Scientific Working [EN]

Students at the TUM School of Engineering and Design have the opportunity to enrol in various courses related to scientific working and writing in this subject area. The aim is always to strengthen competences in the scientific context with regard to one's own scientific projects such as bachelor's, semester or master's theses.

For this purpose, students can choose from a range of courses at different levels. The Center of Key Competencies coordinates these with various actors at TUM and offers lectures, seminars and e-learning opportunities.

The range of topics

• Characteristics and requirements of good scientific practice: Students will learn which guidelines apply to ensure good scientific practice at TUM and which quality standards must be met for their own scientific work.
  
  
• Structure and planning of scientific papers and time management: Students will acquire the skills needed to structure scientific work (theses and scientific papers) within an engineering framework. In addition, the students will learn about the different writing and working phases of a scientific paper and how they can structure and realistically manage their time according to these phases. Writing an exposé serves as an effective tool for structuring the subject topics and refining research questions and methodologies.
  
  
• Design of experiments and evaluation: Students can dig into the scientific fundamentals of experimental design including different types such as experiment, simulation, and design. For example, you will learn about the differences between experiments in mechanical engineering and other disciplines. You will also learn strategies for handling and analyzing the collected data.
  
  
• Scientific writing in German and English: The aim of these courses is to improve your scientific language and to develop scientific arguments. The structured development of arguments, the hypotheses formulation, the improvement of your writing style as well as tips on how to avoid unconscious manipulation are the contents of the courses.
  
  
• Literature management, literature research, citation: Students will receive guidance on accurately citing scientific sources and expand their knowledge of successful literature research. They can also learn how to select suitable and high-quality literature and discover where to access these resources within the university libraries or in databases.
  
  
• Developing and implementing research ideas and dealing with patents: In e-learning, students will receive input on how to develop research ideas and how to proceed in turning them into reality. In addition, e-learning teaches how to deal with patents.
  
  
• Presentation of research results: In this section, students can develop their skills in presenting research results. Offers range from a classic presentation to a pitch to a poster presentation.
  
  
• Dealing with writing problems: Students learn how to tackle challenges in the academic writing process and gain insights on how to overcome writing and work blocks that may occur, or how to solve motivation problems. For example, through the targeted use of creativity techniques..

The lecture contents

In summer semester 2024 we offer the following lectures (basic and advanced). You can register for the lectures (see registration). If you are interested in individual topics, you are welcome to come without registering. Please send a short e-mail to zsk@ed.tum.de  and we will send you the ZOOM access link. Most lectures will be held in german as shown below.

Registration

Please register for the respective event on TUM Online. We recommend that you attend the event before starting your thesis.

Exposé

Here you will find all information about the exposé for the thesis, as well as the templates for the Bachelor's and Master's thesis. 

The synopsis serves as a planning tool for your thesis. Accordingly, you should write it in the first working phase of your thesis, i.e. approximately four to six weeks after starting it. It should be at least six pages of continuous text. The assignments in the template are not required for submission, please delete them. The synopsis can be written in German or English. In the Mechanical Engineering degree programmes, the exposé is the coursework for the module-accompanying seminar "Scientific Work", the preparation of the exposé is obligatory for these degree programmes (further information is provided by your FPSO and the module for the thesis).

Exposé submission for students who have registered their theses with the examination office before 4 August 2024 (NO registration via the Koinon portal)

Information on the submission of exposés:

• Have your exposé checked by your supervisor at the department (usually by a doctoral student) to ensure correctness of content, coverage of the topic, selection of suitable research methods and obtain their signature.
• Send the exposé signed by you and your supervisor via post to the ZSK (Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748 Garching) or hand it in at the letter box (next to room 0029)
• It is then checked by the ZSK staff for formal correctness.
• In the Department of Mechanical Engineering: Please note that you will only receive your ECTS in connection with the thesis. 
• You can submit the exposé at any time. Please note the following deadlines: (1. February; 1. April; 1. June; 1. August; 1. October; 1. December). Register for the corresponding examination. In TUM-Online, the current deadline is always open for registration. The registration for the examination is independent of the registration for the course.
• Then register for the examination if you want to hand in your exposé. You can attend the course beforehand (if desired) in another semester. Attendance of the seminar and submission of the coursework are not necessarily linked.
• The coursework is recorded as passed/not passed by the end of the respective semester.

Exposé Abgabe für Studierende, die ihre Abschlussarbeiten nach dem 4.8.24 beim Prüfungsamt angemeldet haben (MIT Anmeldung über das Portal Koinon)

Information on the submission of exposés:

• The exposé must be submitted to your supervisor at the chair at the beginning of work on the topic (approx. 4-6 weeks after registering the thesis)

• Have your exposé checked by your supervisor at the chair (usually academic staff) (correctness of content, coverage of the topic, selection of suitable research methods and formal correctness) and signed.

• The documentation by means of signatures from the student and member of staff enables you to secure yourself and to promote successful collaboration on the basis of a common understanding of the topic.

• The academic achievement is recorded as passed/failed by the chair's supervisor (you no longer have to submit the exposé to the ZSK).
  
  

Contact

Amelie Zauner M.A.
Bolzmannstraße 15
85748 Garching

Tel. +49 89 289 15612
amelie.zauner@tum.de