what is master thesis in german

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Making Your Thesis a Success

For most students, their final research paper is the first major work written during their degree program. It is much more comprehensive and demanding than term or seminar papers they have written during the course of their studies and, therefore, requires more planning.

Formalities: What regulations apply to the thesis?

Here, you will find information on the regulations governing the writing and submission of your thesis.  Formalities Please take note: These specifications apply for bachelor’s and master’s theses. You can find the regulations applying to the diploma thesis in the §§ of the ADPO (General Academic and Examination Regulations) and the FPSO (Departmental Study and Examination Regulations) of your degree program.

Tips and Tricks

Here, you will find some tips, literature and links we have compiled to help you succeed in writing your thesis. Tips and Tricks

Please note: The recently issued prohibition on the use of special characters in connection with gender-sensitive language in Bavarian schools, universities and authorities relates exclusively to the official tasks of the institutions themselves ; the prohibition does not extend to personal speech, documents, texts, and communication in study and teaching . 

Students are free to decide whether and in what form they want to use gender-sensitive language. The use or non-use of gender-sensitive language has no influence on the assessment of examinations, seminar papers, or theses .

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Having trouble choosing a topic for your bachelor’s or master’s thesis? Our Themenbörse posts current thesis topics from across the spectrum of TUM’s academic departments.

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Guidelines for the Master’s thesis

The master’s thesis is considered the final outcome of your master project and is also the most extensive scientific work of the study. The basis is identifying an appropriate topic, which is worked on independently, based on scientific theories and methods.

Below you will find important information and related references to the Master’s Framework Examination Regulations (M-RPO) regarding the individual steps before and during the preparation of a master’s thesis, as well as its assessment and evaluation.

You will find a summary of all the information in this downloadable PDF.

Before Registration

Before you register your master’s thesis, choose a topic that is related to your master's program and discuss it with your initial supervisor.

Important information before registration

Compensation for disadvantages.

If you are unable to complete all or part of the master’s thesis in the described form or within the deadline due to a chronic illness, a disability, pregnancy a/o maternity leave, you may apply for compensation for a disadvantage. Accordingly, the Master's Examination Committee may extend the processing time for examinations or the deadline (paragraph 10a and 10b of the M-RPO).

For this purpose, please contact the Diversity Officer ( Diversitätsbeauftragte ) of the University of Erfurt, who is supported by Department 1: Study & Teaching ( Dezernat 1: Studium & Lehre ), or the representative for Studying with Children before proposing the topic of your master’s thesis.

Language of the Master’s thesis

The master’s thesis could be written either in German or English. Should you want to write your thesis in a language other than the above mentioned, you will need to get your first supervisor’s approval before issuing the topic of the master’s thesis (paragraph 21 (6) of the M-RPO). In this case, the master’s thesis must contain a short summary in German as an appendix.

Joint-master’s thesis

The master’s thesis can also be written as a group thesis if its contribution could be assessed clearly and distinguishably. Further details are regulated by paragraph 21 (4) in conjunction with paragraph 21 (1) of the M-RPO.

Supervision of the Master’s thesis

Any professor or other person who is authorized to conduct examinations and hold a teaching position within your master's program can supervise the master’s thesis (paragraph 21 (2) of the M-RPO).

External second Supervisor

You have found a person who does not (regularly) teach at the University of Erfurt, but agrees to review your work? Then you can request the appointment of an external second supervisor. This person must have at least the university degree you are pursuing. Thus, it could be an expert from a company or another university, but their appointment must be justified and well-founded.

Formalities for appointing an external second supervisor

• Clarification of the importance and advisability of appointing an external second supervisor with the first supervisor.
• Submission of a written request to the M-Examination board ( M-Prüfungsausschuss ) stating why this external second supervisor would perform this task to the same extent instead of a professor, or another person authorized to examine at the University of Erfurt. This written application shall be co-signed by the first supervisor.
• Submission of the application along with the contact details of the second supervisor as well as the "Application for issuing the thesis’ topic".

The official form "Application for issuing the thesis’ topic" can be found here. Please use only this form for application.  A translation help is given with this document .

In principle, students who wish to peruse their degree within the standard study period (four semesters) must “apply for issuing the thesis topic with taking into account that handing in the master’s thesis shall be one month before the end of the fourth semester at the latest.” (paragraph 21 (3) of the M-RPO).  

Please note that you should submit your application as well as a current Certificate of Enrolment to the Dean's Office by the 15th of (each) month so that your thesis topic and the start of the processing period can be scheduled for the 1st day of the following month.

The topic and the supervisors will then be approved by the Master's Examination Committee and communicated to you in an issue letter . This letter will be sent to you by the dean's office via e-mail a few days before the start of the processing period. Your confirmation of this letter is required so that the corresponding link can be activated in WISEflow and sent to you.

During the Master's thesis processing period

The deadline for submitting your master’s thesis is 5 months starting from the day you will be notified with the issue letter (paragraph 21 (5) of the M-RPO). As a rule of thumb, the length/word count of the master thesis should not exceed approx. 25,000 words. You should thus keep the topic appropriately brief to fit into the given word count.

The work must contain (from a purely formal point of view) the following elements:

• table of contents,
• list of sources/bibliography,
• page numbers,
• references.

The requirements of any other scientific work apply (Research question(s), research interest, state of research, theory, results, conclusion/further research…etc.).

Further remarks

Return or change of thesis’ topic.

The topic can only be returned once and only within two months after the issue of the master thesis’ topic (paragraph 21 (3) of the M-RPO). For this purpose, please send an informal letter with a short justification to the M-Examination Committee ( M-Prüfungsausschuss ) and submit it via the Dean's Office.

Changing the thesis' topic of the thesis is only possible in justified exceptions. For this purpose, a written request with reasons must be submitted to the Master's Examination Board no later than 4 weeks before the submission deadline (final deadline). This request requires a written statement from your supervisor. Adding an (additional) subtitle is possible at any time without an application. However, this addition will not (!) be shown on the certificate.

Extension of the Deadline

In case you are unable to submit on time due to an illness, you must immediately submit the sick leave notification to Department 1: Study & Teaching (Dezernat 1: Studium & Lehre).  For this purpose, it is mandatory to use the given form.

If the inability to work on the thesis is recognized, the Deadline will be extended according to the respective number of days of illness or delay. After processing the documents received by the Dean's Office for this purpose, students receive a letter with the recalculated deadline.

Submission of the Master’s thesis

To verify that the  submission deadline  has been met, the  date of receipt of the digital submission  via WISEFlow applies.

On the day of submission, you upload your digital master thesis as a PDF file via the platform  WISEflow . This file must not exceed a size of  20 MB  and must (formally) contain the following:

• list of sources and bibliography,
• page numbers

Please make sure that no conclusions can be drawn about your name or address here (personal data - data protection) - i.e. do not insert the title page or declaration of independence in this document!

The  the title page, the valid Certificate of enrolment and the declaration of independence signed by hand in blue must be uploaded in WISEflow as separate files under " Anhangsmaterial "; and furthermore, additional files with attachments or appendices (video recordings, statistics files, etc.) may be uploaded here - these files together must not exceed the size of  1 GB .

After that, you also add the automatically generated cover sheet in WISEflow.

As a last step, click on the "Click here to submit" field in WISEflow to complete the submission. After that, you can download a receipt for yourself and print it out if necessary.

If requested by your examiner(s) , please submit one/two bound printed version(s) of your master thesis to the Dean's Office  no later than 3 days  after submitting your thesis in WISEflow.

