Introduces oral defense of master’s theses for all law students: – Annoyingly little information

From and including 2025, all master’s students at the Faculty of Law must defend their master’s thesis orally. This is according to the dean of studies at the faculty, Halvard Haukeland Fredriksen.

– We have already introduced it for the large master’s theses that are written over a whole year. We have practiced this for two semesters already, with good experiences. So we have also decided, but not yet implemented, that it should also be introduced for the usual, small master’s theses that run over a semester, says Fredriksen.

According to the dean of studies, relatively few students write the large master’s thesis, and estimates that around 90 per cent of students write the usual, smaller master’s thesis.

Little information

Among the students themselves, there has so far been some confusion about the new decision and who it will cover.

Celine Trollsås (27) is in her fourth year as a law student. She heard about the new decision just after Christmas.

– There has been a bit of an annoying lack of information, and I don’t feel I quite know what it will entail and when it will be put into practice, she says.

For her own part, she sees it as unproblematic to present and defend the master’s thesis orally, but sees both advantages and disadvantages to its introduction.

– With an oral defense you have to stand for what you have written. At the same time, there is also an extra thing to think about, in addition to the actual writing, says Trollsås.

Henrik Aksnes (24), who is a second-year student, like Trollsås, also sees no problems with oral defense of his master’s thesis.

– I think it will be fine to handle. I feel I perform better verbally than in writing. It is very important to know your master’s subject well, and oral defense is common practice in other faculties, Aksnes points out.

A question of resources

Dean of studies Fredriksen is also aware of this.

– We are aware that it is quite common at other faculties, and have always believed that it should be like that. But it has always been a question of money and resource use, he says.

The reason why the faculty is now able to carry out oral defenses for all master’s students is about the opportunities that digital solutions provide. The oral presentation and dialogue with the examiners will take place using digital platforms, such as “Teams” and “Zoom”.

– We imagine that the oral defense will take approximately one hour, followed by a conversation with the examiners about the assignment and how the students have worked on it. Then a final grade is set at the end, Fredriksen explains.

He adds that the very best thing would be to carry out the session physically, but that it can hardly be carried out with external sensors from all over the country.

– We do not have the resources to fly in all the external sensors required. It would also have a climate aspect to it, he points out.

Coming to stay

Fredriksen confirms that the practice of oral defence, when it is introduced during 2025, is here to stay.

– This is something that all students must go through, and it will not be possible to get an exemption, he says.

The dean of studies understands that some students may find it scary and uncomfortable, but believes the benefits are many.

– I think it is very good that they get the oral experience here at the faculty, so that the first time they present a work orally is not in a courtroom. It is also a mastery for the students to be allowed to defend their work orally, he says, and adds:

– So it cannot be overlooked that it also has a side against artificial intelligence and ChatGPT. The old system where two censors assess a text, but with little information about how it was created, can be a problem. We need that dialogue with the students about how they have worked with artificial intelligence in the assignment, he points out.

Better legal certainty for students

In conclusion, the Dean of Studies also hopes that the new scheme will result in fewer grade complaints.

– We believe that the students’ legal certainty will be improved if they can talk to the examiners and explain the assignment. In addition, you also get a justification which means that you may understand how the examiners think in relation to assessment and grade, says Fredriksen.

Second-year student Frida Haxthow (23) agrees.

– Personally, I’m not a big fan of oral presentations, but I do see the possibility that you can pull yourself up in terms of character. It is a great opportunity to show the sensors what you can do, she says.