CLEWS master thesis

• The Master's thesis is the final piece of work in the programme. It is usually written in the last semester of the programme. A thesis already completed elsewhere cannot be recognised as a Master's thesis in CLEWS.
• The Master's thesis is intended to demonstrate that the candidate has, during the course of study and building on the first professional qualification, acquired extended and in-depth specialist knowledge, that the student able to combine theory and empirical research, and that the student is able to work on a more research-oriented or more application-oriented problem using subject-specific methods within a specified period of time and to present the results in a formally, linguistically and factually convincing manner.
• The Master's thesis, including the disputation, is worth 30 credits.

• The topic of the Master's thesis is assigned by an examiner appointed by the examination board. The candidate has the right to nominate the examiner. 
• The Master's thesis must be examined and assessed by two examiners from the field to which the thesis relates. Both examiners must work in the field in which you are writing your Master's thesis in order to be able to assess you..
• One of the examiners (usually the first) must be a professor at the University of Potsdam, actively teaching and entitled to examine. A junior professorship is also acceptable.
• The second supervisor can also be from an external institution/university/company. This supervisor must (at least) have a higher degree than you. This means at least a completed Master of Science (or Diploma). This person does not have to teach.

Tip: Choose a topic and a supervisor that you feel comfortable with. You will usually discuss the various steps of your thesis with your supervisor over several months.

At least 75 per cent (= minimum of 68 credit points) of the total number of module credit points to be completed in the programme must have been achieved.

For a helpful overview of all the steps you need to take, click here.

The topic may be returned once by written declaration to the supervisor. This declaration must be received by the supervisor by the end of the second month of the processing period.

Tip: Be sure to discuss your potential topic before submitting the final title. If you're really unhappy, it's better to switch to another topic before registering the title.

• The Master's thesis must be written in English.
  As a rule, the length of the thesis should not exceed 3 DIN A4 pages per credit point (= 90 pages maximum). There is no minimum number of pages.
• Those passages of the thesis which are taken verbatim or in spirit from external works must be acknowledged.
• You must include a Statement of Originality with your final thesis. In this declaration of academic integrity, you declare that you have written the thesis yourself and that you have not used any sources or aids other than those specified. For more information, please refer to the Senate's guidelines on plagiarism. When uploading your thesis in PULS, the included Statement of Originality does not necessarily have to be signed. Example for this statement: “I hereby declare that this thesis is the product of my own work. All the assistance received in preparing this thesis and the sources used have been acknowledged.”
• You submit your dissertation to the Student Administration Centre / Examinations Office in digital form only, using the Document Upload option in PULS. When uploading your dissertation in PULS, please check carefully that you have selected the correct version for submission. The Examination Office will forward the first document you submit to your examiners. An updated version of your dissertation that you submit later will not be forwarded to your examiners.

• The Master's thesis must be assessed and marked by both examiners within six weeks.
• The examiners evaluate the work in writing and give reasons for their grades. The final grade of the thesis is the arithmetic mean of the grades.
• If the difference in marks is more than 2.0, or if one of the marks is lower than "adequate", a third examiner will be appointed by the board.
• If two of the three examiners assess the thesis as "insufficient" (5.0), the final grade of the thesis is "insufficient" (5.0). A Master's thesis graded "not sufficient" (5.0) may only be repeated once.

• Normally, once your Master's thesis has been assessed (with at least a 4.0 from both assessors), it's your responsibility to arrange a date for your defence with your supervisors.
• Your supervisor can help you book a room for your defence.
• The Board of Examiners consists of the two examiners and one assessor. The Disputation consists of a 20-minute oral presentation and a 30-minute examination discussion, which must be recorded.
• The disputation is open to the public; the public may be excluded at the student's request.
• The assessment of the disputation counts for 25 percent of the overall assessment of the Master's thesis. It may be repeated once in the case of a grade of "unsatisfactory" (5,0).

Tip: Invite your friends and family to your defence. It's a great way to give them a glimpse into your professional life and celebrate your graduation.

As part of the organisation of your thesis defence, you are responsible for reserving a suitable room. Ideally, you will be able to book a available room on any campus of the University of Potsdam, with Golm being the preferred choice. We recommend the room 0.25/0.26 in building 29 at Campus Golm due to its modern facilities, equipped with 30 seats and suitable audiovisual technology. You can book the room directly by contacting UP Transfer Services. You can reserve the room via Email: haus29upotsdam-transferpde or by hone: +49 331 977 - 6171.

Ensure you allocate sufficient time for setting up the room before your defense begins. It is advisable to arrange the room setup - including tables, chairs, and the projector - at least 30 minutes prior to the start of your defense. Additionally, plan to remain in the room for about 30 minutes after the defense to manage any necessary follow-up activities. Therefore, it is advisable to book the room for a duration of at least two hours.