master's thesis

A master's thesis, master's thesis, or even master's thesis ( master 's thesis in English ) is an international scientific or artistic work that is written for the completion of a Master 's degree program. The Master's thesis serves in general as evidence that the candidate is capable of a scientific or artistic work independently, but post under supervision.

The academic Master degree is awarded as a rule with a university examination. The state-recognized degree Master is awarded usually by a government audit. This audit a Master's program in Germany is usually made of a course-related part of the exam or final paper and the final oral exam ( in some universities ).

For quality assurance, the Standing Conference for master's courses provides mandatory a thesis ( master's thesis ) before, " with the ability is demonstrated within a prescribed period to work on a problem from the respective specialist scientific methods. " In the absence of clear regulations is the author of the thesis in everyday life still referred to as " diploma ".

The Master's thesis is usually either the last examination or the penultimate examination before the final oral examination.

Scope and sequence

For master's thesis, a processing amount 15 to 30 ECTS points must be provided. Most 30 ECTS points are awarded ( about six months time), if no final oral examination is provided otherwise result thesis and oral final exam is 30 credits. In master's degree programs of the Free Art - consecutive courses give here the degree of Master of Fine Arts ( MFA) - may be in exceptional cases, the processing amount for the Master's thesis of up to 40 ECTS points.

Depending on the university is a master work to log on to the corresponding periods or at the beginning of the processing to the examination office. Thus, a supervisory relationship between the work issuing high school teacher and the students will be given. After a specified period in the respective examination regulations limit the work must then be submitted to the Audit Office. At some universities, the period may be extended once. Is the thesis the last examination, it means the day of delivery with sufficient marks of the master thesis at the same time the end of the study.

The number of pages of a master's thesis corresponds to about 70 to 90 pages, the contents and bibliographies, and appendices are already included in this page count. In many cases, the font size and style of the university or the college is to be given.

Structure / components

A master's thesis is as similar scientific work generally of the following parts:

• Wrapper
• Abstract
• Contents
• Text section Introduction ( occasion )
• Situation Analysis
• Objectives
• Methodology and work program
• Synthesis / analysis
• Assessment
• Summary, outlook

In addition, a list of figures, tables and symbols directory can be inserted after the table of contents or the bibliography.

Comparison Bologna master with thesis, master's thesis

The degree course, especially in science subjects offered to date has been replaced in many European countries, as well as in Germany and Austria in the wake of the Bologna Process by the stepped bachelor and master degree programs. The scope of a master thesis at a university is comparable to an academic dissertation or thesis.

For master's degrees are detailed specifications about the to be acquired skills and knowledge that must also be considered with the master thesis.