regulations also require the thesis to be written in English in English-medium degree programmes. Therefore CACE students should treat English as the controlling thesis language unless JYU formally changes the programme rule.

4. KEMS9550 is the controlling 30 ECTS research object

KEMS9550 Master’s Thesis is the object that carries the 30 ECTS thesis grade. It expects a literature review plus a research component and evaluates whether the student can formulate a problem, obtain and critically frame scientific information, select appropriate research methods, carry out the study, analyse results and relate them to existing knowledge. The final product must be an independently produced comprehensive scientific report following Department writing guidance. Advanced chemistry studies should be substantially completed before the thesis begins.

5. Choose the research question before the technique

CACE offers advanced analytical chemistry, recovery chemistry, spectroscopy, chromatography, mass spectrometry, NMR, circular-economy chemistry and data-analysis exposure. Those options can tempt students to begin with an instrument rather than a research problem. Reverse that order. Define the chemical or circular-economy problem first, identify the evidence needed to answer it, then justify the technique. A thesis becomes methodologically stronger when the instrument, simulation or analysis is selected because it resolves the research question, not because the equipment happens to be available.

6. Treat the literature review as part of the scientific argument

KEMS9550 explicitly includes a literature-review component. Its purpose is not to collect a long list of papers; it must demonstrate scientific proficiency, literature searching, critical analysis and the ability to position the project within existing chemistry knowledge. Organise the review around concepts, mechanisms, methods and unresolved questions relevant to the thesis. Use recent primary research where appropriate, explain why older foundational sources still matter, and connect the literature directly to the design choices, measurements or simulations used later in the project.

7. Experimental work is one valid KEMS9550 route

For an experimental thesis, KEMS9550 expects the student to work independently in the laboratory and apply measurement techniques appropriate to the question. Experimental planning should identify samples, controls, calibration, replication where relevant, uncertainty, quality-control steps, safety constraints and the analysis strategy before irreversible work begins. Keep a traceable laboratory notebook and record deviations from the original plan. A sophisticated instrument cannot compensate for weak sampling logic, missing controls or undocumented changes in procedure.

8. Computational work is also explicitly supported

KEMS9550 is not limited to wet-laboratory research. The course explicitly says that computational work must perform simulations relevant to the research questions using suitable computational software. That wording supports a computational thesis when the project and supervisor approve it. Define the model assumptions, parameter sources, numerical method, software/version, input data, convergence or validation strategy and reproducibility steps. The requirement is suitable software for the specific computational project, not one universal package that every CACE student must use.

9. Do not turn programme laboratory training into a universal thesis rule

CACE students complete significant laboratory-oriented studies, and the programme’s Laboratory Works selection requires at least 10 ECTS. That training builds disciplinary competence but does not prove that every KEMS9550 thesis must be laboratory-based. KEMS9550 itself resolves the boundary by allowing experimental or computational work. Use laboratory research when the question and project require it; use computational work when that is the defensible design. Do not add experiments merely to make a project look more like chemistry.

10. Company and research-group collaboration is common, not mandatory

Current programme and module descriptions say many theses are connected to Department research groups and can be completed with companies or other research organisations. This can provide real samples, instruments, industrial problems and expert supervision. It is still not a universal requirement that every CACE thesis have a company commissioner. A Department research topic or another academically approved project can also be valid. External interests should inform the practical context, but the research question, scientific methods, interpretation and final conclusions must remain academically defensible.

11. The responsible JYU supervisor retains academic responsibility

Department guidance allows additional supervisors, including a doctoral researcher or outside expert, but the responsible supervisor has a specific status: they must be employed by JYU and hold a doctoral degree. In an industry thesis, the external expert may know the application best, yet the responsible JYU supervisor decides whether the topic is suitable as a Chemistry thesis and ensures that guidance and the written work satisfy Department requirements. Clarify these roles before experimental or computational work starts.

12. Use the supervision agreement as a project-control document

The Department’s current thesis-project guidance makes the supervision agreement central. Student and supervisor agree on communication, supervision practices, concrete checkpoints, topic difficulty and a realistic completion schedule. If the scope becomes unreasonable, it can be redefined. If the schedule changes, Chemistry guidance expects the agreed change to be documented. This agreement also matters for assessment because staying on schedule is one of the Department matrix criteria. Treat it as an active project-control document rather than an administrative form signed once and forgotten.

