swisstopoEDU-MSc programme content and registration procedure

1 Choose your research topic – New topics will be published in March 2013.

List of topics, 2012/2013

Consult our list of topics for inspiration. swisstopo has prepared a list of research topics covering all its areas of activity. Do you already have a concept for a suitable Masters degree project, or maybe even an idea of your own? We look forward to hearing about it!

2 Submit a proposal
If you have chosen a topic from the list, please let us have a one-page description of your research proposal. Your description should explain how your proposed project relates to the topic and swisstopo, and it should outline your planned methodology and the results you hope to achieve. You should also include personal details (address, current and completed fields of study), plus details about your tutor/sponsor at your research institute (name and address, declaration of consent). Send your proposal to our education contact.

Please note that proposals may be submitted at any time.

We will notify you within one month whether your proposal is to be included in the swisstopo^EDU MSc programme. The criteria on which we base our decision are as follows:

• Your research project has to potentially make a new scientific contribution to one of our current themes or areas of activity.
• Your research project has to be topical and feasible and demonstrate originality.
• You must have the specialised background necessary to carry out your proposed research.
• There must be sufficient capacity in the programme and your chosen topic must still be available.

3 Working together with swisstopo
If your proposal is accepted, you and your tutor/sponsor at your research institute will be invited to a meeting at swisstopo, where you will be introduced to your contact at swisstopo who will support you during your research work. At the same time, your research project will be discussed in detail, your data requirements will be identified and data delivery will be specified.

4 Presentation of results to swisstopo
Upon completion of the research projects, all participants in the Masters degree programme are required to give an oral presentation of their results before an audience comprising an internal jury, employees of swisstopo and other interest groups. We require your participation and special commitment to this presentation so that we can obtain a clear picture of your research and assess your work. The presentation day is held towards the end of the year or by arrangement.

5 Recognition award
After you have made your presentation and submitted your Masters thesis, your work will be examined and assessed by an internal swisstopo jury, which decides the amount of the recognition award, up to CHF 1,000.00 per thesis. The assessment criteria are as follows (not in order of priority):

• Practical and/or operational implementability of the project
• Independence, originality, methodology and collaboration with swisstopo
• Soundness of scientific treatment of the topic
• Quality of the submitted thesis in scientific terms
• Quality of oral presentation

If your research work is judged to be the best, your research institute will also receive a special award of CHF 2,500.00. Here, in addition to the criteria relating to scientific content, the jury also assesses the quality and development of your collaboration with swisstopo during the period of your research.