The fieldwork is usually carried out in a developing country (in the home country for students from the South) in the summer between the second and the third semester. Students start working on their thesis in the beginning of the second semester, and the compulsory courses (especially History of Geographical Thought and Research Methodology) actively link theories and methodologies to the students' own research problems. The fieldwork is thoroughly planned in the second semester together with a supervisor. The length of the fieldwork is usually 2 ½ - 3 months. Fieldwork is carried out individually, but with the supervisor's approval of the student's fieldwork plan, interview guides and preliminary questionnaires prior to the data collection.