Theses (bachelor’s and master’s theses)

Admission requirements

For students admitted in Winter Semester 2013/14 or later, admission to the bachelor’s thesis requires the successful completion of modules amounting to at least 45 ECTS credits.

For students admitted between Winter Semester 2010/11 and Winter Semester 2012/13, admission to the bachelor’s thesis requires the successful completion of the following modules:

• basic modules 1, 2, 3, and 4
• intermediate modules 1, 2, and 3
• method modules 1 and 2
• practice module 1

For students admitted in Winter Semester 2009/10 or later, admission to the bachelor’s thesis requires the successful completion of the following modules:

• basic modules 1, 2, and 3
• intermediate modules 1, 2, and 3
• method modules 1 and 2
• practical modules 1 and 2

Early registration

If the admission requirements have not yet been met, you can register for the bachelor’s thesis early (see the subject-specific provisions on Section 14 subsection 2). This applies particularly when you do not yet have the necessary ECTS credits or have not yet formally completed the module due to examinations that you have taken that have not yet been assessed.

In this case, enclose an informal application for early registration (i.e., an application composed by you) with your bachelor’s thesis registration form (see Point 2), explaining which admission requirements have not (yet) been met and the reasons for seeking early registration.

No application is required if you write your thesis later than the sixth semester.

Supervisor and choosing a topic

You must discuss supervision and your topic with your first examiner before officially registering for your bachelor’s thesis.

In principle, university lecturers (professors, junior professors) and University members with a Habilitation (private lecturers, other staff) are entitled to conduct all examinations in their subject area (Section 64 HmbHG). The first examiner of the bachelor’s thesis must be a university lecturer. A list of potential examiners can be obtained from the help desk or via the following link:

• Who is authorized to conduct examinations in the Department of Social Sciences? (PDF)

The admission of other supervisors—e.g., those who are not university lecturers or external lecturers, i.e., lecturers from other subjects at the University of Hamburg or other universities—can be approved by means of submitting a corresponding, informal (i.e., composed by you) application laying out the reasons for the application, to the chair of the examinations board of the respective degree program. Research associates may be admitted as examiners for final examinations in individual cases after approval by the responsible examinations board, if the topic of a final thesis relates to the subject matter of their individual courses or the associated modules.

To find a suitable topic, contact the teacher by email or arrange a personal appointment. Talk to your teachers, e.g., the supervisors of your term papers and project work, about possible topics at an early stage. You can facilitate this process by thinking about a possible topic, and briefly summarizing these considerations in writing (in the form of an outline or synopsis).

You can suggest a second examiner/reviewer. However, the chair of the examination committee reserves the right to appoint another second examiner, especially if your suggested second examiner is already very busy with other assessments.

(Note: contact a potential second examiner only after you have the topic, structure, outline, etc. for the thesis with the first examiner. The first examiner may also recommend potential second examiners. The actual supervision of the thesis is usually carried out only by the first examiner).

Group work

It is possible to write the bachelor’s thesis in the form of a group thesis, provided that the individual contribution and the individual examination performance are clearly distinguishable (see Section 14 subsection 7, BA examination regulations). This must be agreed with the supervisor.

Registration for the final module in STiNE

You do not need to register for the final thesis or the final module in STiNE. This is done by the examination management on the basis of your registration form.

Withdrawing from studies and semester(s) of academic leave during the bachelor’s thesis

If you began your studies in or after Winter Semester 2016/17 you must remain enrolled at the University of Hamburg until you have completed your studies (i.e., until all grades for all examinations have been received; Section 9 subsection 3, BA examination regulations).

If you began your studies in or prior to Winter Semester 2015/16, you do not have to be enrolled at the University of Hamburg to register or submit your bachelor’s thesis or have it evaluated. You are still entitled to take examinations up to 2 years after withdrawing from your studies (Section 23 subsection 2c, BA examination regulations).

You cannot take a semester of leave for the preparation or writing of the bachelor’s thesis.

Registration period

You can register for the bachelor’s thesis at any time if the admission requirements are met. According to the resolution of the examinations board, this also applies to students who began their studies in Winter Semester 2009/10 or earlier.

You can choose the date on which the working time for your bachelor’s thesis should begin by entering the date on the registration form.

You must register your bachelor’s thesis if you have completed all other modules of the BA Political Science, earned all required credit points for the elective area, and the regular period of study has been exceeded.

The date of registration for the bachelor’s thesis (submission of the registration form) must be before the start of the working period (i.e., the registration must be submitted at the latest one day before the start of the completion period).

Registration form

Registration takes place via the official registration form (PDF) of the academic office (also available at the help desk), which must be handed in at the academic office.

