Seminar - Practical - Bachelor thesis - Diploma/Master thesis - PhD thesis
At the beginning of a seminar, practical, bachelor, master, or PhD thesis project, a research proposal needs to be written (in English).
Content
The following rough structure describes the required content elements of a proposal. For official submission to the dean of studies the order and captions of the sections printed in bold need to be exactly as shown below.
-
Cover Page (internal only -- for diploma/master, and PhD thesis only: use official guidelines, template, and forms for submission to dean of studies, see below)
-
Title
-
Date
-
Name, Matr. Nr., Kennzahl
-
Course Nr. and title (e.g., 188.414 PR - Informatikpraktikum 1) - not needed in case of Dissertation or Diplomarbeit
-
Type of work (Dissertation, Diplomarbeit, Bakkalaureatsarbeit, Praktikum, Seminar)
-
Supervision and Assistance
-
-
Abstract (for bachelor, diploma/master, and PhD thesis only)
-
approx. 200 words
-
-
Problem Description (Why?)
- Introduction
- Context
- Status Quo
- What is the problem?
- Why is it a problem?
- What is unknown?
- What could be improved?
- What is the goal of the project?
- Research questions/hypotheses (PhD, diploma/master, and bachelor thesis only)
- What are the hypotheses that are to be investigated?
- Main hypothesis & sub hypotheses
-
Expected Results
- Which results should be achieved with the project?
- What will be known afterwards that is not known now?
- What will be created that does not exist now?
- Which results should be achieved with the project?
-
Method (How?)
- How should the expected results be achieved?
- What method(s) will be applied? (e.g., empirical study, user-centered design, prototype implementation,...)
- What are the planned steps?
-
State of the Art (for bachelor, diploma/master, and PhD thesis only)
- What results and approaches have already been presented in this or related areas?
- Description and critical discussion of related scientific work
-
Topic Match (for diploma/master thesis only)
- Explanatory statement describing why the chosen topic fits to the study program
-
References
- List of cited literature
- PhD thesis: at least 10 relevant references
- all others: at least 4 relevant references
- List of cited literature
-
Appendix
-
Rough work plan
- Work packages (title, goal, description, expected results)
- Time plan including milestones
- realistic estimation of dates
-
Preliminary thesis structure (for PhD/diploma/MASTER/bachelor thesis only)
- preliminary table of contents
Approximate length
-
Seminar, Practical: 2-5 pages
-
Bachelor thesis: 3-7 pages
-
Diploma/Master thesis: 4-15 pages
-
PhD thesis: 5-20 pages
Related Links
- Official guidelines page of the faculty of informatics
- guidelines and templates for bachelor thesis
- guidelines and templates for diploma/master thesis, diploma/Master poster, etc.
- guidelines and templates for PhD thesis
- Official forms of the Dekanat
(proposal/abstract for diploma/master thesis and PhD theses, etc.)
Examples
- Example of a correct official abstract (according to the regulations of the dean of studies)