Evaluation of the Master’s thesis

After submitting your master’s thesis in due time, the Dean's Office will send it to the respective supervisors. The deadline for the evaluation procedure is based on paragraph 22 (2) of the M-RPO.

The master's thesis will be reviewed by two supervisors and evaluated in accordance with paragraph 15 (3) of the M-RPO. If the grades of both appointed supervisors differ by 2.0 or more, or if one of the two supervisors assesses the thesis as "insufficient", the thesis is to be assessed by a third examiner (paragraph 22 (2) of the M-RPO).

You will receive your grade certificate by mail shortly after the receipt of all experts‘ reports. The Dean's Office will then automatically forward a copy to Department 1: Study & Teaching ( Dezernat 1: Studium & Lehre ).

Second Attempt of Master's thesis

The master’s thesis is deemed not to have been passed if you do not complete your thesis within the deadline of the Master Examination Board or if the two supervisors rate your work as "insufficient" (grade 5.0) (paragraph 23 (2) of the M-RPO).

If the master’s thesis has not been passed for the first time, it can be repeated once on a different topic. A change of the topic of the master’s thesis is only permitted if you did not make use of this option when writing the first master’s thesis (paragraph 21 (3) of the M-RPO). The application can be submittd by the 15th of (each) month (the processing time starts on the 1st of the following month).

If the master’s thesis is also not passed in the second attempt, the right to be examined expires. If you lose your right to take an examination, you will be de-registered (ex-matriculated) (paragraph 23 (2) of the M-RPO).

Contact person

Office hours.

Appointments for the submission of applications and printed master theses are possible by individual arrangement. Appointments and confirmations are made after e-mail request.

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Points to take into account while writing your master's thesis

The topics you can choose for a master's thesis should be highly relevant for practice and policy and the thesis should to be empirically grounded.

Process of a master's thesis

• Discuss a possible topic with Prof. Liudvika Leišytė.
• Write a 2-page proposal (incl. title, table of contents and timeline of the thesis).
• Get approval for this by Prof. Leišytė.
• Prof. Leišytė will write a letter to the Central Examinations Office to declare that she will be your supervisor.
• Write the thesis: in the process, make sure to send the questionnaire for surveys or interview schedules to Prof. Leišytė to get approval before you start your empirical work.
• Submit your thesis to the Section Central Examinations Office, Dez. 4.3.

Type and time frame of the master’s thesis

• Generally, all theses at the Professorship are empirical (i.e. the self-organized collection and analysis of data is part of every thesis). This type of thesis has a time frame of 26 weeks (for details see the Prüfungsordnung ).
• In exceptional cases, theoretical theses are accepted. The specific topic must then be discussed and agreed on with Prof. Liudvika Leišytė. The time frame for this type of thesis is only 17 weeks.

The time frame (count of weeks) starts with the registration of your topic (letter from Prof. Leišytė to the Central Examinations Office).

Topic of the thesis

The topic you choose should relate to the main research fields of the Professorship of Higher Education. Possible Topics:

• Innovation through organizational learning
• Stakeholder representation and characteristics in the boards of universities
• Promotion of collaboration at German universities: policies and practices
• Changing governance of universities and implications of this for their performance
• The implementation of gender policies in German universities
• Characteristics and challenges of an inclusive professional organization

Academic entrepreneurship

• Policies of German universities to promote spin off creation in Germany
• The characteristics of founders of new high tech ventures in Germany
• Motivations of academic entrepreneurs to patent
• Gender and entrepreneurship: evidence from patenting activities

Academic profession and managerialism

• The role of new public management on publication behaviour of academics
• The role of performance based systems on grant acquisition of academics
• Gender in academia: what are the gender differences in academic productivity?
• Challenges of integration of foreign knowledge workers in Germany

Preconditions

Master's theses at the Professorship of Higher Education are accepted according to certain preconditions and according to capacities of scientific staff:

• Bachelor's degree
• Successful completion of two seminars of the Professorship of Higher Education
• Parallel to master’s thesis: Participation in the Research Colloquium of the Professorship

For theses in the Master WiWi as well as the exam regulations (Prüfungsordnung) see: WiWi: Master of Science

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Master's Thesis

What is the master's thesis.

The Master's thesis is the final part of the master program and has a total of 30 credit points. It consists of an individual research project that is carried out by the student under consultation with a supervisor(s). Usually, once a student has explored possible topics for master projects (e.g., by searching through the webpages of different research groups, many of which can be found under the Internship Opportunities page on this website), the student gets into contact with a researcher to decide whether it is possible and makes sense for the student to do their master project on a particular topic. The specifics of the master project are then agreed on in consultation with the supervisors.

A Master's thesis consists of the thesis itself (i.e., the written document) and an oral defense of the thesis (i.e., presentation and oral examination).

Formal Guidelines from the University of Potsdam

The University of Potsdam provides “General Provisions for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs” on a university webpage. Unfortunately, there is currently no English translation of this webpage and it is only available in German (status: May 2020).

However, in the German version of this webpage (see link below) you can find an English translation of the “Revised version of the General Regulations for Study and Examinations for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees (not for teachers in training) at the University of Potsdam (BAMA-O)” (see link below). In this document, under “§ 30 Master’s Thesis” (p. 18), general specifications regarding the master thesis can be found.

only in German; English translation: “General Provisions for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs”

English translation; (not for teachers in training) at University of Potsdam 

Excerpts from the University’s Study Regulations

Here are some excerpts from the “Revised version of the General Regulations for Study and Examinations for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees (not for teachers in training) at the University of Potsdam (BAMA-O)”.

Keep in mind these are just excerpts! For more information please refer to the official document from the University of Potsdam:

§ 30 (6): “The master’s thesis must be submitted in three physical copies and one digital copy . The thesis must have page numbers, a table of contents, and a list of the sources consulted and aids used . Passages of the thesis that are quoted or paraphrased from other works must be identified in the bibliography. The length of the thesis should not exceed 3 DIN A4 pages per credit point . At the conclusion of the thesis, the candidate must affirm that the candidate composed the thesis independently and did not use any sources or aids other than those listed .

Oral Defense

§ 30 (11): “The Examining Board calls for an oral defense to to defend the thesis after its submission. The oral defense only takes place if the thesis has received a final grade of “sufficient” (4.0) or better under subsection 8. The oral defense is graded by an Examination Committee. The Examination Committee is comprised of the examiners and one assessor . The oral defense includes a 20-minute oral presentation and a 30-minute oral examination . If the oral defense receives a grade of “insufficient” (5.0), it can be repeated one time. The evaluation of the oral defense constitutes up to 25 percent of the overall grade for the master’s thesis. The oral defense is open to the University community ; the student can also apply to open the oral defense to the public.”

Profilschwerpunkt Urbane Systeme

Inter- und transdisziplinäre forschung und lehre, faqs master's thesis.

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FAQs about the Master's Thesis

The following overview is designed to help in the planning of your Thesis (Master's Thesis). Background of the questions and information are repeated requests to the academic advisor (currently Dr. Elke Hochmuth, a member of both audit committees).

Information given is based on:

• The examination regulations for the Master's Program "Urban Culture, Society and Space (UCSS) ” (particularly § 20, only in German available); Chairman of the Audit Committee (Interim): Prof. Dr. Jens Martin Gurr.
• as well as the examination regulations for the Master's Program "Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) ", (particularly § 20, only in German available); Chairman of the Audit Committee (Interim): Prof. Dr. Jens Martin Gurr.