Subsequent title changes

The topic (= title) of the bachelor’s thesis is noted on the registration form. Title changes and thus changes to the topic of the bachelor’s thesis are generally no longer possible after registration.

You may not make subsequent changes, additions (e.g., subtitles to the main title) or similar on your own. In exceptional cases, however, you may, with the consent of your supervisor, request a change by submitting an informal, reasoned application to the chair of the examination board.

Completion period

Students have 3 months (13 weeks) in which to complete the thesis.

The completion period is the same for part-time students.

Calculating the due date

The completion period begins on the date entered on the registration form. After submitting the registration form, you will receive written confirmation of your registration by post from the academic office. The topic, the examiner, and the exact (binding) due date can then be found in STiNE under “Meine Prüfungen.”

Rejecting the topic

An assigned topic may be justifiably rejected only once after it has been assigned, and this must be done within the first 2 weeks. The examiner may accept a reasoned request to withdraw the topic of the bachelor’s thesis, if treatment of the topic is no longer possible for subject-related reasons (see Section 14 subsection 5 BA examination regulations).

Extending the completion period

The completion period may be extended by a maximum of week on presentation of a corresponding medical certificate. For this, you must fill out the extension request form and submit it together with the medical certificate.

Longer (i.e., longer than a week) or repeated periods of absence require an informal (i.e., self-written) application to the examinations board laying out the reasons for the request. The request can be granted only in cases of particular hardship for which the student is not responsible. The examinations board decides on these informal extension requests.

The application must be submitted by the end of the processing period with corresponding proof (e.g., medical certificate). The academic office will then inform you of the new due date.

Scope

For students who started their studies by Winter Semester 2012/13, the bachelor’s thesis should be approximately 60 pages (approximately 18,000 words), and for students who started from Winter Semester 2013/14, approximately 40 pages (12,000 words). This does not include bibliography, appendices, etc. Any deviations with regard to the scope must be agreed with the supervisor.

Layout and citation

The supervisor sets the guidelines for layout, citations, etc. Discuss this with them in good time. In the absence of any special requirements, consult the Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten reader (PDF) issued by the academic office.

Language

The bachelor’s thesis is usually written in German or English. Any deviations with regard to the language must be agreed with the supervisor.

Title page

The topic (= the title) on the title page must correspond exactly to the wording in the registration form. If the title has been subsequently changed by the examinations board, this changed title must be noted.

The title page must also include the name, student ID number, and address of the student writing the thesis as well as the names of the first and second examiners.

Declaration

You must include an affidavit as the last page, and confirm it with the date and your signature, preferably using the following wording:

Affidavit:

“I hereby confirm that I have completed this work independently and without assistance from third parties. I have used only the literature and information sources listed in the bibliography and have not used any other Internet sources or AI applications. All passages from publications which have been cited literally or summarized are marked accordingly. I have not previously submitted the work as part of another examination procedure. The written version submitted corresponds to that on the enclosed electronic storage medium.”

Your bachelor’s thesis must be submitted by the due date given on registration at the latest. The due date can be demonstrated by the receipt of submission provided by the Social Sciences Academic Office or by the date of the postmark if sent by post.

If the submission deadline falls on a day on which the building at Allendeplatz 1 is closed, the submission deadline is the working day immediately following!

A bachelor’s thesis not submitted on time will be assessed as “insufficient” (Section 16 subsection 1, BA examination regulations).

Copies

You must submit 3 printed copies with adhesive binding.

For approved group-work dissertations, you must submit 4 printed copies with adhesive binding.

Every copy must be submitted with a labeled data carrier on which the submitted version of the thesis has been stored.

The data carrier (usually a CD-ROM) should be adequately attached to the thesis (e.g., by means of appropriate adhesive pockets in the cover) and, if possible, contain the bachelor’s thesis in Microsoft Word or PDF format (see Section 14 subsection 8 BA examination regulations).

Assessment

Both examiners must promptly evaluate the bachelor’s thesis, no later than 6 weeks after its submission (see also Section 14 subsection 10 of the BA examination regulations). The assessment reports will be sent to you by the academic office.

Grading

The final grade is calculated from the mathematical average of the grades awarded by both examiners in accordance with Section 15, BA examination regulations.

Oral examinations

For students admitted in or before Winter Semester 2012/13, in addition to the bachelor’s thesis, the final module also includes a 30-minute oral defense conducted by the first examiner and an invigilator (usually the second examiner). In this oral defense you defend your bachelor’s thesis.

Make an appointment for the oral examination with your examiners in good time.

Students who were admitted from Winter Semester 2013/14 do not have to do an oral defense.

If your final thesis does not receive a passing grade, you have one more attempt. At the latest, you must sign up to redo the bachelor’s thesis 6 weeks after you receive the initial notification of your results (see also Section 14 subsection 11 BA examination regulations).

