Bachelor'S Degree Final Project
Code: 104485 ECTS Credits: 12| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| International Relations | OB | 4 |
Contact
- Name:
- Dafne Muntanyola Saura
- Email:
- dafne.muntanyola@uab.cat
Teachers
- Dafne Muntanyola Saura
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
The requirements to register for the subject are the following:
a. Having passed all the subjects of the first year of the degree.
b. Have passed a minimum of 2/3 of the total credits of the curriculum (160 credits)
Objectives and Contextualisation
The final project is an essential part of the degree and constitutes 12 ECTS. The student must develop a final project and defend it in front of a comission. The student counts with the support, and superivision, of a tutor.
Competences
- Analyse cases and phenomena in the international sphere and interpret different political texts using contemporary political theories.
- Analyse international society and its structure and understand its importance for real-life problems and professional practice.
- Analyse the behaviour of international actors, both state and non-state.
- Analyse the challenges to international security including the conditions that promote peace and generate conflicts and the evolutionary of international security architecture.
- Analyse the production and implementation of public policies related to the international sphere, in particular foreign policy and security and defence policy.
- Analyse the structure and operation of international institutions and organisations (political, economic, military and security, environmental, development and emergency aid) both in the universal and regional spheres, with particular emphasis on the European Union, from either real or simulated cases.
- Apply knowledge of the structure and operation of international institutions to problems and/or practical cases, either real or simulated.
- Apply quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in research processes.
- Design, plan and carry out projects and studies for analysis and/or intervention in different areas of international relations.
- Identify data sources and carry out rigorous bibliographical and documentary searches.
- Learn and analyse the impacts of the globalisation process on domestic political systems and on the behaviour of the political actors and the public.
- Produce and prepare the presentation of intervention reports and/or proposals.
- Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Use different tools for analysing the contemporary international system and its functional and regional or geographical subsystems.
- Use metatheoretical data to argue and establish plausible relation of causality and establish ways of validating or rejecting them.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse public policies that are significant for international politics in line with the case study chosen for the Final Degree Project.
- Analyse the impact of some of the challenges to international security using basic or applied research.
- Analyse the importance and the impact of phenomena linked to the globalisation process according to the case study chosen for the Final Degree Project.
- Analyse the operation of the different international institutions and organisations that appear in the cases analysed in the Final Degree Project.
- Analyse the role of different international actors that appear in the Final Research Project.
- Analyse the way in which specific international institutions tackle real problems in international society, according to the case in question.
- Apply quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in research processes.
- Design and carry out a specific study of analysis or intervention in areas related to international relations.
- Identify data sources and carry out rigorous bibliographical and documentary searches.
- Produce and prepare the presentation of intervention reports and/or proposals.
- Recognise the specific problems of international society and its structure that are relevant for the Final Degree Project.
- Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Use contemporary political frameworks and texts to analyse specific cases of international society for the preparation of the Final Degree Project.
- Use metatheoretical data to argue and establish plausible relation of causality and establish ways of validating or rejecting them.
- Use the analytical tools for the international system to analyse the specific phenomena of their subsystems which appear in the Final Degree Project.
Content
The Final Degree Project (TFG) has the following characteristics:
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It is a year-long course worth 12 credits. The objective is to complete a final project under the supervision of a tutor. The project can be one of three types: Research, Theoretical, or Intervention. Project templates are available in the application.
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The project is an individual assignment and requires significant independent work, although it is supervised by a tutor. The workload is 300 hours for students.
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The project includes the completion of several deliverables: initial proposal, mid-term report, submission of a final draft, final project, and an executive summary.
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It is mandatory to defend the project before an interdisciplinary panel and respond to their questions.
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The course also includes TWO mandatory training sessions to support students in methodology and bibliographic referencing.
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The project topic is selected in JUNE through an offer-based system (chosen from a catalog with supervision keywords and a prioritization system based on grades). Check the website of the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology for more information on the topic and tutor assignment procedure.
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In the virtual space of the course, you will find the three project templates, as well as specific information for each academic year regarding the course calendar, training sessions, materials, and evaluation.
Specifically, the deliverables to be supervised are:
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23/09/2025: First TFG information session. You must contact your supervisor.
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First follow-up meeting with the supervisor (October): Define the research question, list of bibliography to consult for the literature review, and work schedule.
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14/10/2025: First methodological training session on How to do a TFG, with a review of the research, theoretical, and intervention project templates.
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First submission (E1) – 31/10/2025:
Definition of the study object: presentation of the research question, general and specific objectives, work schedule, and bibliography. -
13/11/2025: Training session on bibliography.
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November–December: Feedback on the first submission.
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Second submission (E2) – 13/02/2026:
Draft of the theoretical framework and analysis model, methodology/planning and analysis/evaluation (or theoretical reflection for non-empirical TFGs), initial results. -
February–March: Feedback on the second submission.