The FAQ are divided into the following topics:

1. Basic information on the Master's Thesis 2. Selection of the Topic (before the official registration) 3. Registration of Thesis 4. Processing of the Master's Thesis (after registration) 5. Delivery of Thesis 6. Grading of the Master Thesis

All enrolled students from our Study Programmes study according to the new valid examination regulations (regardless of the start of their studies).

Since the winter semester 2018/19 there are new examination regulations. Major changes: The programme “Sustainable Urban Technologies” has been renamed in “Sustainable Urban Development”. Students of this programme who started their studies before the winter semester 2018/19 and still wish to have the title "Sustainable Urban Technologies" on their certificates must submit an application when registering their Master's thesis (cf. 34 (2)). Please ask Ms. Heckmann at the Examination Office.

In addition, changes have been made for both degree programmes: The overall grade of the certificate is calculated from all grades of all modules (cf. §27). This applies to all students who started their studies in winter semester 18/19 or later.

FAQ - Basic information on the Master's Thesis

Q1: How long is the processing time for the Master's Thesis? 6 months (26 weeks) after registration (written application) (see PO §20 (5)).

Q2: What text volume must have the Thesis? The text volume of the Master's Thesis must have at least 28,000 words (excluding bibliography and annex) (PO §20 (9)).

Q3: In what language I have to write the Master's Thesis? Students from "SUD" have to write their Thesis in English. Exceptions must be regulated by the Audit Committee. Students of UCSS can write the Thesis in English or in German (PO §20 (8)).

2) FAQ - Selection of the Topic (before the official registration)

Q4: How can I find a topic for my Master’s Thesis? Certainly during your studies or during your internship you come across some topics, which are more interesting for you than others. You want to have in one of these areas deeper knowledge? So perhaps that might be a topic for your Thesis. If you have found such topic, please discuss it with a potential supervisor and clarify with him/her, whether it is a practicable for a Master’s Thesis. Afterwards please define it exactly under the supervision of your supervisor. Important is also, to have one central research question. Aterwards please register your Thesis at the examination office.

Q5: Can I from a / m lecturers / in a Master’s thesis topic get? Yes of course. Please ask a lecturer of your choice, whether he/she has an idea for a topic for you. However he /she must be a lecturer of our Master’s Programmes (PO §20 (4) and (12)).

Q6: Who can supervise may Thesis ? All lecturers from the Master's Programmes SUD and UCCS can supervise your Master's Thesis. The lecturer you have chosen should be informed and should agree with your chosen topic. Please discuss the topics with him/her and please consider the hints.

Usually, the first supervisor should be from the University of Duisburg-Essen and the second supervisor can be from outside (from another University or from a non-university institution (PO §20 (4) and (12)).

Q7: Can also external persons (i.e. non university members) supervise the Master's Thesis? Yes, but external persons must have at least a university Degree (at least Diploma or Master’s Degree). However, they must be ordered from the respective audit committees. For this purpose, please contact the academic advisor.

Q8: Can I write my Master’s Thesis in another country? You can write your Thesis abroad, but it needs to be registered at the University of Duisburg-Essen and supervised by a professor of the University of Duisburg-Essen. The other supervisor can be a foreigner, who has sufficient English Language skills and have an academic background (academic Degree necessary) (see Q7 and 8).

3) FAQ - Registration of Thesis

Q9: When can I register my Thesis? The Master's Thesis can only be registered if you have acquired 75 credits in your Master's Programme (§20 (2)).

Q10: Where and how can I register for the Master's Thesis? In the examination office; currently the contact person is Ms Heckmann ([email protected]). You will receive an application template from her in which you fill the topic and the name of both supervisors. (both supervisors need to be informed by you and have agreed to the topic). After filling you can hand in the template at the examination office. Then you will receive the deadline for submission. After handing in, you are registered for your Master's Thesis.

Please note that the topic on the template is completely identical to the topic of your finished Thesis ($ 20 (3)).

Please make sure that both supervisors were informed about the topic and they have already agreed to support that topic. Otherwise there could be problems after registration.

Q11: Is there a deadline for registration of the Master’s Thesis? No.

4) FAQ - Processing of the Master's Thesis (after registration)

Q12: Is there a possibility of extension of the processing time? Yes, in justified cases, the processing time can be extended up to 6 weeks. An extension must be requested by writing and the student has to hand in the request to the examination office. The examination office must receive the request two weeks before the given deadline of the Thesis (latest) (§20 (5)).

Q13: What can I do if I get sick during the processing time of my Master's Thesis? The processing time of the Master Thesis will be usually extended for the days of illness. The student has to verify the illness by a medical certificate and has to hand in it as soon as possible to the examination office, especially if the disease is directly related to the deadline of the Master’s Thesis. The Examination Office will calculate from the time of interruption and informs the students about the new deadline. The medical certificate must include a description of the health impairment (about the reference to specific pain). The exact name of the disease is advisable, but not mandatory (Section 20 (5)).

Q14: Can I change the topic of my Master’s Thesis? The topic can only be returned/changed within the first four weeks after registration of the Thesis. The reasoned restitution must be requested and approved through the audit committee. After acceptance you can choose a new topic (§20 (6)).

Q15: Are there any guidelines on the format of the master's thesis? The Master's Thesis must have at least 28,000 words (excluding bibliography and annex) (PO §20 (9)). In addition, please hand it in in a DIN A4 printed and bound (glue binding and no spiral binding) form as well as in suitable electronic form (§20 (8)).

Please select a common and well readable format such as (this is only a suggestion, please feel free to contact your first supervisor for clarifying the format and the preferred citation):

Left Margin: 3 cm; Right margin: 3 to 5 cm; Margin Top: 2.5 cm; Border bottom: 2cm; Footnotes: same page, numbered consecutively; Line spacing (text): 1.5 spacing; Line spacing (footnotes): one line; Font Size (text): 12 point Times New Roman or Arial 11 points; Justified, hyphenation; Font size (footnotes): 10 point Times New Roman or Arial.

5) FAQ - Delivery of Thesis

Q16: Where do I have to submit the Thesis? In the examination office, currently to Ms Heckmann (examination office).

Q17: What exactly, I have to hand in to the examination office on the given deadline? You have to hand in during the processing time three print versions of your Master's Thesis. The print versions must be in a format of DIN-A4 and the prints must be casebound (glue binding and no spiral binding). And please hand in additionally an electronic version from your Master’s Thesis (§20 (8)).

Q18: What should I consider when making? You must hand in your Thesis latest at the given deadline. The Topic of the Thesis must be absolutely identical with the Topic of your application for registration. The Thesis must include a written declaration that you have written the Thesis independently and with no other than the specified sources and aids. And of course all citations have been marked (§ 20 (10)).

6) FAQ - Grading of the Master’s Thesis

Q19: When will I receive usually the grade for my Master's Thesis? According to the examination regulations, the supervisors have to proof the Thesis within six weeks. The process of evaluation, however, can take longer due to the workload of the supervisors (§20 (14)).

Q20: Is there an oral exam for Master's Thesis? The audit committees of SUD and UCSS have determined that students have to absolve only an oral examination, if the marks of the two supervisor of the Master's Thesis differs considerably (a whole or more than a whole grade).

Q21: It is possible to repeat a Master’s Thesis, when I have failed my first Thesis (grading of 5.0)? Yes, once (§21).

Q22: Is my study finished with a successfully passed Master's Thesis (grading at least 4.0)? Your studies will only be completed when you have received a total of 120 credits (incl. 30 credits for the Master's Thesis). So you have to absolve all examinations from all nine Modules.

