Presentation from Master's thesis Q&A event on 22.05.2024:
GENERAL – TIME AND REQUIREMENTS
When can I start writing my master’s thesis at the earliest?
The master’s thesis should typically be the last module of the ITBE studies. You can start writing your master’s thesis once you have collected at least 75 ECTS points from your ITBE study program and have no more than one compulsory module exam remaining.
Can I start it during the semester break?
You can start your master’s thesis at any time throughout the year. However, consider the availability of your supervisor and chair professors within six months from thesis registration, taking into account public holidays, lecture-free periods, conferences, and travels of the supervisor and the chair professor.
What is the latest time I can start writing my thesis? Can I start during my sixth semester and finish in the seventh?
There is no specific rule related to the timing of the master’s thesis itself. However, you must consider the required number of ECTS points from your study progress according to the FPSO. You are required to achieve 120 ECTS points by the end of the sixth semester of your master’s studies, including the master’s thesis module. Even if you collect more than 120 ECTS from other modules, only 90 of those are counted towards your study progress, as this is the extent of the master’s program’s compulsory and elective modules. All additional credits are counted as extra activities, and only the successful completion of the master’s thesis module will allow you to obtain the required 120 ECTS.
Exception: If you were granted a study extension, for example, due to late arrival caused by visa delays, you can finish the master’s thesis later correspondingly.
Are leave semesters / Urlaub semesters / exchange semesters counted?
Although you are still enrolled, these semesters do not count towards the study time mentioned above. The exception is if you collect more than 30 credits during such leave periods – in this case, you are “upgraded” to a higher semester of your studies.
Can I write my master’s thesis during an Urlaubsemester or a semester abroad?
No, it is not possible to do either, except in the case of a second attempt.
Am I an enrolled student during the time of writing my master’s thesis, even if I am not physically in Munich?
The master’s thesis is a study program module, similar to obligatory and elective modules. To write the master’s thesis, you must be enrolled at TUM throughout the entire period.
Do those six months need to be continuous? Can I interrupt the processing time of my thesis by taking a semester off?
No, this is not possible. The six months of thesis writing need to be continuous. Theses must be started and completed before a semester of leave or started and completed after the semester of leave. (Exception: parental leave)
How much time do I have to finish it?
From the moment the master’s thesis has been added to the ED-Portal (Koion), you havesix months to finish it.
If you fail to do so, you will receive a grade of 5.0 (not passed).
Can I extend the time for my master’s thesis under certain circumstances?
The time for the master’s thesis can be extended by a maximum of three months (one month at a time) under specific circumstances. These include:
- Student-unrelated issues (e.g., long delivery times, etc.)
- Illness/inability of the student to take exams
Such extensions must be recorded in the ED-Portal and require proper documentation (e.g., a medical certificate from a trusted doctor with a signature).
Can I change the topic/title/exposé/methodology of the master’s thesis?
The master’s thesis, until it is submitted, is a work in progress. It is very rare for a thesis to correspond 100% to what was written in the exposé. During those six months, you will learn a lot, explore your topic in depth, and gain hands-on experience that will shape the content and extent of your master’s thesis. Therefore, you can change the content and even the title in the system until the thesis is submitted. However, this does not mean you can change the topic entirely. The thesis should still correspond to what was planned, and all changes should result from the topic’s development. These changes should also be discussed with the thesis supervisor.
Can I withdraw my master’s thesis from the system?
The topic of the master’s thesis can be withdrawn once, within the first two months of the writing period, under special circumstances. This applies if you are either unable to continue with the selected topic or decide to change it entirely.
Can I improve the grade of the master’s thesis if I am not satisfied with it?
No, it is not possible.
What should I do if I have not passed the master’s thesis / if I received a grade of 4.0?
If the master’s thesis is not successfully passed, it can be repeated once. In this case, a new topic must be found and registered in the system, and the entire process (writing an exposé, consulting with the supervisor) must be repeated from scratch.
When do I need to present the master’s thesis? To whom?
You must present your master’s thesis in front of the supervisor, the chair professor, and typically several researchers at the Chair. This is usually done right after the submission of the thesis. You are responsible for scheduling the presentation time, so plan well in advance and discuss possible timeslots with your supervisor.
When will I receive my grade?
After submitting the thesis, it must be graded within two months.
When will I receive my diploma and other documents?
After finishing your studies at TUM (i.e., collecting all the credits from all the modules, including the master’s thesis), it may take several weeks for the documents to be ready. If you need an earlier confirmation in the form of a preliminary certificate (e.g., for an employer), you can download a digitally sealed, preliminary degree certificate from the app „Student Dossier“ in TUMonline. You will be informed about the details once your study progress is confirmed.
If I haven’t finished my other courses before finishing the master’s thesis, can I finish them later? When will I receive my diploma in such a case? Will I still be enrolled at TUM?
Despite the master’s thesis being intended as your last activity during your master’s studies, sometimes students continue with other courses after the master’s thesis submission. This is possible only within the formal time of study as per the FPSO (120 ECTS by the end of the sixth semester), and you will still be enrolled as a TUM student. In such a case, the study program is completed only when all the required modules are finished, and the diploma, along with other documents, will not be available any sooner.
SUPERVISORS, CHAIRS, EXTERNAL SUPERVISORS
Who can supervise my master’s thesis?