For the repeat attempt, you must agree to a new topic with your supervisor. You cannot revise an original bachelor’s thesis that has been graded “insufficient.”

Requesting your certificate

Together with the assessment, you will receive a form to request your certificate. As soon as this is ready and signed, you will be informed and can pick it up.

Withdrawing from studies

Your enrollment does not automatically end. Once you receive your certificate, you will not receive a request the following semester to reenroll.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to the final thesis in the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, you must have earned 45 ECTS credits. If you have not yet met the requirements, you can register early (see the subject-specific provisions on Section 14 subsection 2). Submit an informal request to register early, including your reasons for doing so.

Possible supervisors (examiners)

Before you register, you need to discuss the topic with your supervisor (first examiner). To find a suitable topic, contact the teacher by email or arrange a personal appointment.

Contact the second examiner only after you have agreed to the topic, its outline, etc. with the first examiner. As a rule, only the first examiner supervises you throughout the completion period, so you generally need only to send an email request to a second examiner.

At least one of these examiners has to be a lecturer in the field of sociology.

See the list of authorized examiners in sociology here:

• List of authorized examiners in the Department of Social Sciences (PDF) 

It is also possible for other examiners who are not professors of sociology to be authorized. Make the request when you register for the final thesis simply by requesting, on the second page, the transfer of examination rights for final theses to an examiner who either works outside the field or does not have a Habilitation.

The request can be made for:  

• external teaching staff (professors of other faculties at the University of Hamburg or other universities)

• research associates who have a doctorate in sociology

• research associates in sociology without a doctorate 

Group work

It is possible to write the final thesis as a group, provided that the individual contribution and the individual examination performance are clearly distinguishable (see Section 14 subsection 7, examination regulations). This needs to be clarified with the examiner prior to registration.

Withdrawing from studies and semester(s) of academic leave during the final thesis

You must be enrolled at the University of Hamburg when you submit and have your bachelor's thesis evaluated. You cannot take a semester of leave to prepare for or write your final thesis. You do not have to be registered for your final thesis only if you started your studies prior to Winter Semester 2016/17. 

Registration

You can register for the final thesis at any time if the admission requirements are met. You can freely choose the date on which the completion period for your final thesis should begin. Register using the form (not in STiNE!) that you submit before the completion period starts.

• Registration form final thesis (PDF)

Determining and changing titles

The title of the final thesis is noted on the registration form. You cannot change the title after you register. You may not make subsequent changes, additions (e.g., subtitles to the main title), or similar on your own. In exceptional cases, you can request a change to the title by submitting an informal request to the examinations board.

Completion time and submission

The completion period for the final thesis in the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is 13 weeks;it is the same for part-time students. The completion period begins on the date entered on the registration form. (For more tips on submitting your thesis, see below under “Submission by the due date”). The academic office notifies you of the due date in writing.

Rejecting the topic

An assigned topic may be justifiably rejected by the student only once after it has been assigned, and this must be done within the first 2 weeks. The examiner may accept a reasoned request to withdraw the topic of the final thesis if treatment of the topic is no longer possible for subject-related reasons (see Section 14 subsection 5 of the examination regulations).

Extending the completion period in cases of illness

The completion period for final theses can be extended based on the submission of a medical certificate. The extension may not exceed half of the original completion period (i.e., 46 days). The examinations board can grant a longer extension only in cases of extraordinary hardship (upon request).

Fill out the extension request and submit it along with the medical certificate. The academic office will notify you of the new due date.

• Request form to extend the completion period for the final thesis (PDF)

Scope of the final thesis

As a rule, the final thesis (and, in cases of group work, the individual contribution) is 40 pages of text (12,000 words). Deviations must be clarified with the supervisor.

Tips on layout and citations

The supervisor sets the guidelines for layout, citations, etc. If the examiner does not have special guidelines, you can use this reader from the academic office:

• Reader Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten (PDF)

Language

The final thesis is usually written in German or English. Deviations must be clarified with the examiner.

Title page

The title on the title page must correspond exactly to the wording in the registration form. If the title has been subsequently changed by the examinations board, this changed title must be noted. The title page must also include the name, student ID number, and address of the person writing the thesis as well as the names of the first and second examiners. More information on layout here

• Cover pages for final theses

Declaration

On the last page of the final thesis, the author must include an affidavit, date, and signatures (original: not copied!) with a declaration worded, ideally, as follows:  

Affidavit:  

“I hereby confirm that I have completed this work independently and without assistance from third parties. I have used only the literature and information sources listed in the bibliography and have not used any other Internet sources or AI applications. All passages from publications which have been cited literally or summarized are marked accordingly. I have not previously submitted the work as part of another examination procedure. The written version submitted corresponds to that on the enclosed electronic storage medium.”