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Master thesis in Germany Writing your master thesis at a company: joining the team as a specialist

Companies have long since recognised the potential of Master's graduates. A growing number of companies are offering students the opportunity to put their specialist knowledge to practical use already before completing their studies - by writing their Master thesis at a company.

Take an application-oriented approach to work

The supervision and topic for the master thesis must be right, feedback loops and deadline extensions, kick-start your career with a master thesis.

For many, the greatest motivation for pursuing a Master's degree is personal development and enhancement of the future career opportunities. The opportunity to develop one's own specialist interests and become an expert also plays a major role. The specialist knowledge students acquire during the Master's degree course is attractive to many companies. According to the "JobTrends 2013" survey conducted by the Staufenbiel Institute, a Master's degree is the most popular qualification for 90 per cent of German companies. This is the reason why many companies advertise topics for Master's theses. 

This option for the final thesis is also advantageous to students: "If you want to do something with a practical application, writing your Master thesis at a company is ideal," says Arno Zimmermann, who is studying industrial engineering at the Technische Universität Berlin. While completing a practical at Bayer in China during his Master's course, he learned of an interesting company project that would make an excellent topic for the Master thesis. "It involves the further development of company technology to convert CO2 into plastic," the 26-year-old explains. "An extremely fascinating and innovative topic." Having written a very theory-based Bachelor thesis at university, the challenge of a Master thesis with a strong practical orientation appealed. "Something always emerges at the end that has an impact on the company, and this is extremely satisfying." The high practical orientation and results-oriented cooperation within a team are a major incentive for many students to spend the six-month Master thesis phase at a company. 

"I spent a solid three months in the library when I wrote my Bachelor thesis, and I definitely didn't want to repeat this experience," Ralf Knudsen explains. The 27-year-old resolved to go abroad after completing his Bachelor's degree in business administration at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. He signed up for a Master's degree course at the Copenhagen Business School specialising in accounting, and gained practical experience as a working student and during practical work at a company. He decided also to write his Master thesis at a company. For Knudsen, an important advantage of completing the Master thesis phase at a company was that "later on, there is rarely the opportunity to consider a problem affecting everyday work from a theoretical perspective". He decided on the precious metals and technology company Heraeus that he came upon in a list of so-called "Hidden Champions". These particularly successful companies are often still unknown despite their success. 

Despite being offered the opportunity to cover easier topics at two other companies, Knudsen decided for what he believed to be the most challenging option. "I felt that I would receive the most support at Heraeus." Besides the good expert supervision, Knudsen also receives commensurate remuneration from the company during the Master thesis phase. Zimmermann, who is also able to cover his living costs with his company pay, knows to appreciate the financing. The going is tough for those without any financial support wishing to work on their thesis full-time. However, the most important factors should be an enthusiasm for the topic and a desire to enhance one's appeal to the work market as an expert. Zimmermann also firmly believes that students should not make any major compromises when it comes to the topic for their Master thesis. "If the topic does not knock your socks off, then it won't be any fun to write about - regardless of whether you do so at a company or at university." The industrial engineer also highlights the importance of a structured, concentrated approach for not dissipating one's energies. Even those who make very high demands of themselves should remember that they do not need to re-invent the wheel. 

A whole semester is scheduled for the Master thesis. To ensure students do not lose sight of their goal during these six months, they should ensure they always keep the rules of play in mind. "There are three parties involved: the professor, the student and the supervisor at the company. The overlap between their mutual interests must be reviewed," Zimmermann describes the special challenge of writing a Master thesis at a company. "Feedback loops are therefore unbelievably important. While regular contact can be demanding, it is essential to make good progress." This is particularly the case if problems should arise with the topic chosen. "The topic should be defined narrowly as quickly as possible," Knudsen advises students who still have their Master thesis before them. The breadth of his chosen topic, the cooperation within the company and the need to complete a final few university courses meant he took a total of seven and a half months to complete his Master thesis. Luckily, this was not a problem for his professors in Copenhagen; in Germany, the deadlines are a lot stricter though. Structuring the topic well and starting to write early on is essential to meeting deadlines. 

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Knudsen joined the two-year trainee programme "Finance & Controlling" at Heraeus in February 2013. "We have a great deal of freedom and are able to decide on the individual stations," praises the 27-year-old, who was able to spend several months with the company in the USA. What's more, when the two years are completed, the prospects of a permanent position are good. Zimmermann, who has just submitted his Master thesis, is already planning his next big step: he wants to write a doctoral thesis within the same project. The framework for his collaboration within the EU-funded project has already been defined. Although the Master thesis phase left Zimmermann's and Knudsen's heads spinning, the writing process stalled and the despair was great, both would definitely choose to write their Master thesis at a company again. For the exciting opportunities this opened up to them were so very great. 

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Writing the Thesis

Schreiben der Dissertation / Writing the Thesis Image Credit: http://www.istockphoto.com

You can either submit a monograph or a cumulative thesis . As a general rule, both must be comparable/equivalent in terms of type and scope. The thesis must be written in one language throughout either English or German (with the exception of the German and English summary). This also applies to the acknowledgments and any quotes used. In exceptional cases, the doctoral board shall decide whether the requirement for a cumulative work to be entirely in either German or English can be waived if the work consists of articles in both German and English.

When preparing the dissertation, please observe the requirements of the Statute for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice . If you have any questions about citations, please use the citation consultation hours at the University Library.

Please note: When you are submitting your dissertation to obtain the title "Dr. rer. nat.", the term "Ph.D." should not be used in the acknowledgements (or any other section) - this is a different title, which will not be awarded to you after a successful doctorate.

MONOGRAPH A monograph is a self-contained representation of the research work and its results. It may already be published completely or partially. Any publications related to the thesis have to be submitted separately. They must not be embedded in the thesis.

CUMULATIVE THESIS A cumulative thesis reports the scientific work done during the doctoral thesis using a set of research articles. In a cumulative thesis, the research articles (including supporting information/supplements) are an integral part of the thesis and have to be embedded in the scientific part of the thesis (like the chapters of a monograph). In addition to the research articles, an introduction, a list of references etc., a cumulative thesis must include an extended summary which has to go beyond the summary of the individual papers as it has to give an overarching discussion of the results described in the research articles. Although figures may be taken from the publications, the text should be genuinely new and should not be taken from the text of the individual publications. The contributions of the author must be described for each article individually, according to the requirements of the Statute for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice.

A cumulative thesis must consist of at least two published or accepted publications. Only publications from journals with a peer review system will be considered. All additional publications might be in an earlier stage (in revision, submitted or in preparation). The version submitted cannot be changed or updated in the further course of the doctoral process, i.e. changes to the content as part of the publication process cannot be taken into account once the dissertation has been submitted. Only those articles qualify in which the doctoral student has made substantial contributions. The substantial contribution of the doctoral student to the respective articles must be confirmed by the supervisor of the thesis. This confirmation is requested by the doctoral office as part of the evaluation process. In case of manuscripts being accepted but not yet published, a confirmation of acceptance must be provided at the time of thesis submission; to this end, it is also possible to submit a separate list with DOI links.

For more information on writing a cumulative thesis, click here .

1) First page = cover sheet

Title Inaugural-Dissertation to obtain the academic degree Doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.)

submitted to the Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy of Freie Universität Berlin

year of submission

2) Second page:

Please name the time period, supervisor and institute of your doctoral studies.