13. Plan around roughly six months of thesis work

Department guidance translates 30 ECTS into about 810 hours, approximately six months of full-time work, and the current writing instructions give a similar indicative total duration. For an experimental project, the writing guide mentions roughly 2.5 to 3 months of full-time experimental work as an indication, not a universal requirement. A computational or externally dependent thesis may distribute time differently. Build a realistic calendar around literature, project setup, research work, analysis, writing, seminar, supervisor feedback, Turnitin and final review rather than treating six months as a guaranteed deadline.

14. Start KEMS903 participation before the thesis gets busy

KEMS903 is only 1 ECTS, but it has real participation obligations. Students attend two other seminar presentations during the first master’s year or at least before beginning the thesis, complete assignments on those presentations, discuss their own presentation with the supervisor and later give an approximately 10-minute presentation on the thesis topic. Starting the observation requirement early prevents a small course from becoming a graduation bottleneck. Use the observed seminars to compare research objectives, methods, problems and how other students communicate scientific results.

15. The seminar presentation can be in English

At course level, KEMS903 lists both English and Finnish, and its description says the thesis presentation may be given in Finnish or English. The current implementation metadata shows Finnish, so an international CACE student should not infer practical scheduling or group language from the metadata alone. Enrol through Sisu and confirm the active seminar arrangement with the responsible teacher. The programme remains English-medium, while course administration may display broader Department-level language fields.

16. Separate the thesis from KEMS6880 laboratory credits

KEMS6880 Advanced Laboratory Work in Recovery of Raw Materials and Analytical Chemistry provides selectable 1-12 ECTS exercises in areas such as LC-MS, HPLC/SFC, spectroscopy, soil or water analysis and metal recovery. These courses build practical competence and may help a thesis, but they are not KEMS9550. Do not describe a KEMS6880 laboratory report as the master’s thesis, and do not assume that a particular KEMS6880 exercise is compulsory for every thesis topic. The degree structure requires laboratory-work credits; the thesis is assessed separately.

17. KEMS9800 is a miniproject, not the thesis

KEMS9800 Miniproject of Advanced Studies, 2-6 ECTS allows short supervised research in Chemistry research groups. Depending on the group, a miniproject may involve computational research, synthesis, analytical methods or measurements. It can be useful for learning a research environment before the thesis, but the current structure does not turn it into KEMS9550. If a miniproject later inspires a thesis topic, define a new thesis scope and supervision agreement rather than assuming the miniproject deliverable automatically becomes the thesis.

18. Treat KEMY004 as safety preparation, not a thesis-method mandate

CACEMP2024 includes KEMY004 Introduction to Finnish Laboratory Work, 1 ECTS in compulsory general studies. The course covers laboratory and chemical safety, legislation, good laboratory practice, waste treatment and scientific reporting. It is important preparation for safe work in JYU Chemistry laboratories. It still does not prove that every CACE thesis must be a laboratory thesis. A computational KEMS9550 project remains supported by the thesis course, even though the degree as a whole includes laboratory-safety competence.

19. Follow Chemistry laboratory safety where laboratory work is used

JYU Chemistry laboratory instructions require preparation before laboratory exercises and identify basic protective equipment such as safety goggles and a laboratory coat. Laboratory courses can include compulsory lectures, pre-assignments, experiments and reporting tasks. A thesis project may add project-specific risk assessment, instrument training, chemical-handling procedures and waste rules. Confirm local requirements with the research group and supervisor before entering the laboratory. Safety documentation is part of responsible research, not an optional appendix added after experiments are complete.

20. Use the Department writing guide as guidance, not as a method override

The current Department writing instructions explain scientific-thesis structure, layout, figures, tables, references and reporting conventions. They also say the writing guidance is not fully prescriptive and can be applied with the supervisor to make the thesis clear and appropriate. Use that flexibility responsibly. The writing guide should help present the science; it should not be used to invent a universal method, section length or page count that the current KEMS9550 course does not require. For citation practice, JYU says citation styles vary by field and one style should be used consistently; the current general guidance does not establish one universal APA requirement for every CACE thesis.

