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Welcome! This page provides an overview and resources for writing a thesis in the area of digital work{: target="_blank"}. The thesis is one of the key accomplishments when studying at a University. To support you throughout the process, we provide a clear overview of the steps, transparent evaluation criteria, as well as a developmental approach.
{: .text-center}
flowchart LR
subgraph Process[" "]
Feedback -. consult .-> Init
Feedback(["<a href='docs/feedback.html'>Feedback</a>, <a href='https://github.com/digital-work-lab/theses/commits/main/'>improvement</a>,<br><a href='docs/completed.html'>completed theses</a>, <a href='docs/hall_of_fame.html'>hall-of-fame</a>"]) -.- Grading
OpenTopics(["<a href='docs/topics.html'>Open topics</a>"]) -.- |consult| Init
Init["<a href='#1-topic-proposal'>1. Topic proposal</a>"] ==> Admission["<a href='#2-formal-admission'>2. Formal admission</a>"]
Admission ==> Writing["<a href='#3-thesis-writing-and-feedback-sessions'>3. Thesis writing</a>"]
Writing ==> Submission["<a href='#4-submission-of-the-thesis'>4. Submission</a>"]
Submission ==> Grading
Writing -. Master's students .-> Presentation["<a href='#5-thesis-presentation'>5. Presentation</a>"]
Presentation -.-> Grading["<a href='#6-grading-and-feedback-session'>6. Grading and feedback</a>"]
Criteria(["<a href='docs/evaluation.html'>Evaluation criteria</a>"]) -.- Writing
Criteria -.- Presentation
Criteria -.- Grading
Init .-> Decline@{ shape: dbl-circ, label: "Declined" }
end
style Init stroke:#333,stroke-width:3px
style Admission stroke:#333,stroke-width:3px
style Writing stroke:#333,stroke-width:3px
style Presentation stroke:#333,stroke-width:3px
style Submission stroke:#333,stroke-width:3px
style Grading stroke:#333,stroke-width:3px
style Process fill:white,stroke:#333,stroke-width:3px
- A detailed overview of the administrative process is available here{: target="_blank"}.
- A changelog for this document is available here{: target="_blank"}.
We supervise theses on predefined open topics or topics suggested by students.
Given the high demand for thesis supervision, we cannot accommodate all proposals. To ensure a fair and transparent process, decisions are made on a bi-monthly basis based on current capacities, alignment with our research areas, and the quality of the proposed topic. Additionally, we consider whether students are at an advanced stage in their curriculum and need to finish their degree within a specific timeframe. We review proposals on predefined dates (Feb-01, Apr-01, Jun-01, Aug-01, Oct-01, Dec-01) and decide whether to Accept, Decline, or invite a Resubmission with feedback provided to help refine the proposal if necessary.
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View current capacities
{% capture availability_content %} {% include availability.md %} {% endcapture %}To start the process, create a repository from the thesis template repository, give geritwagner (read) access, and schedule a meeting to discuss the topic:
{: .text-center} Schedule a meeting{: .btn .btn-green target="_blank"} {: .text-center}
To prepare the next step, it is recommended to start developing an exposé.
- If you would like to receive notifications when we update the thesis resources, including the process or evaluation criteria, you can watch{: target="_blank"} this repository.
- If this page is helpful for your work, please consider starring{: target="_blank"} our repository.
- If you have any suggestions on how to improve it, please open an issue{: target="_blank"} or pull request after suggesting changes (click on 'Help improve this page' at the bottom of the page you would like to change).
You send the application for admission to the thesis to the examination office via their Stud e-mail address. You can use this e-mail template.
The examination office verifies the admission requirements.
- If admission requirements are met, the topic confirmation is created with text fields so that the topic of the thesis and the date of the topic issue can be entered.
- If the admission requirements are not met, you are notified that the application has been rejected.
The examination office may ask you to request an approval from the examination committee (Prüfungsausschuss) to write a thesis in the area of Digital Work. This is the case when older regulations (Studien- und Fachprüfungsordnung) apply (i.e., when master studies were started before 2018), or for students of Informatics and Applied Informatics (e.g., International Software Systems Science).
You receive the topic confirmation as a (protected) Word document (.docx) by e-mail together with processing/submission instructions as well as inspection statement. The next step is to make an appointment with the thesis advisor to determine the topic and sign the topic confirmation. Please upload the Word document in your thesis repository before the meeting.