1 st reviewer: _____________________ 2 nd reviewer: _____________________

Date of defense: ____________ (please leave the date open)

ATTENTION One reviewer must be research active in one of our departmental research areas. At least one reviewer must be a professor of the Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, whose primary employment is with the university. (Retired, em., apl., hon. professors are not or no longer considered university teachers).

3) Third page: acknowledgment (if desired)

4) Declaration of authorship     Please use the following text:     I hereby declare that I alone am responsible for the content of my doctoral dissertation     and that I have only used the sources or references cited in the dissertation.

If you are writing an English-language dissertation, please note that all texts must be in English (with the exception of the German-language summary), including the acknowledgments and the declaration of authorship.

6) Summary in German and English

7) Main scientific part of the thesis (incl. introduction, method section, bibliography)

8) If applicable: List of publications

9) CV (voluntary)

10) Appendix

Typeface/line distance/formatting Sheet size: DIN A4 Font: an easy-to-read font (such as Arial). Font size: not less than 10 pt Line spacing: 1½ Margin: approx. 2.5 - 3 cm Unilateral and bilateral printing is accepted. The thesis has to be bound (no spiral or ring binding).

Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) can be found here.  

Read on for the next topic: Submission of the Thesis

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Bachelor and master dissertations - frequently asked questions, preliminaries.

The following material provides relevant information related to dissertations at the Chair of Information Systems (CIS). Unless stated otherwise, the information applies to both Bachelor and Master theses. We organize the page as an FAQ. You may wish to navigate directly to the parts that interests you most.

Table of Contents

• Is there a fixed date at which I have to start with my dissertation?

Is there anything I should consider when choosing a starting time for my thesis?

• Is there a maximum  or minimum length for my thesis? How long is a dissertation on average?

I plan to write my thesis in the next semester. What should I do beforehand?

Can i suggest my own topic, i was asked to prepare an extended abstract for a topic of my choice. what does that entail, are there any core research areas from which thesis topics are normally selected, is it possible to collaborate with industry, how do i find a topic, how about formatting requirements for my thesis, do i have to write my thesis in english/german, what is the typical structure of a bachelor thesis, i plan to apply for a master program, when do i have to start with my bachelor thesis, what is the typical structure of a master thesis, i understand that many theses at the cis involve empirical work. how do i acquire the data for such a task, do i have to complete certain modules before being eligible to write my thesis at the cis, in addition to mandatory modules, are there any other skills that i need/should possess, how do i register my thesis, is there a fixed data at which i have to start with my dissertation.

No. At present, we accept theses throughout the whole year. Please note that we may not be able to offer such flexible regime forever. Depending upon demand and resources, it may be necessary to implement a structured approach where all dissertations start at fixed dates (e.g., begin/end of a semester). However, by the time of writing, students can begin their dissertation anytime.

Back to the table of contents

You may want to consider that opportunities for personal meetings are somewhat limited during summer breaks due to conference attendance, research visits, etc. Therefore, if you seek very close collaboration with your supervisor, consider to schedule your thesis such that the majority of the writing time is within lecturing periods.

Is there a maximum or minimum length? How long is a dissertation on average?

On average, Bachelor and Master theses are 30 and 35 pages, respectively. Deviations are possible. See also the explanations on our new moodle page on dissertations .

It is good to plan well ahead. However, as far as we are concerned, there is not much that needs to be done long in advance. In particular, please understand that we allocate our thesis topics on a first come first serve basis. That means that we don’t reserve topics for students who plan to start their dissertation in a few months’ time. However, you may want to consider suggesting your own thesis topic. In such a case, we could fix a thesis topic before the start of the actual thesis.

Yes, you can. If you wish to work on a topic of your choice, please prepare an extended abstract and send it to your supervisor for discussion. We assess the potential of your proposition for a Bachelor/Master thesis and might suggest extensions/revisions. In general, we prefer topics that relate to our research areas . However, exceptions are possible, so feel free to elaborate any topic related to information systems research.

An extended abstract is about two to four pages long and should clarify:

• What research question(s) you plan to analyze
• What is the academic and practical importance of your topic
• How your thesis will contribute to the existing literature 

In addition, an extended abstract includes a selection of relevant literature.

There certainly are. In general, our research focuses on big data analytics (BDA). Approaches associated with the support of managerial decision-making and quantitative, data-driven methods are of particular interest. This scope offers a variety of research questions to be examined in a dissertation. Potential business applications to study include, but are not limited to:

• Marketing and e-commerce
• Consumer finance and risk management
• Speculative financial and betting markets

In terms of methodology, we employ a broad variety of techniques to solve planning problems, explain decision maker behavior, and assess the effectiveness of formal decision aids. Examples of such planning methods include:

• Ensemble selection (e.g. for marketing or credit-scoring problems)
• Kalman filters (e.g. for time series data or real-time targeting of advertising in e-commerce)
• Multi-armed bandit models (e.g. for or real-time targeting of advertising in e-commerce)
• Deep learning (basically applicable everywhere)
• Survival models (e.g. for price optimization in the automotive industry)
• Choice models/hierarchical Bayesian models (e.g. for or real-time targeting of advertising in e-commerce or betting markets)
• (Recurrent) neural networks (e.g. for turnover or financial markets predictions or in interaction with metaheuristics for model training or model selection)
• Metaheuristics (e.g., to build predictive decision support models or develop normative decision aids)

Furthermore, there is a large body of literature on novel learning paradigms, which differ substantially from conventional explanatory (e.g. regression or classification) or descriptive (e.g. clustering) methods. Surveying the state-of-the-art in such fields and/or evaluating such modelling strategies in business settings is an interesting task for a dissertation. Some examples include:

• Active learning
• Causal machine learning
• Learning with privileged information (e.g. financial forecasting)
• Semi-supervised/transductive learning (e.g. for churn prediction)
• Imbalanced learning (e.g. for marketing or credit scoring)
• Multi-task learning (e.g. financial forecasting)
• Reject inference (credit scoring)
• Online learning

Yes, we support collaborative theses written with an industry partner. In general, industry partnerships are more common for master dissertations. However, writing a bachelor thesis with an industry partner is also feasible. In some cases, our list of open topics includes such collaborative theses. Alternatively, you can propose a topic that you’d like to study together with an industry partner. However, please note that we normally do not sign NDAs (non-disclosure agreements). If you are in contact with an organization where you’d like to write your thesis, you may want to check whether your industry partner accepts this policy.

That is the key question. In general, you can browse through our list of open topics and see whether some of our propositions fit your interests. Alternatively, you can propose a thesis topic to us, preferably but not necessarily in one of our research areas .

We do not enforce specific formatting requirements. Instead, we recommend that students follow the author guidelines of scholarly outlets such as, e.g., the European Journal of Operational Research.  Note that these guidelines might also mention a minimum/maximum length. Such recommendations do not apply to your thesis and can be ignored. Instead, please adhere to our own recommendations related to thesis length.

MSc. theses are generally prepared in English. For a BSc. thesis, you are free to decide whether to write in English or German.

There are some general guidelines that any academic thesis follows. If you have already participated in one of our seminars (for Bachelor or Master students), you will be familiar with these guidelines. Otherwise, make sure that you have a careful read through our recommendations related to academic writing .

In addition to general guidelines, a typical Bachelor thesis written at the CIS adopts one of three paradigms.

First, the majority of dissertations is organized as a literature survey or, in other words, a state-of-the-art . Consider for example the question of IT business value. To which extent increases the use of information and communication technologies the performance of a firm? Several research projects have been undertaken to shed light on this question. A Bachelor thesis can review this field, identify sub-streams in the literature, and distill some overall conclusions. In addition, it might be possible to identify research gaps in the literature. In a nutshell, such a thesis provides a holistic overview of a clear-defined field.