Submitting the final thesis by deadline

The final thesis must be submitted to the Social Sciences Academic Office (not to the examiners!) by the deadline. Bachelor’s theses handed in afterwards will receive the grade “insufficient.” You can hand in your thesis

• personally at the help desk of the Social Sciences Academic Office (during opening hours and you can get a receipt).
• You can also put it in the Social Sciences Academic Office mailbox (next to room 145), or
• send it by post to the Social Sciences Academic Office (the date of the postmark is considered the date on which you hand it in).

If the deadline falls on a Saturday, a Sunday, or a public holiday (i.e., statutory holidays of the Federal State of Hamburg), the completion period is extended until the next working day. See this page for tips on handing in examination tasks by the deadline.

The academic office will log delivery and forward the work to the examiners.

Copies for submission

Submit 3 printed copies of the final thesis (use adhesive binding). In the case of authorized group work, submit 4 copies (use adhesive binding). Every copy must be submitted with a labeled data carrier on which the submitted version of the thesis has been stored.  The data carrier (as a rule a CD-ROM) should be securely attached to the work (e.g., using appropriate adhesive pockets in the envelope) and the bachelor’s thesis should be submitted as a Microsoft Word or PDF (see also Section 14 subsection 8 of the examination regulations).

Assessment

Both examiners must promptly evaluate the final thesis, no later than 6 weeks after its submission (see also Section 14 subsection 10 of the examination regulations). The academic office reminds the examiners to observe the correction deadline. The academic office forwards both assessments of the final thesis to the author.  

Grading

The final grade for the final thesis is calculated from the mathematical average of the grades awarded by both examiners.

Redoing the final thesis

If your final thesis does not receive a passing grade, you have one more attempt. In this case, you must agree to a new topic with one of the examiners. You cannot revise an original bachelor’s thesis that has been graded “insufficient.”

Requesting your certificate

Together with the assessment, you will receive a form to request your certificate. As soon as this is ready and signed, you will be notified.

Withdrawing from studies

You cease to be enrolled when it is clear that you have successfully concluded your studies. This is not the case when you submit your final thesis but only when you have formally requested your transcripts, diploma, etc.

Admission requirements

Admission to the final thesis in the Master of Arts in Sociology does not require a specific number of ECTS credits.

Possible supervisors (examiners)

Before you register, you need to discuss the topic with your supervisor (first examiner).

You can find all the information about the teaching staff in the degree program who are authorized to supervise a master’s thesis (contact details, topic areas, methodological approaches) here:

• Information about supervisors

Contact the second examiner only after you have agreed to the topic, it’s outline, etc. with the first examiner. As a rule, only the first examiner supervises you throughout the completion period, so you generally need only to send an email request to a second examiner.

At least one of these examiners has to be a lecturer in the field of sociology.

See the list of authorized examiners in criminology here:

• List of authorized examiners in the Department of Social Sciences (PDF)

It is also possible for other examiners who are not professors of sociology to be authorized. Make the request when you register for the final thesis simply by requesting, on the second page, the transfer of examination rights for final theses to an examiner who either works outside the field or does not have a Habilitation.

The request can be made for:  

• external teaching staff (professors of other faculties at the University of Hamburg or other universities)

• research associates who have a doctorate in sociology

• research associates in sociology without a doctorate

Group work

It is possible to write the final thesis as a group, provided that the individual contribution and the individual examination performance are clearly distinguishable (see Section 14 subsection 7, MA examination regulations). This needs to be clarified with the examiner prior to registration.

Registration for the final module in STiNE

You do not need to register for the final thesis or the final module in STiNE.

Withdrawing from studies and semester(s) of academic leave during the final thesis

You must be enrolled at the University of Hamburg when you submit and have your final thesis evaluated. You cannot take a semester of leave to prepare for or write your final thesis. You do not have to be registered for your final thesis only if you started your studies prior to Winter Semester 2016/17.

Registration period

You may register for the final thesis anytime. You can freely choose the date on which the completion time for your final thesis should begin. You must hand in the registration form prior to the start of the completion period.

Registration form

Register using the form (not in STiNE!).

• Registration form final thesis (PDF)

Subsequent title changes

The title of the final thesis is noted on the registration form. You cannot change the title after you register. You may not make subsequent changes, additions (e.g., subtitles to the main title), or similar on your own. In exceptional cases, you can request a change to the title by submitting an informal request to the examinations board.

Completion period

In the Master of Arts in Sociology, you have a completion time of 6 months (183 days) for your final thesis. The completion period is the same for part-time students.