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Final draft submission – 17/04/2026:
Research question, objectives, theoretical framework, analysis model, methodology/planning, analysis/evaluation, results, and conclusions (theoretical projects exclude methodology and analysis sections). -
April–May: Feedback on the final draft.
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Final report and executive summary submission (E3 and E4) – 22/05/2026
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June 9, 10, and 11, 2026: Public defense before an interdisciplinary panel.
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Group sessions | 6 | 0.24 | 6, 4, 5, 3, 2, 1, 7, 16, 8, 10, 9, 14, 12, 13, 11, 17, 15 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Scheduled tutorials with the supervisor | 7 | 0.28 | 6, 4, 5, 3, 2, 1, 7, 16, 8, 10, 9, 14, 12, 13, 11, 17, 15 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Development and writing of the FGP | 215 | 8.6 | 6, 4, 5, 3, 2, 1, 7, 16, 8, 10, 9, 14, 12, 13, 11, 17, 15 |
The subject contemplates three plenary sessions (one for presentation and two sessions Training oriented to the training in documentary exploration and methods) and direct monitoring by the supervisor assigned.
The supervision will include a minimum of 5 face-to-face tutorials that correspond to the evidence presented, unless otherwise agreed with the students. Based on the guidance of the supervisor, the student will have to develop and deliver, throughout of the process, various evidence of evaluation: project, evolution, final report, presenting publicly the results of the work before a court designated by the Faculty. The virtual space of the subject will expand the information regarding the characteristics of the evidence to be delivered and specific information about each course will be found.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final report | 60 | 70 | 2.8 | 6, 4, 5, 3, 2, 1, 7, 16, 8, 10, 9, 12, 13, 11, 17, 15 |
| Oral presentation | 40 | 2 | 0.08 | 16, 10, 14 |
The TFG is a course that requires continuous monitoring and assessment through the TFE application. In order to be assessed and defend the TFG, students must have submitted all four required deliverables (evidences) within the established deadlines and through the TFE application. Additionally, the project must be publicly defended before a panel.
The supervisor will qualitatively assess and provide a provisional grade in the TFE for Evidence E1 (initial project with research question, objectives, bibliography, and work schedule) and E2 (intermediate report), review the final draft, and assign a grade and comments for the final submission (E3), which will account for 60% of the final grade. The TFG defense panel will evaluate the presentation, responses to questions, and the executive summary (E4), which will account for the remaining 40%. The format for E1 and E2 is explained in the monitoring section and will be defined by the student in coordination with their supervisor.
Final TFG Product
The final product of the TFG will consist of TWO PDF documents that the student must upload separately to the TFE:
- Ev. 3 Final Report (6,000 words) – 60% of the final grade
- Ev. 4 Executive Summary (800 words) – 10%, evaluated by the defense panel
Final Report (6,000 words) – E3
Length: 6,000 words. The following are not included in the word count: cover page, acknowledgments, abstract, table of contents, bibliography, or appendices. The report must include a title, a 300-word abstract, and 3 to 5 keywords, all in Catalan, Spanish, and English. These must also be entered into the application on the day of submission.
Style Guidelines:
- Font: Times New Roman or similar, size 12, 1.5 line spacing
- Footnotes and quotes longer than 3 lines: same font, size 10
- Justified text, consistent formatting throughout the document. No changes in language, font, or margins are allowed
- Bibliography must follow APA or a similar updated citation style
Templates: Templates for research, theoretical, and intervention TFGs are available in the TFE and on the website under the TFG Monitoring section.
Evaluation Criteria for E3: Final Report (60%)
A. Quality of the research question: Clarity, relevance, and appropriateness. General and specific objectives.
B. Literature review, theoretical framework, and hypotheses: Comprehensive and up-to-date review related to the state of the art and existing theoretical debates. Theoretical and conceptual framework. Well-founded hypotheses or specific research questions.
C. Methodology: Justification of the population and sample, explanation of the methods used for data collection and analysis (not applicable to theoretical projects).
D. Results and conclusions:
- Research project: In-depth analysis of the content; consideration of different dimensions of the study object; all objectives are addressed; connection between theory, hypotheses, and empirical material; demonstrated ability to construct and develop scientific arguments.
- Theoretical project: Ability to conduct a thorough literature review, identifying points of agreement and disagreement among authors, as well as strengths and weaknesses of different theories; ability to develop strong scientific arguments.
- Intervention project: Ability to design a proposal, program, project, or intervention that addresses the identified challenges. Must include a timeline and resources.
E. References and bibliography: The work consistently cites and references the consulted bibliography. The sources used are appropriate. Includes title, 500-word abstract, and 3 to 5 keywords in all three languages.
F. Work process: Ability to work independently and contribute original reflections and analysis. Timely submission of all deliverables.