Second, a bachelor thesis can be organized as a meta-analysis. A good example for such an endeavor is the paper of Jamain and Hand (2008) , who conduct a meta-analysis for the field of consumer credit scoring. In brief, this field is concerned with the question how a money lender can predict whether a credit applicant would pay back her loan, if the loan were granted. You can imagine that many papers have been written about this topic, and you can also imagine that several of these papers present some sort of forecasting method. Often, the proposition of a novel forecasting method is accompanied by an empirical evaluation to showcase that the new method predicts well. Given a large number of empirical studies that adopt this approach (i.e., present and compare forecasting methods), a meta-analysis first gathers empirical data about these comparisons (i.e., papers). This could be, for example, i) how many different forecasting methods have been compared in a paper, ii) how many times did some method A beat some other method B, iii) which measures have been used to assess the accuracy of a forecasting methods, etc. Next, a meta-analysis performs some statistical analysis on this data and, in doing so, distills some overall conclusions; for example, method A is better than B. You see that the outcome is the same as in the previous setup of a Bachelor thesis. Only the way in which one arrives at this outcome differs. Clearly, not every topic facilitates a meta-analysis. If you are generally interested in this format, feel free to contact our team members to find out which possibilities are available.

Third, it is also possible to organize a Bachelor thesis as a ‘little Master thesis’. This means that you conduct your own research study, which, at the CIS, would typically entail some empirical or analytic work. Such a study can span the whole research process – from gathering relevant data over data analysis to interpreting the observed results and drawing conclusions, or focus on specific steps in this process. Consider once again the above example of credit scoring. Given some credit scoring data set, your task could be to compare some novel forecasting method to some established benchmark. Given the similarity to Master theses in terms of format and organization, we do not publish dedicated topics for Bachelor theses that fall into this category. Students who are interested in the “small-scale Master thesis format” can review our topics for Master dissertations and ask the corresponding supervisor whether the topic could be changed such that it fits the smaller scope of a Bachelor thesis.

Every Master program has its own rules. We cannot make any recommendations related to programs offered at other universities. More specifically, the following guidelines apply only to our Master program Information Systems .

If you are considering to apply for the above program, you need to proof that you have collected at least 150 ECTS by the time of application. Say you want to start your Master in IS at the Humboldt-University in the winter semester 2016/2017. Assume for example that the application deadline is 30 th of April 2015. So, by end of April, when submitting your application, your transcript must show at least 150 ECTS. It is not necessary that you have completed your Bachelor studies. In particular, you can still be involved with your Bachelor thesis, or does not even have started with your Bachelor thesis. However, you need at least 150 (see ZSP-HU 1.1.2) .

There are some general guidelines that any academic thesis must follow. If you have already participated in one of our seminars  (for  Bachelor  or  Master  students) , you will be familiar with these guidelines. Otherwise, make sure that you have a careful read through the recommendations related to academic writing .

In addition to these general guidelines, a typical Master thesis written at the CIS addresses a research question(s) in the business fields mentioned above and contributes to the literature through providing some novel insight (e.g., original empirical results, evidence in favor of or against previously derived hypotheses, a new piece of methodology, etc.). Most dissertations contain an empirical part related to some real-world planning problem. For example, evaluating the effectiveness of a novel method from the realms of big data analytics in a real-world setting through empirical experimentation is a common task for a Master thesis. Such endeavor may also include the development of an entirely new methodology or the extension of some known technique to better fulfill the requirements of the application setting in question.

There are several possibilities to acquire the data for dissertation. Examples include:

• The master’s thesis is written in cooperation with an industry  partner who provides data
• The data is collected during (as part of) the thesis (e.g., through accessing a data provider’s API, say Twitter, or web scraping)
• The data comes from an academic data mining/forecasting competition (KDD Cup, Data Mining Cup, NN3 or NN5 Competition, etc.) or a Kaggle competition (www.kaggle.com)
• The data is associated with a current research project of the CIS. At the moment projects/data sets from the following areas are available:
• Direct marketing/churn modeling
• Automotive industry/sales of pre-owned vehicles
• Real-time targeting in e-commerce
• Credit scoring or PD modeling
• Markets for sports betting

The typical setting is such that students first complete some of our modules prior to starting their dissertation at the CIS. In particular, our seminars modules provide relevant background on the scientific method, academic writings, etc. Therefore, it is compulsory to complete the module Bachelorseminar Wirtschaftsinformatik to write a Bsc. thesis at the CIS. For master students, it is compulsory to complete one of our seminars, Masterseminar Information Systems or Applied Predivtive Analytics .

We gurantee that every student who has successfully completed the relevant seminar is given an opportunity to write her/his BSc./MSc. thesis at the CIS. Of course, there will still be a need to agree on the topic.

In general, completing our Bachelor/Master modules equips you with a firm understanding of research in information systems and big data analytics in particular. Moreover, our courses give you an opportunity to develop the skills typically needed to write a dissertation at the CIS.

Having said that, given your research interests and focus on analytic/empirical work, some useful skills include, e.g., scientific computing, databases, programming (preferably in Matlab, R, Python or Julia), econometrics and statistics, machine learning.

First of all, to be eligible to register for the final thesis you have to fulfill certain requirements (e.g. you must have completed certain modules or have earned a certain amount of ECTS – depending on your degree program). To verify that, you can consult the examination office. Afterwards, you have to receive a thesis application form in the student office that you need to fill in and hand in to your supervisor for signing (on the form you will have to indicate the exact datum when you have received the final topic). Afterwards, submit the signed registration form to the examination office: either give it personally during the office hours or send per post. You will also receive a copy of the filled form once the examination office processes the documents. 

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How To Write A Bachelor/Master Thesis [2024]

It's that time of year again when students are wrapping up their final semester and beginning to write their dissertation. In Germany, students must adhere to some particular formatting standards while writing their Bachelor's or Master's thesis. 

The dissertation is a crucial component of all German higher education programs. Students may use it to demonstrate their understanding and abilities in a given field of study. The thesis also plays a crucial role in helping students develop critical thinking and research skills. They are a valuable preparation for future career opportunities.

In this article, we'll go through everything you must do to write a successful thesis. We will also provide tips and tricks to stay organized and on track throughout the process!

Thesis writing process

Bachelor’s thesis vs. Master’s thesis

A Bachelor's and a Master's thesis are two types of academic papers. A Bachelor's thesis is usually shorter and is meant to show that the student has learned the basics of the subject. In contrast, a Master's thesis is more extended and more in-depth. It should serve as evidence that the student has mastered their chosen subject.

How to format your Bachelor's or Master's thesis in Germany

The following are some of the most critical format requirements in any thesis:

Note:  Depending on the university and the "style" of the student's thesis, the formatting requirements might vary (e.g., Harvard or APA). Be sure to check with your supervisor or department for specific guidelines.

• Margins:  Your thesis must have 1-inch margins on all sides.
• Spacing:  The text must be double-spaced.
• Fonts:  Subtitles must be in a 14-point typeface. The text's main body should be in 12-point font, subheadings in a 14-point typeface, and title headings in a 16-point typeface.
• Length:  A Bachelor's thesis should be around 60 pages, while a Master's thesis should be about 80 pages.
• Language:  Your thesis must be written in German or English, depending on your program.

Let's take a look at each thesis component, starting with the Title page. The following are the required sections for both Bachelor's and Master's thesis.

