Finding a Thesis Topic
Students who are interested in writing a bachelor’s or master’s thesis should begin thinking about possible topics (cf. hot topics for thesis projects on this page) or propose their own. Good research questions often have their origins in scientific papers around the research topics of the IML lab. Be on the look out for new data sources that might help provide new insights into a special IML research topic.
Your Advisor and Your Committee
In order to write a bachelor’s or master’s thesis you must find a member of the IML lab who is willing to be your thesis advisor. You propose your thesis topic together with your advisor to Prof. Sonntag as the first reviewer in your committee.
How Long Should it Be? How Long Does it Take?
A bachelor’s thesis is generally 30-60 pages, not including the bibliography. A master’s thesis is generally 60-80 pages, not including the bibliography. However, the length will vary according to the topic and the method of analysis, so the appropriate length will be determined by you, your advisor, and your committee. Students who write a master’s thesis generally do so over two semesters, bachelor’s one semester.
Some other Formal Requirements
- Oldenburg University: Follow the instructions in the Bachelor/Master Oberseminar.
- Saarland University: Follow the instructions in the Bachelor/Master Seminar.
These rules apply for all theses assessed by Prof. Sonntag as the first reviewer. Be sure to check the schedule for graduation so that you hold (1) your oral related work talk and (2) your oral defense talk in time to complete and submit your finished thesis.
Follow the formatting requirements for Theses and Dissertations listed on our web site. A template for Oldenburg University can be found here. A template for Saarland University can be found here. Thesis examples can be found here.
You must maintain continuous enrollment Oldenburg University or at Saarland University while working on the bachelor’s or master’s thesis. If you are planning to conduct interviews, surveys or do other research involving human subjects, you must obtain prior approval from DFKI.