Theses
The final thesis, whether in the bachelor's or master's degree program, is an independent scientific work. Typically, it takes place at the end of the degree program. Here are the general steps for completing a thesis.
A thesis is subject to the 4-eyes principle. This means that it is assessed by two examiners.
A thesis can only be issued by a teaching unit of RWTH-Informatics. The assigning teaching unit always will always be the first examiner and is responsible for the supervision.
The second evaluation can be completed by another department, university, or research institution and is done in consultation with the supervisor.
Step 0: Check the requirements
Before the final thesis can be tackled, the following requirements have to satisfied:
- For a bachelor thesis at least 120 credits have to have been reached. Additionally, in the Bachelor Computer Science Examination Regulations 2022 the compulsory modules from the first two semesters have to have been passed.
- A Master's thesis requires at least 60 credits. All mandatory requirements and the online course Scientific Integrity must have been passed.
Step 1: Finding a topic
The topic should match your own inclinations and interests. Through lectures, seminars, and practical courses, you get a good impression of how diverse computer science is in Aachen. The list of all our research groups – whether chairs or teaching and research areas – helps with the search and provides guidance.
The teaching units often advertise their offers on their own websites. It is also helpful to approach the academic staff directly and to ask for a thesis topic.
If the search for a thesis is unsuccessful despite intensive efforts, a request can be sent to "Thesis support" can be submitted to the examination board.
For the study program Master Data Science the theses must usually be issued by professorial or habilitated members of the chosen field of specialization. The second examiner must be a professorial or habilitated member of the department of computer science or mathematics. Details can be found in the examination regulations of the Master Data Science program.
In the study program Master Media Informatics theses can only be issued by professorial or habilitated members of the computer science department of RWTH Aachen University or the computer science department of the University of Bonn.
External thesis topics without an issuing computer science professor can not be accepted .
This also applies to theses in other departments of the RWTH.
In the self-study course scientific work in computer science you will find numerous useful tips.
Step 2: Contacting the Central Examination Office
As soon as there is an agreement with the supervising teaching unit, you have to email the Central Examination Office (ZPA) and ask for the registration form for the thesis to be sent to you. This is the contact list for the different study programmes:
In this step, the ZPA checks whether all admission requirements such as minimum credits or completed compulsory modules from the first semesters have been met and sends the registration form (=routing form or "Laufzettel") with the official signature digitally by email.
Step 3: Registration of the thesis with the board of examination
The registration form signed by the ZPA can now be completed in full. Your own signature and that of the first assessor are required - digital or handwritten, both are accepted. For MMI, MSSE and MDS, the signature of the second assessor is also required.
The Registration of the thesis takes place via the application system of the board of examination for computer science. Enter the title and the two persons responsible for the expert opinions. The registration form must then be uploaded.
The Central Examination Office will also receive the information automatically and record the data, which can be viewed in RWTHonline a short time later.
Step 4: Writing your thesis
All formal hurdles have been cleared and now the real work can begin.
The execution of the thesis topic and the type of supervision are the responsibility of the research groups themselves and can vary widely.
In order to use the logo of the institution or RWTH, approval is required.
Step 5: Submission of the thesis
Congratulations! Most of the work is done.
In most degree programs, the completed thesis must be printed out 3 times and submitted to the ZPA with a hard binding (no spiral binding). This can be done in person during opening hours in the office, via the Deadline Mailbox at the main building or by post. The decisive factor is that the work arrives on time - by 11:59 p.m. of the submission date.
Only from examination regulations 2022 (Bachelor) or 2023 (Master):
The submission of the work must be submitted digitally via RWTHonline - a printout is not necessary. Instructions can be found in the RWTH Wiki (only accessible from the RWTH network). Please note the submission deadline - by 23:59 of the submission date.
Step 6: Giving the final thesis presentation
The contents of the thesis must be presented in a graded talk. This usually takes place at the teaching unit of the first examiner. Details such as the date and length of the presentation are agreed upon with the thesis supervisor.
The final presentation can also take place before the thesis is submitted.
Step 7: Waiting for the grades
Now we have to wait:
The two evaluations must be prepared and the grade assigned. This all happens in the background. If you get impatient, you are welcome to ask your supervisor about the status after 4-6 weeks.
In RWTHonline the grade will be available later on.
A 4.0 certificate declares that the thesis has been passed, but the grade has not yet been determined. To apply for it at the ZPA, you need a pass certificate from the assessors.
It may be necessary for potential applications or for enrollment.
Stumbling blocks along the way
Not everything always goes smoothly and something can come up.
Should the schedule get out of hand, there is the possibility to extend the deadline (max. 4 weeks for bachelor's theses/6 weeks for master's theses). Also, it may happen that in the course of the thesis project, the title must be adjusted. This change has to be applied for at the board of examination.
In the worst case, you may have to pull out of the thesis. One thing to bear in mind here is that the thesis can only be returned once and only within the first month of the processing period. This is done by sending an informal message to both the supervisor and the Central Examination Office.