You and your thesis advisor schedule a meeting to determine the topic and sign the topic confirmation. If the appointment is online, you can print and sign the confirmation, and send it to our postal address{: target="_blank"}. It is important that we receive two paper versions with original signatures:
- 1 original with two signatures (student and supervisor) for the student.
- 1 original with two signatures (student and supervisor) for archiving at the chair .
Bachelor's theses are usually due in 4 months, Master's theses in 6 months. The official requirements can be found in the regulations linked below. It is not necessary to submit the thesis in the semester in which it was started (unless it would take longer than the maximum duration of study). For students of Applied Informatics, Software Systems Science, and Computing in the Humanities a practical part is required for Bachelor's and Master's theses.
You are expected to complete the exposé before writing the thesis. A thesis must be written in English. The following resources may be helpful:
- The evaluation criteria
- The thesis template for Markdown{: target="_blank"} (create repository from template{: target="_blank"})
- The literature review section{: target="_blank"}
- The analysis templates section{: target="_blank"}
- The Bamberg Center for Empirical Studies (BACES){: target="_blank"} offers free consultation related to data management and statistical analyses
- The writing section (in particular correct citation practices)
- The guideline for the use of digital tools
- Note: ethics statements cannot be issued for a thesis, but students are advised to consult the ethics{: target="_blank"} page.
It is good practice to write the thesis in a Git-versioned repository, add notes from the meetings to the README.md file, and give your thesis advisor access to the repository.
{: .info } Remember to create regular backups of your work, e.g., by creating Git versions and pushing them to a remote repository, and/or copying files to a USB stick.
We offer regular feedback sessions (every one to two weeks) to discuss open questions and the next steps:
- Feedback sessions can be in person or online
- They can be scheduled via calendly{: target="_blank"}
To receive feedback on the written document, please
- Share it 1-2 days before the meeting
- Indicate which sections should be read
- Use a file format suitable for adding comments (PDF or doc/x)
- Use a suitable filename (e.g.,
2023-12-01-Thesis-Name.pdf)
We expect you to communicate on an equal level:
- In e-mails, write
"Hallo Herr Wagner"(instead of"Sehr geehrter Herr Prof. Dr. Wagner"). - If you disagree with a particular suggestion, challenge it and explain why you would do it differently.
- Instead of apologizing, say thank you{: target="_blank"}.
We encourage students to consult the pre-submission checklist before submitting the thesis.
Two copies in hardbound form (Klebe-/Hardcoverbindung, keine Spiralbindung oder Schnellhefter) including a CD with the digital Version on it in a paper cover in each copy taped onto the last page of the thesis are to be submitted to the examination office.
{: .info }
- It is mandatory to include a CD-ROM with a PDF of the thesis.
- We provide CD-ROMs with paper covers free of charge—don’t spend 10€ at the copy shop! 😉 You can use the CIP-Pool computers to write data onto a CD-ROM.
- You have to submit the declaration ("Einverständniserklärung zur Einsichtnahme einer unveröffentlichten Abschlussarbeit") as a separate document along with the thesis. If you plan to publish a paper based on your thesis, it may be advisable to withhold your consent.
- During opening hours Mon-Fri 10.00 - 12.00: Hand in the thesis at the examination office (Kapuzinerstr. 25)
- Outside of opening hours: Drop the thesis in the mailbox of the University Administration (Kapuzinerstr. 16)
- Dispatch by mail (the date of the postmark counts) Otto-Friedrich-University, Examination Office - 96045 Bamberg
The digital thesis has to be on a CD-ROM. It should contain the thesis as a PDF document and possibly a digital appendix.
- You present your Master's thesis.
- Evaluation criteria are stated here.
- You decide whether the presentation should be scheduled before or after submitting the thesis. You can suggest a date for the presentation and the thesis advisor selects a second examiner. Please schedule the presentation early and take into account our availability{: target="_blank"}.
The thesis advisor (professor) grades the thesis based on the predefined criteria. The examination office enters the grades. You can check the grade via FlexNow.
Afterward, we provide feedback on the thesis and explain the grading. A summary is stored on our feedback page if you agree.
{: .text-center} Schedule feedback session{: .btn .btn-green target="_blank"} {: .text-center}
- Prüfungs- und Studienordnungen{: target="_blank"}, insbes. Modulhandbücher