Every TUM researcher can theoretically supervise a master’s thesis. However, the authorized ITBE Chairs include:
- Chair of Computing in Civil and Building Engineering
- Chair of Architectural Informatics
- Chair of Construction Management
- Chair of Geoinformatics
- Associate Professorship of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
- Chair of Engineering Geodesy
By choosing one of these Chairs, your topics are automatically approved, and you do not need additional approval beyond your supervisor. If you decide to write your thesis with another chair (not listed above), you need approval from the ITBE team (Tina Römpp and Prof. Borrmann) for compatibility with the program scope. In this case, prepare your exposé with your potential supervisor and send it to Tina before registering the thesis.
Can I have two supervisors from two different chairs?
Yes, you can have more than one supervisor, and they can be from different TUM Chairs. However, one supervisor should be the “main supervisor,” who will register you in the system, handle all formalities, and decide on submission details. All supervisors should be aware of and agree on the cooperation.
How does writing a master’s thesis with a company work?
You can have an external supervisor from a company. There are benefits and drawbacks to this choice, but the most important aspect is that you must always have a TUM supervisor involved. In this case, you will have two supervisors—one from TUM (who will register you in the system) and one from the company, who will act as a “connector” between the university and the industry. You can invite the external supervisor to your final presentation. All details of the cooperation should be cleared before registering the thesis, with all parties involved.
Can I have a supervisor from another university?
This is similar to the scenario above. You need a TUM supervisor to register you in the system, but cooperation with a researcher from another university is possible.
Can I write our master’s thesis with a company outside Germany but still within the EU?
There should be no issue from the master’s thesis perspective. However, make sure to inform yourself about employment and insurance matters if your cooperation with the company involves a working contract.
How often do we meet with the supervisor? Can those meetings be in an online format?
This depends on what you agree upon with your supervisor. Usually, supervisors are open to online meetings. Scheduling regular meetings (e.g., weekly) might be a good option, but it depends on your supervisor’s other commitments (teaching, research, event organization, or their own PhD). Discuss your supervisor’s availability early on, preferably before registering the thesis, to ensure you have similar expectations. Ask about planned vacations or breaks to schedule meetings accordingly. Remember, it is your responsibility to ask for consultations, as supervisors typically do not initiate them.
Is it possible to work on a subject with supervisors before registration?
Many supervisors will register you in the ED-Portal only when they are confident that your thesis topic, content, and methodology are well formulated and based on a solid knowledge base. This process can take several months from initial contact to registration. However, this varies and sometimes registration can happen quickly with just a draft of the idea (and a short expose).
FORM AND DETAILS OF THE THESIS
Is there any predefined structure for a master’s thesis at TUM?
The structure of a master’s thesis typically consists of the following sections: introduction, literature review, methodology, results, conclusions and outlook, followed by bibliography and appendices. Depending on the type of your master’s thesis, you may use a different structure. For example, if you are creating an AI model, you might name some sections: dataset, training results, evaluation, etc.
Is there a template for the master’s thesis?
A general template for all theses at TUM can be found at the following link (you must log in with your TUM account): Thesis Templates
Please note that some chairs may have their own variations of this template. You can find more information on the chair’s website, and for further questions, ask your supervisor.
Can I read the theses of previous students?
Many theses are available on the website: MediaTUM. They are not usually categorized uniformly, so it might be difficult to search directly on this website. Many chairs have a list of finished theses on their websites. Additionally, you can ask your supervisor for some “good examples” of finished theses.
How long should the master’s thesis be?
There is no official minimum or maximum length for a master’s thesis. Generally, TUM master’s theses, including all required elements and excluding irrelevant data, usually range from 40 to 100 pages, excluding appendices. The length depends on whether the thesis is more theoretical or practical, the extent of graphical content (pictures, diagrams, tables), and the distribution of information between the main content and the appendices.
How much effort should I put into the master’s thesis? Can I work or attend other courses while writing the thesis?
The master’s thesis is a full-time activity, equating to 30 ECTS points, or approximately 900 hours of work. Given the six-month timeframe, this will be your full-time activity. However, many students manage to work limited hours or attend a missing course in parallel. Evaluate your time management skills carefully before deciding to do so.
In which language can I write the ITBE master’s thesis?
You can write the thesis in either English or German. Please stick to one language throughout your thesis.
In which language can I do my master’s thesis presentation?
You should present your thesis in English. However, upon special request, you may present it in German.
Does TUM offer any language support for writing my master’s thesis?
Yes, it does! The TUM Language Centre offers both courses focused on academic writing and consultation slots to help you improve your style. You can find more information and take advantage of these resources at the TUM Language Centre – Writing Assistance. I strongly recommend making use of both options!
How does the presentation look? How much time do I have? Who can ask questions?
The presentation should not exceed 20 minutes. After the presentation, each person present can ask questions related to the thesis. Typically, the Chair professor starts with their questions. Answering these questions will be part of the presentation grade.
Do I need to print the thesis?
The form of the master’s thesis at TUM is generally electronic, but various chairs or supervisors may require an additional printed version.
Is there a budget for software licenses that we might need?
Many programs offer educational licenses for students for free or at a reduced price. TUM provides some licenses, which are listed on this website: TUM Software
If you need to buy a software license that does not have a free educational license and is not listed on the website above, you will need to purchase it yourself. You can ask your supervisor about funding possibilities or using a Chair license, but there is no specific budget allocated by TUM for thesis-related software or hardware.
Which bibliography management software should I use?
See the comparison made by TUM Library: https://mediatum.ub.tum.de/doc/1320978/1320978.pdf