21. Resolve the generic experimental wording with the current course rule

The 2025 Department writing guide describes the 30 ECTS thesis as including literature and an experimental part. The current KEMS9550 course is more specific for the active thesis object and explicitly states experimental or computational component. These sources should be read together, not forced into a contradiction. For a laboratory thesis, the writing guide’s experimental reporting advice is directly relevant. For a computational thesis, adapt the scientific-report structure while following the KEMS9550 computational requirement and supervisor-approved conventions.

22. Read the Department assessment matrix before committing to the project

The currently linked Chemistry assessment matrix evaluates more than the final scientific result. It covers mastery of methods, use of literature, results and their analysis, conclusions, student independence, staying on schedule, style and language, and layout/finishing. Review these areas when the supervision agreement is created. The matrix explicitly says the total grade is not an arithmetic mean and that the emphasis of criteria can vary with the nature of the thesis when justified.

23. Method quality includes understanding limitations and reproducibility

In the Chemistry matrix, strong method work requires more than naming equipment or software. The student should understand the methods, justify the choice, recognise limitations and consequences, and describe the working methods clearly enough that the study can be reproduced. Apply the same principle to computational projects: record model assumptions, code or workflow, input data, parameters and validation decisions. For experimental work, record sample treatment, instrument conditions, calibration, quality controls and deviations from the planned procedure.

24. Literature, results and conclusions are separately assessable

The Department matrix separately examines the range and relevance of literature, systematic presentation and reliability of results, and whether conclusions actually answer the research question and relate findings to existing scientific knowledge. This helps prevent a common chemistry-thesis problem: producing a technically dense results section without an equally strong interpretation. Plan figures and tables so they support the argument, discuss uncertainty and limitations, and make conclusions proportional to what the evidence can actually support.

25. Independence and schedule are part of the grade

The Chemistry matrix explicitly assesses independence and staying on schedule, and Department guidance connects schedule assessment to the supervision agreement. Independence does not mean avoiding the supervisor. The guidance states that actively seeking advice does not jeopardise independence. Strong independence means using guidance effectively, communicating progress, making reasoned decisions and solving research problems rather than waiting passively. If equipment failures, partner delays or other justified events change the schedule, update the agreement rather than letting the original deadline become silently unrealistic.

26. KEMS901 normally uses the thesis abstract as maturity evidence

KEMS901 Maturity Exam for Master’s Degree, 0 ECTS, Pass/Fail is the CACE maturity object. Its current description says that, as a rule, the maturity requirement in an English-medium programme is completed in the programme language and that the master’s-thesis abstract is usually accepted as the maturity exam. The abstract is evaluated for both content and language. Therefore, do not automatically schedule a separate 700-word exam merely because the university has general maturity-exam instructions.

27. The Finnish or Swedish school-language exception changes the route

KEMS901 has an important exception. If a student completed school education in Finnish or Swedish and has not already demonstrated the required language proficiency through the bachelor’s maturity examination, the maturity requirement is taken as an exam in the school language. Its content is assessed by the discipline and the language by an approved language specialist. This is why two CACE students may legitimately have different maturity-completion methods even though they follow the same degree programme.

28. Do not let the current “Essay/Finnish” implementation label override KEMS901

The 2026-2027 KEMS901 implementation is labelled Essay and displays Finnish in implementation metadata. The course-level rule is broader: English, Finnish and Swedish are listed, the programme is English-medium, and the abstract is normally accepted except for defined language cases. Treat the implementation label as administrative metadata rather than a universal instruction that every CACE student must sit a Finnish essay. Confirm your route in Sisu or with the responsible teacher if the interface remains ambiguous.

29. Use the 700-word guidance only when an actual essay route applies

JYU’s general maturity page gives about 700 words as practical guidance for an e-maturity or hand-written essay. That is useful when KEMS901 requires the separate exam route. It is not a programme-specific word-count rule for the thesis abstract. If your maturity is the accepted English thesis abstract, follow the Department’s abstract-writing instructions. If your route is the separate school-language examination, then the general essay guidance becomes directly relevant.