Title page 

The title page of your thesis must include the following information:

• The title of your thesis
• The name of your supervisor
• The name of your program

The abstract is a summary of your thesis. It should be a maximum of one page long and include the following information:

• Your research questions

Table of contents

The table of contents must list all of the sections and subsections of your thesis.

• List of figures:   The figures must include all the figures used in your thesis.
• List of tables:   The list of tables must consist of all of the tables used in your thesis.

Introduction

The introduction should explain the context of your research and the problem you are trying to solve. A Bachelor's thesis should be around three pages, while a Master's thesis should be about five pages .

Literature review

The literature review critically analyzes the existing research on your topic. The literature review is an essential part of any research paper.

It helps you situate your research within the context of existing scholarship and allows you to critically evaluate the existing research on your topic. It is essential to be as critical as possible when reviewing the literature.  It would be best if you addressed questions such as:

• What are the limitations of the existing research?
• What gaps does the current research leave open?
• How can my research contribute to the current body of scholarship?

Methodology

The methodology section explains the research methods you used to collect data for your thesis. This information is crucial because it allows the reader to understand how you gathered your data and what conclusions you drew from it. It is also essential to be transparent when describing your research methods so the reader can evaluate them critically.

Results & Discussion

Result and discussion : The results section presents the data you collected during your research. The discussion section is where you interpret the data and discuss the implications of your findings.

The conclusion summarizes your findings and their implications for practice or future research. A Bachelor's thesis should be around three pages, while a Master's thesis should be about five pages.

Bibliography/References

The references section lists the sources you used in your thesis. It is essential to list all of the sources you used, even if you did not cite them directly in the text.

The appendices include any additional material relevant to your thesis but do not fit within the main body of the text. This part might consist of data sets, survey instruments, or detailed descriptions of research methods.

Tips and tricks for writing a successful Bachelor's or Master's thesis

Choose a topic you are passionate about : This factor will make writing your thesis much easier, as you already have some knowledge about the subject. Passion will also help you stay motivated throughout the writing process!

Do your research : Make sure to do a thorough literature review to be familiar with the existing research on your topic. This step will also help you develop new and original ideas for your thesis.

Create an outline : Once you have done your research, create an outline of your thesis to know what topics you will cover and in what order. It will help you stay organized and on track.

Start early and give yourself enough time : This will allow you to avoid unnecessary stress.

Create a schedule and stick to it:  This step will help you stay on track and make steady progress.

Take breaks and reward yourself : Breaks are essential to avoid burnout. Make sure to schedule some breaks and reward yourself for completing tasks! It will help you stay motivated.

Get feedback from your supervisor:  It is vital to get regular feedback throughout the process. It will ensure that you are on the right track.

Ask for help when you need it:  Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. There are many resources available to help you with the writing process.

These are the general guidelines for writing a Bachelor's or Master's thesis. However, checking with your supervisor and program for specific requirements is essential. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a Bachelor's or Master's thesis. However, these tips and tricks will help you write a successful dissertation!

Happy writing!

Chances after Graduation

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Important Information for the Master’s Thesis

This page has tools and suggestions for students who are writing their master’s thesis.

Link for the Master's Thesis templates Link for the Master's Thesis templates

https://msfau-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/xa55timu_fauad_fau_de/EaAmJ9FEGFtPoWT8zI7xPscBEXimtnnT8xUkoTp9TDj4lA?e=vY0aGG

Description of the Process Description of the Process

• By the end of the first semester, have an idea for a potential topic and discuss it with your staff mentor.
• By the end of the second semester, submit an initial research project proposal for the master’s thesis.
• Use the third semester to prepare for and conduct preliminary and empirical research.
• Select the supervisor for the master’s thesis.
• Discuss this process with your faculty advisor.
• You are expected to finish the master’s thesis–and your studies–in the fourth semester. Exceptions can only be accepted under very special and unusual circumstances.

The Writing Process The Writing Process

(Suggested Method)

• Start with a web outline–put all of your thoughts about your idea onto the page and then start drawing lines between different thoughts that might connect.
• Take your web outline and transfer it into a preliminary outline. You can move the topics around later, but it’s good to have something to start with.
• Take the preliminary outline and add sub-points for every heading. Specify as much as you can about each point.
• Try to get 60% of your total intended length. For 60-80 pages, try 40-55 pages.
• Repeat this process with each draft.
• When you have a solid draft that you feel confident with, print it out and take some scissors. Cut up every section and subsection. Play around with the ordering of your thesis. You’d be surprised at how often sections go better in new places!
• Repeat these suggested processes until you feel confident in your final draft. Then hit send!

Supervisors Supervisors

• Any SDAC senior lecturer or professor can be a supervisor. However, it is recommended  not to choose a guest lecturer since they will only be at SDAC for one year.
• The main supervisor must be from SDAC. However, if students wish, a second supervisor from the philosophical faculty may be chosen.
• In very rare cases, a professor outside of FAU may be a good fit for a supervisor. The teacher must have a post-doctorate degree. In this case, clear reasons should be identified and discussed with the program coordinator. Only then can a decision be made about whether or not the outside professor will be allowed to supervise the student.
• How the teacher’s research foci are connected to the student’s intended research
• The teacher’s availability (are they already supervising other students? Will they be able to have ample time for the student?)

Requirements of the Thesis Requirements of the Thesis

• The thesis must be 80 pages or within a margin of +/- 10% (excluding photographs, title page, table of contents, and references).
• The templates provided by SDAC must be used.
• Once the student has officially registered for the thesis, they have exactly six months to complete the thesis.
• The thesis must be written in English.
• The thesis must be submitted in two bound copies (physical form) and one digital form using a digital storage device (a USB stick or SD card) at the examination office (Prüfungsamt). All of this must be combined and handed in an envelope.
• There are no exemptions for the deadline  except for very rare and extraordinary circumstances  unforeseen previously. These must be discussed with the examination office (Prüfungsamt).
• The complete thesis is double the weight of the coursework.

Plagiarism Plagiarism

• Citation styles allowed by SDAC are APA and Chicago but should be discussed with the supervisor.
• Citation softwares are helpful to keep track of sources. Citavi, Mendeley, and Endnote are recommended.
• Any attempt of plagiarism will result in immediate failure and expulsion from SDAC and FAU. 

Thesis defense Thesis defense

• Ask your supervisor for more advice in preparing for the defense!
• After the supervisor has finished evaluating your written thesis, they will reach out to you to schedule your oral defense, which will take place within six weeks after the thesis has been evaluated.
• The oral defense lasts one hour in total: twenty minutes for your presentation, thirty minutes for questions, and ten minutes for the supervisors to make an evaluation.
• The oral defense is thirty percent, and the written thesis is seventy percent of the total thesis grade

Final Theses

Registration of thesis.

To register for theses, please contact your  examination team by email.

• You will receive the registration form from your exam team on request.
• You send the completed  form from your TU e-mail account to your examination team.
• Your exam team will check the prerequisite, fill out their part of the form and send it to the first examiner.
• The first examiner determines the topic, suggests a second examiner, signs the form and forwards it to the examination board.
• The examination board sends its decision to the examination team.
• You will then receive information about the specified topic and the submission deadline by email to your TUB account or by post. The submission deadline is determined based on the regulations of your StuPO.

Academic Adjustment

Requests for academic adjustments in the context of final examinations (e.g. extension of the processing period) should already be submitted when the application for topic issuance is made. The compensation for Academic Adjustments does not belong to the reasons according to the StuPO for which an extension of the processing period can take place, i.e. that, for example, a limited illness during the processing period can additionally extend this period.