Calculating the due date

The completion period begins on the date entered on the registration form. The academic office notifies you in writing of the due date. (For more tips on submitting your thesis, see below under “Submission by the due date”).

Rejecting the topic

An assigned topic may be justifiably rejected by the student only once after it has been assigned, and this must be done within the first 2 weeks. The examiner may accept a reasoned request to withdraw the topic of the final thesis if treatment of the topic is no longer possible for subject-related reasons (see Section 14 subsection 5 of the examination regulations).

Extending the completion period in cases of illness

The completion period for final theses can be extended based on the submission of a medical certificate. Fill out the extension request and submit it along with the medical certificate. The academic office will notify you of the new due date.

• Request form to extend the completion period for the final thesis (PDF)

Scope of the final thesis

As a rule, the final thesis (and, in cases of group work, the individual contribution) 70 to 100 pages (21,000 to 30,000 words).  Deviations must be clarified with the supervisor.

Tips on layout and citations

The supervisor sets the guidelines for layout, citations, etc. If the examiner does not have special guidelines, you can use this reader from the academic office: Reader Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten (PDF)

Language

The final thesis is usually written in German or English. Deviations must be clarified with the examiner.

Title page

The title on the title page must correspond exactly to the wording in the registration form. If the title has been subsequently changed by the examinations board, this changed title must be noted. The title page must also include the name, student ID number, and address of the person writing the thesis as well as the names of the first and second examiners. More information on layout here

• Cover pages for final theses

Declaration

On the last page of the final thesis, the author must include an affidavit, date, and signatures (original: not copied!) with a declaration worded, ideally, as follows:  

Affidavit:  

“I hereby confirm that I have completed this work independently and without assistance from third parties. I have used only the literature and information sources listed in the bibliography and have not used any other Internet sources or AI applications. All passages from publications which have been cited literally or summarized are marked accordingly. I have not previously submitted the work as part of another examination procedure. The written version submitted corresponds to that on the enclosed electronic storage medium.”

Submitting the final thesis by deadline

The final thesis must be submitted to the Social Sciences Academic Office (not to the examiners!) by the deadline. Final theses handed in after the due receive a grade of “insufficient.” You can hand in your thesis 

• personally at the help desk of the Social Sciences Academic Office (during opening hours and you can get a receipt).
• You can also put it in the Social Sciences Academic Office mailbox (next to room 145), or 
• send it by post to the Social Sciences Academic Office (the date of the postmark is considered the date on which you hand it in).

If the deadline falls on a Saturday, a Sunday, or a public holiday (i.e., statutory holidays of the Federal State of Hamburg), the completion period is extended until the next working day. See this page for tips on handing in examination tasks by the deadline.

The academic office will log delivery and forward the work to the examiners.

Copies for submission

Submit 3 printed copies of the final thesis (use adhesive binding). In the case of authorized group work, submit 4 copies (use adhesive binding). Every copy must be submitted with a labeled data carrier on which the submitted version of the thesis has been stored.  The data carrier (as a rule a CD-ROM) should be securely attached to the work (e.g., using appropriate adhesive pockets in the envelope) and the bachelor’s thesis should be submitted as a Microsoft Word or PDF (see also Section 14 subsection 8 of the examination regulations).

Assessment

Both examiners must promptly evaluate the final thesis, no later than 6 weeks after its submission (see also Section 14 subsection 10 of the examination regulations). The academic office reminds the examiners to observe the correction deadline. The academic office forwards both assessments of the final thesis to the author.  

Grading

The final grade for the final thesis is calculated from the mathematical average of the grades awarded by both examiners.

Redoing the final thesis

If your final thesis does not receive a passing grade, you have one more attempt. In this case, you must agree to a new topic with one of the examiners. You cannot revise an original bachelor’s thesis that has been graded “insufficient.”

Requesting your certificate

Together with the assessment, you will receive a form to request your certificate. As soon as this is ready and signed, you will be notified.

Withdrawing from studies

You cease to be enrolled when it is clear that you have successfully concluded your studies. This is not the case when you submit your final thesis but only when you have formally requested your transcripts, diploma, etc.

Admission requirements

Admission to the final thesis in the Master of Arts in International Criminology does not require a specific number of ECTS credits.

Possible supervisors (examiners)

Before you register, you need to discuss the topic with your supervisor (first examiner).

You can find all the information about the teaching staff in the degree program who are authorized to supervise a master’s thesis (contact details, topic areas, methodological approaches) here:

• Information about supervisors 

Contact the second examiner only after you have agreed to the topic, it’s outline, etc. with the first examiner. As a rule, only the first examiner supervises you throughout the completion period, so you generally need only to send an email request to a second examiner.