30. Turnitin comes before final Vasara assessment

CACE has a programme-specific final-submission sequence. Register for KEMS9550 and KEMS901 in Sisu so that you can access the relevant Moodle environment. When the thesis is final, submit it to the KEMS9550 Moodle workflow for originality checking through Turnitin. Department guidance emphasises that similarity findings must be interpreted case by case. After the originality stage is clear, submit the final thesis to Vasara for formal assessment. Do not use Vasara as a place to send an editable draft.

31. Two reviewers assess the Chemistry thesis

Department guidance says the vice head responsible for education appoints two reviewers after the final Turnitin stage. At least one reviewer must hold a doctoral degree. One reviewer may be the thesis supervisor, but not both. An external expert serving as reviewer must have at least a master’s degree. The reviewers normally have one month to evaluate the thesis and provide a numerical grade and written report in Vasara. If they disagree on the grade, separate reports are produced.

32. The student has a 14-day response and suspension window

When the evaluation report is ready, CACE guidance gives the student 14 days to accept it, leave a response or suspend the assessment. Suspension is exceptional and can be used only once; it means the thesis will be revised and reassessed. A response instead argues that the submitted thesis deserves a different grade and can lead to a third reviewer. The Department guidance also states that the grade cannot become lower merely because of the third-review route. Read the report before clicking acceptance in Vasara.

33. The department vice head makes the final assessment decision

After the response chain is complete, the Department vice head responsible for education makes the assessment decision in Vasara. The grade is then recorded automatically in Sisu and the assessed thesis is sent to the public JYX repository. Department guidance states that JYX publication is a prerequisite for entering the thesis grade and awarding the degree. This Department-level delegation operates within the University Degree Regulations, which establish the higher-level two-examiner and response rights.

34. Remove confidential material from the public thesis

Master’s theses are public documents at JYU. Vasara sends the assessed thesis to JYX, and confidential information should not remain in the public file. For industry-linked chemistry work, decide early what data can be published, what material belongs in confidential background documentation and whether figures, spectra, process details or commercial information need modification before the final thesis is assembled. Confidentiality agreements cannot turn the thesis itself into a secret document; the public thesis must remain assessable and publishable.

35. Use AI transparently and never as scientific evidence

JYU permits AI-based applications in studies in principle, subject to the instructions for the specific study unit, but states that AI is not a scientific source. If generative AI is used in thesis work, disclose which application was used and how. The student remains responsible for all submitted content. Verify claims against original literature and research data, and do not upload confidential company information, unpublished results, personal data or other restricted research material to an external AI service unless the data-handling arrangement explicitly permits it.

36. Plan personal data and ethical review only when they are actually relevant

Most CACE theses focus on chemical materials, instruments, simulations or industrial processes, but some projects may still involve interviews, user studies, employee information or linked identifiers. If personal data are processed, JYU requires advance planning of the data lifecycle, controller role, minimisation, storage and access. Human-sciences ethical review is not automatic: formal review is required when a TENK criterion is met. Even without committee review, the thesis author remains responsible for ethical research practice.

37. Keep a living research-data plan and reproducible records

JYU describes a Data Management Plan as a living document covering the research-data lifecycle from creation and processing to publication, archiving or disposal. CACE does not currently show a separately coded compulsory DMP course in its degree structure, so do not invent one. Still, chemistry projects benefit from explicit file naming, raw-data protection, instrument metadata, calibration records, code/version control, sample identifiers, access rights and retention decisions. Good data management makes both experimental and computational results auditable and reproducible.

38. Final CACE checklist

Before release, confirm CACEMP2024/KEMSYVCACE in your Sisu structure; keep KEMS9550, KEMS903 and KEMS901 distinct; write the thesis in English under the CACE programme rule; choose experimental or computational methods based on the research problem; sign and maintain the supervision agreement; complete seminar obligations early; follow laboratory-safety rules where laboratory work applies; use the Department writing and assessment guidance; confirm whether KEMS901 is your thesis-abstract route or the separate school-language exam; run the final thesis through Turnitin in Moodle; submit an accessible PDF/A to Vasara; review the two-reviewer statement within the 14-day window; and verify the final JYX publication and Sisu grade.