Executive Summary (800 words) – E4
The executive summary is a document intended to present the TFG “to the public.” It is the reference document —along with the poster and the video of your presentation— that the panel will use to evaluate your work. Therefore, it must be a brief and concise document that explains the relevance, objectives, methodology, and main results of the project. It should be a clear and structured synthesis of the central aspects of your TFG.
The executive summary must not exceed 800 words, must include a bibliography —which should be cited within the body of the summary and is not included in the word count— and should be organized as follows:
- Presentation of the problem
- Approach to the object of study (objectives, questions and/or hypotheses)
- Main theoretical and/or conceptual elements
- Methodological design/planning (except in theoretical projects)
- Main results
- Conclusion
These sections are intended as a guide and may be adapted depending on the nature of the project. They should not appear as separate sections (the executive summary should be a single continuous text).
Templates for the cover page of the final report and executive summary
Faculty of Political Science and Sociology
Final Degree Project
Title:
Author:
Supervisor:
Date:
Degree in:
Faculty of Political Science and Sociology
Final Degree Project – Executive Summary
Title:
Author:
Supervisor:
Date:
Degree in:
Defense before the panel (40% of the final grade)
This is a mandatory requirement to pass the TFG. The student must give a 10-minute presentation summarizing their TFG and presenting its contents, following the structure of the research, theoretical, or intervention models. After each presentation, the panel will ask questions, and the student will have 10 minutes to respond. If a visual aid is used (slides, Prezi, Canva, image, video…), the student is responsible for bringing it or knowing how to access it from the room’s computer. The total time for each defense is 20 minutes. It is a public event, and up to 4 guests per candidate may attend. The student has the right to defend the TFG in Catalan, Spanish, or English, according to their preference.
(If the student provides justification for being unable to attend the TFG presentation due to an exchange program during the scheduled dates, the defense may be conducted via videoconference. To opt for this alternative to in-person presentation, the student must explicitly request it from the TFG Committee when submitting the final project.)
Panel Evaluation Rubric
Public Presentation (includes Ev. 4 Executive Summary) – 40%
A. Clarity and precision of the executive summary (10%)
Ability to write a well-structured, clear executive summary that effectively synthesizes the main elements of the project. Single text, 800 words, with bibliography, coherent structure, andfree of errors.
B. Appropriateness of content and format of the defense (10%)
Clarity and precision of the presentation. Ability to deliver a coherent and concise presentation within the allotted time and using the appropriate tone. It should reflect the main elements of the project according to the research, theoretical, or intervention models.
C. Clarity of responses to questions (10%)
Ability to respond appropriately within the allotted time to the panel’s questions, providing relevant justification when necessary.
D. Quality of responses to questions (10%)
Inclusion of concepts, methodological reflections, and concrete examples from the project. Original and personal contributions to the existing knowledge in the discipline are valued.
Appropriate Use of AI
The student signs a declaration of academic honesty upon enrollment and declares themselves the sole author of their TFG. It is important to note that academic knowledge relies on the ability to verify the traceability of data and theoretical sources used. Therefore, the use of AI is NOT CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE in the theoretical construction stages, including the state of the art, theoretical framework, and context, as well as in the formulation of the research question, objectives, construction of the analytical model and hypotheses, diagnostics, data collection and construction, data interpretation, and writing of results and conclusions.
IT IS CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE for overcoming writer’s block and getting started, as a formal text corrector, for summarizing, code correction and data analysis, and for searching and formally reviewing bibliographic references.
The student must clearly identify which parts were generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced the process and final outcome of the activity. Lack of transparency in the use of AI in this evaluable activity will be considered a breach of academic honesty.
Total or partial plagiarism in submitted deliverables and improper use of AI will result in a grade of 0 for the affected deliverable and a grade of 0 for the course if it occurs in the final draft or in evidences E3 or E4.
Assessment System
This course/module does not allow for a single final assessment system. If the student has not submitted all required deliverables through the application by the set deadline, the course will be marked as not assessable.
Bibliography
You will find complementary resources and more information on the website of the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology (at the special section devoted to it). Likewise, each TFG will require the revision of specific bibliography related to the subject treated.
As a methodological bibliography, we recommend the following manuals:
Original publication in french (5ème. revisée): Campenhoudt, L. V. Van; Marquet, J. & Quivy, R. (2011) Manuel de Recherche en Sciences Sociales. Malakoff: Dunod.
Catalan version in the library and Abacus: Quivy, R. & Campenhoudt, L. V. Van (1997) Manual de Recerca en Ciències Socials. Barcelona: Herder.
Castillan version online open access: Quivy, R. & Campenhoudt, L. V. Van (2015). Manual de investigación en ciencias sociales. Ciudad de México: Limusa.
López-Roldán, P.; Fachelli, S. (2015). Metodología de la Investigación Social Cuantitativa. Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès): Dipòsit Digital de Documents, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Verd, J.M.; Lozares, C. (2016) Introducción a la investigación cualitativa. Fases, métodos y técnicas. Madrid: Síntesis.
Software
No specific software
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.