At least one of these examiners has to be a professor in the field of criminology.

See the list of authorized examiners in criminology here:

• List of authorized examiners in the Department of Social Sciences [PDF]

It is also possible for other examiners who are not professors of sociology to be authorized. Make the request when you register for the final thesis simply by requesting, on the second page, the transfer of examination rights for final theses to an examiner who either works outside the field or does not have a Habilitation.

The request can be made for:  

• external teaching staff (professors of other faculties at the University of Hamburg or other universities)

• Research associates who have a doctorate in criminology

• Research associates in criminology without a doctorate

Group work

It is possible to write the final thesis as a group, provided that the individual contribution and the individual examination performance are clearly distinguishable (see Section 14 subsection 7, examination regulations). This needs to be clarified with the examiner prior to registration.

Registration for the final module in STiNE

You do not need to register for the final thesis or the final module in STiNE.

Withdrawing from studies and semester(s) of academic leave during the final thesis

You must be enrolled at the University of Hamburg when you submit and have your final thesis evaluated. You cannot take a semester of leave to prepare for or write your final thesis. You do not have to be registered for your final thesis only if you started your studies prior to Winter Semester 2016/17.

• Registration period

You may register for the final thesis anytime. You can freely choose the date on which the completion time for your final thesis should begin. You must hand in the registration form prior to the start of the completion period.

Registration form

Register using the form (not in STiNE!).

• Registration form final thesis (PDF)

Subsequent title changes

The title of the final thesis is noted on the registration form. You cannot change the title after you register. You may not make subsequent changes, additions (e.g., subtitles to the main title), or similar on your own. In exceptional cases, you can request a change to the title by submitting an informal request to the examinations board.

Completion period

In the Master of Arts in International Criminology, there is a completion period of 6 months (183 days) for your final thesis. The completion period is the same for part-time students.

Calculating the due date

The completion period begins on the date entered on the registration form. The academic office notifies you in writing of the due date. (For more tips on submitting your thesis, see below under “Submission by the due date”).

Rejecting the topic

An assigned topic may be justifiably rejected by the student only once after it has been assigned, and this must be done within the first 2 weeks. The examiner may accept a reasoned request to withdraw the topic of the final thesis if treatment of the topic is no longer possible for subject-related reasons (see Section 14 subsection 5 of the examination regulations).

Extending the completion period in cases of illness

The completion period for final theses can be extended based on the submission of a medical certificate. Fill out the extension request and submit it along with the medical certificate. The academic office will notify you of the new due date.

• Request form to extend the completion period for the final thesis (PDF)

Scope of the final thesis

As a rule, the final thesis (and, in cases of group work, the individual contribution) 70 to 100 pages (21,000 to 30,000 words).  Deviations must be clarified with the supervisor.

Tips on layout and citations

The supervisor sets the guidelines for layout, citations, etc. If the examiner does not have special guidelines, you can use this reader from the academic office: 

• Reader Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten (PDF).

Language

The final thesis is usually written in German or English. Deviations must be clarified with the examiner.

Title page

The title on the title page must correspond exactly to the wording in the registration form. If the title has been subsequently changed by the examinations board, this changed title must be noted. The title page must also include the name, student ID number, and address of the person writing the thesis as well as the names of the first and second examiners. More information on layout here

• Cover pages for final theses

Declaration

On the last page of the final thesis, the author must include an affidavit, date, and signatures (original: not copied!) with a declaration worded, ideally, as follows:  

Affidavit:  

“I hereby confirm that I have completed this work independently and without assistance from third parties. I have used only the literature and information sources listed in the bibliography and have not used any other Internet sources or AI applications. All passages from publications which have been cited literally or summarized are marked accordingly. I have not previously submitted the work as part of another examination procedure. The written version submitted corresponds to that on the enclosed electronic storage medium.”

Submitting the final thesis by deadline

The final thesis must be submitted to the Social Sciences Academic Office (not to the examiners!) by the deadline. Final theses handed in after the due receive a grade of “insufficient.” You can hand in your thesis

• personally at the help desk of the Social Sciences Academic Office (during opening hours and you can get a receipt).
• You can also put it in the Social Sciences Academic Office mailbox (next to room 145), or 
• send it by post to the Social Sciences Academic Office (the date of the postmark is considered the date on which you hand it in).

If the deadline falls on a Saturday, a Sunday, or a public holiday (i.e., statutory holidays of the Federal State of Hamburg), the completion period is extended until the next working day. See this page for tips on handing in examination tasks by the deadline.

The academic office will log delivery and forward the work to the examiners.