Thesis processing period

The thesis processing period begins the day the examination team assigns you your topic. It ends at a fixed time.

Application to extend processing period

You must submit a request to extend the processing period to your examination team before the standard period ends. No specific form is usually required. But some examination boards provide forms; please check the website of your examination board for more information. If you are requesting an extension due to illness, you must include a sick note (Gelber Schein) from your doctor with your application. A detailed sick note (Attest) is required upon the third request for extension. If you are requesting an extension due to reasons of content, include a statement from your first examiner with the application.

Submission of Final Theses

The submission of theses is usually done by submitting 2 bound printed copies + an electronic version on an enclosed stick or CD (please do not send the electronic version by e-mail) in a sealed envelope addressed to the responsible examination team

•     by mail or
•     in person at the gatekeeper in the main building of the TU Berlin (manned 24/7) or
•     in person during opening hours at the Campus Center or
•     in person by appointment at the responsible examination team.

With the consent of both examiners, the submission can also be made exclusively electronically to the team mailbox of the examination team responsible for your degree program; you are obliged to coordinate the form of submission with the examiners in good time; a written confirmation for the Examination office is not required.

Depending on the type of submission, the following is decisive for timely submission

•     the date of the postmark or
•     the date of the receipt stamp of the porter's lodge or the Campus Center
•     the date of personal delivery to the Examinations Office
•     the date of receipt of the e-mail in the Examinations Office.

For electronic submissions, email the paper in PDF format to your designated exams team or deposit it in the cloud and send us the link. Please also attach a photo or scan of your entry form.

• The thesis file should be named as follows: Thesis_YourMatriculation_Number.pdf.
• Matriculation number:
• Degree and program of study:
• Name and email address First examiner*:
• Name and e-mail address Second examiner*:
• Title of the submitted work:
• Declaration that the thesis contains a declaration of independence according to § 60 Abs. 8 AllgStuPO.
• If the thesis is written in a foreign language that is not the language of examination according to the study and examination regulations: Declaration that the thesis contains a German summary. Please refer to the instructions on our website and, if applicable, to your StuPO for the instructions that are necessary.

If the submission deadline ends on a Sunday or public holiday, a postmark on the following business day is considered to be on time for postal delivery; for personal delivery of printed versions, the deadline is considered to be on the following business day.

Please note that you must register your thesis before you begin any substantive work. Final papers will generally not be accepted by your exam team until half of the completion time specified in the degree program's regulations has passed.

Early submission of the thesis

You would like to submit your thesis to your examination team before half of the processing time has elapsed? If so, you must also submit a statement from the first examiner, confirmed by the examination board, justifying an early submission. This statement will be attached to your examination file. If this statement or the confirmation of the examination board is missing, your examination team will inform the examination board and ask you to submit the corresponding statement later. This also applies should you hand in your thesis by mail or to the gatekeeper before half of the processing time has elapsed, e.g. due to closing times of your examination team.

Submission deadline in the semester of leave

The deadline for submitting your thesis falls in your semester of leave and you cannot submit it on time? Then you must apply for an extension of the deadline.

(I)STROD (International) Student Thesis and Research Opportunities Database

(I)STROD - (International) Student Thesis and Research Opportunities Database

(I)STROD is TU Berlin’s database for thesis topics. Students can use (I)STROD to search and apply directly for thesis and research topics. TU Staff can publish and manage their topics using the tool.

Master's Thesis in Germany

Master's students from the GUC can receive a scholarship for a six-month study stay at a German higher education institution. Only Teaching Assistants who are in the final phase of their Master's studies and would like to complete their Master's thesis in Germany can apply for funding. As of April 2023, the funding will include a one-time travel allowance of 850 € and a monthly stipend of 934 €. The scholarship is aimed at Teaching Assistants of the GUC and will be advertised in the fall via the GUC. The application deadline for scholarships for Master's theses in Germany is mid-January for stays starting in July of the same year. The applicants are informed about the outcome of the application process by the end of March.

The application documents for scholarships consist of:

✓ a letter of motivation

✓ a detailed description of the planned Master's thesis topic (following the guidelines provided)

✓ two letters of reference

✓ a transcript of records

✓ a confirmation of supervision from the GUC, indicating with which GUC research group the Master's thesis topic is located (in particular, whether it is part of a BMBF-funded research collaboration)

✓ an invitation including confirmation of supervision from a German professor

✓ the DAAD application form (will be provided)

✓ a completed and signed evaluation form (will be provided)

✓ a passport copy

✓ the confirmation of enrollment as a Master student at GUC.

FINAL THESIS.

You learn from us – we learn from you. The BMW Group offers you professional support in writing your Bachelor's or Master's thesis with practical relevance. In all areas of the BMW Group, you can show how you would like to shape the future in a sustainable way.

BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S THESES.

Are you an enrolled student at a university and would like to write your thesis with a high level of practical relevance and delve deeply into a specific field of research? Start as a Bachelor or Master student. General conditions.

• The paid contract period for your final thesis depends on the processing time specified in the examination regulations of your university and the corresponding degree programme (Bachelor's or Master's).
• You do not have any prescribed working hours during the contract period. Your work serves the purpose of writing your thesis. Therefore, you can plan your working hours individually in consultation with your department.
• After completion, you are required to provide the BMW Group with a copy of your thesis.

DISCOVER OUR POSITIONS FOR FINAL THESIS PROJECTS.

What awaits you as a bachelor's or master's student..

ONLINE WELCOME DAY.

At the beginning of your assignment, you will be welcomed by an online welcome event. Here you will receive all important information and content about your assignment as well as exciting and current insights into future topics of the company. 

STUDENT INITIATIVE NAWI.

NAWI is a student-founded initiative of the BMW Group. NAWI offers exchange and networking opportunities and organises exciting events at our various German locations. This way, you can network right from the start.

OWN PROJECTS.

We place special emphasis on your professional and personal development. Therefore, you have the opportunity to take responsibility for your own exciting projects during your assignment. 

During your thesis at the BMW Group, you will be assigned a permanent supervisor. This person will help you with all your questions right from the start, give you regular feedback and support you in a strength-oriented manner.

LECTURE SERIES.

In order to know early on how you can continue with us after your thesis, we regularly offer presentations on our entry-level programmes. Current participants in our different talent programmes will inform you about the programmes and answer your questions.

REGULAR FEEDBACK.

It is very important for us to receive regular feedback from you, as this is the only way we can improve and offer optimal opportunities. You will also receive feedback from your supervisor to support your professional and personal development.

WHAT WE OFFER.

CHECK OUT OUR BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS.

Experiences of our bachelor and master students..

Discover more.

EVENTS FOR STUDENTS.

Entry and Scholarship Programmes.

Internship Opportunities for Students.

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• Published: 15 May 2024

How Iranian students can master integration into German academia

• Ata Makarem   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1291-4312 1 , 2 &
• Karel Douglas Klika   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7009-1487 3  

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Thousands of Iranians study at German universities every year, but many struggle with the German academic system. Here, we offer some advice.

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Knerr, B. International Labor Migration: Asian students in Germany Ch. 6 (Kassel University Press GmbH, 2015).

Hüther, O. & Krücken, G. Higher Education in Germany — Recent Developments in an International Perspective , Vol. 49 (Springer International Publishing, 2018).

Moradi, S. Nat. Hum. Behav. 3 , 1025–1025 (2019).

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Molecular Structure Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany

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