Copies for submission

Submit 3 printed copies of the final thesis (use adhesive binding). In the case of authorized group work, submit 4 copies (use adhesive binding). Every copy must be submitted with a labeled data carrier on which the submitted version of the thesis has been stored.  The data carrier (as a rule a CD-ROM) should be securely attached to the work (e.g., using appropriate adhesive pockets in the envelope) and the bachelor’s thesis should be submitted as a Microsoft Word or PDF (see also Section 14 subsection 8 of the examination regulations).

Assessment

Both examiners must promptly evaluate the final thesis, no later than 6 weeks after its submission (see also Section 14 subsection 10 of the examination regulations). The academic office reminds the examiners to observe the correction deadline. The academic office forwards both assessments of the final thesis to the author.  

Grading

The final grade for the final thesis is derived from the arithmetical average of the 2 grades given by the examiners.

Redoing the final thesis

If your final thesis does not receive a passing grade, you have one more attempt. In this case, you must agree to a new topic with one of the examiners. You cannot revise an original bachelor’s thesis that has been graded “insufficient.”

Requesting your certificate

Together with the assessment, you will receive a form to request your certificate. As soon as this is ready and signed, you will be notified.

Withdrawing from studies

You cease to be enrolled when it is clear that you have successfully concluded your studies. This is not the case when you submit your final thesis but only when you have formally requested your transcripts, diploma, etc.

Admission requirements

Students admitted in Winter Semester 2013/14 or later may be admitted to the master’s thesis without having completed specific modules or earned a certain number of ECTS.

Students admitted between Winter Semester 2010/11 and Winter Semester 2012/13 may be admitted to the master’s thesis after successfully completing the following modules:

• the basic principles module
• 20 ECTS credits in main modules
• 15 ECTS credits in the elective area

Early registration

If the admission requirements have not yet been met, you can register for the master’s thesis early (see the subject-specific provisions on Section 14 subsection 2). This applies particularly when you do not yet have the necessary ECTS credits or have not yet formally completed the module due to examinations that you have taken that have not yet been assessed.

In this case, enclose an informal application for early registration (i.e., an application composed by you) with your master’s thesis registration form (see Point 2), explaining which admission requirements have not (yet) been met and the reasons for seeking early registration.

No application is required if you write your thesis later than the fourth semester.

Supervisor and choosing a topic

You must discuss supervision and your topic with your first examiner before officially registering for your master’s thesis.

In principle, university lecturers (professors, junior professors) and University members with a Habilitation (private lecturers, other staff) are entitled to conduct all examinations in their subject area (Section 64 HmbHG).The first examinerfor the master’s thesis must be a university professor. A list of potential examiners can be obtained from the help desk or via the following link:

• Who is authorized to conduct examinations in the Department of Social Sciences? (PDF)

The admission of other supervisors—e.g., those who are not university lecturers or external lecturers, i.e., lecturers from other subjects at the University of Hamburg or other universities—can be approved by means of submitting a corresponding informal request (i.e., one you write yourself) including an explanation of your reasons to the chair of the examinations board of the respective degree program. Research associates may be admitted as examiners for final examinations in individual cases after approval by the responsible examinations board, if the topic of a final thesis relates to the subject matter of their individual courses or the associated modules.

To find a suitable topic, contact the teacher by email or arrange a personal appointment. Talk to your teachers, e.g., the supervisors of your term papers and project work, about possible topics at an early stage. You can facilitate this process by thinking about a possible topic, and briefly summarizing these considerations in writing (in the form of an outline or synopsis).

You can suggest a second examiner/reviewer. However, the chair of the examination committee reserves the right to appoint another second examiner, especially if your suggested second examiner is already very busy with other assessments.

(Note: contact a potential second examiner only after you have the topic, structure, outline, etc. for the thesis with the first examiner. The first examiner may also recommend potential second examiners. As a rule, only the first examiner actively supervises the thesis).

Group work

It is possible to write the master’s thesis as a group, provided that the individual contribution and the individual examination performance are clearly distinguishable (see Section 14 subsection 7, MA examination regulations). This must be agreed with the supervisor.

Registration for the final module in STiNE

You do not need to register for the final thesis or the final module in STiNE. This is done by the examination management on the basis of your registration form.

Withdrawing from studies and semester(s) of academic leave during the master’s thesis

You do not have to be enrolled at the University of Hamburg until you complete your master’s thesis. You are still entitled to take examinations up to 2 years after withdrawing from your studies (Section 9 MA examination regulations).

You cannot take a semester of leave to prepare for or write your final thesis.

Registration period

You can choose the date on which the working time for your master’s thesis should begin by entering the date on the registration form.

You must register for your master’s thesis after you have completed all other MA modules in political science, all required ECTS in the elective area, and you have exceeded the regular period of study.

The date of registration for the master’s thesis (submission of the registration form) must be before the start of the completion period (i.e., the registration must be submitted at the latest one day before the start of the completion period).

Registration form

Registration takes place via the official registration form (PDF) of the academic office (also available at the help desk), which must be handed in at the academic office.

Subsequent title changes

The topic (= title) of the master’s thesis is noted in the registration form. Title changes and thus changes to the topic of the master’s thesis are generally no longer possible after registration.

You may not make subsequent changes, additions (e.g., subtitles to the main title) or similar on your own. In exceptional cases, however, you may, with the consent of your supervisor, request a change by submitting an informal, reasoned application to the chair of the examination board.

Completion period

The completion period for students who started their studies in Winter Semester 2012/13 is 5 months, who started their studies in Winter Semester2013/14 26 weeks (6 months).

The completion period is the same for part-time students.

Calculating the due date

The completion period begins on the date entered on the registration form. After submitting the registration form, you will receive written confirmation of your registration by post from the academic office. Find the topic, the examiners, and the exact, binding due date under “Meine Prüfungen” in STiNE.

Rejecting the topic

An assigned topic may be justifiably rejected only once after it has been assigned, and this must be done within the first 2 weeks. The examiner may accept a reasoned request to withdraw the topic of the final thesis if treatment of the topic is no longer possible for subject-related reasons (see Section 14 subsection 5 of the MA examination regulations).

Extending the completion period

The completion period may be extended by a maximum of week on presentation of a corresponding medical certificate. To do so, you must complete a request to extend the final thesis (PDF) and submit this along with the medical certificate.

Longer (i.e., longer than a week) or repeated periods of absence require an informal (i.e., self-written) application to the examinations board laying out the reasons for the request. The request can be granted only in cases of particular hardship for which the student is not responsible. The examinations board decides on these informal extension requests.

You must submit the requestbefore the completion period ends,and include the required proof (e.g., a medical certificate). The academic office will then inform you of the new due date.

Scope

Master’s theses submitted by students who started their studies in Winter Semester 2012/13 should be about 120 pages (roughly 36,000 words); for students who started their studies in Winter Semester 2013/14, 70 to 100 pages (Rouhgly 21,000 to 30,000 words); for students who started their studies in Winter Semester 2014/15 60 to 80 pages (roughly 18,000 to 24,000 words). This does not include bibliography, appendices, etc. Any deviations with regard to the scope must be agreed with the supervisor.

Layout and citation

The supervisor sets the guidelines for layout, citations, etc. Discuss this with them in good time. If they do not have any special requirements, see the Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten(PDF) reader issued by the academic office.

Language

The master’s thesis is usually written in German or English. Any deviations with regard to the language must be agreed with the supervisor.

Title page

The topic (= title) on the title page must be phrased exactly as it was in the registration form. If the title has been subsequently changed by the examinations board, this changed title must be noted.

The title page must also include the name, student ID number, and address of the student writing the thesis as well as the names of the first and second examiners.

Declaration

You must include an affidavit as the last page, and confirm it with the date and your signature, preferably using the following wording:

Affidavit:

“I hereby confirm that I have completed this work independently and without external assistance. I have used only the literature and information sources listed in the bibliography and have not used any other Internet sources or AI applications. All passages from publications which have been cited literally or summarized are marked accordingly. I have not previously submitted the work as part of another examination procedure. The written version submitted corresponds to that on the enclosed electronic storage medium.”

“Submission by the due date”

The master’s thesis must be submitted by the due date given on registration at the latest. The due date can be demonstrated by the receipt of submission provided by the Social Sciences Academic Office or by the date of the postmark if sent by post. If the submission deadline falls on a day on which the building at Allendeplatz 1 is closed, the submission deadline is the working day immediately following.

A master’s thesis not submitted on time will be graded as “insufficient” (Section 16 subsection 1, MA examination regulations).

Copies

You must submit 3 printed copies (with adhesive binding). For authorized group work you must submit 4 printed copies (with adhesive binding).

Every copy must be submitted with a labeled data carrier on which the submitted version of the thesis has been stored.

The data carrier (usually a CD-ROM) should be adequately attached to the thesis (e.g., by means of appropriate adhesive pockets in the cover) and, if possible, contain the master’s thesis in Microsoft Word or PDF format (see Section 14 subsection 8 MA examination regulations).

Assessment

Both examiners must promptly evaluate the master’s thesis, no later than 6 weeks after its submission (see also Section 14 subsection 10 of the MA examination regulations). The assessment reports will be sent to you by the academic office.

Grading

The final grade is calculated from the mathematical average of the grades awarded by both examiners in accordance with Section 15, MA examination regulations.

Oral examinations

For students admitted in or before Winter Semester 2012/13, in addition to the master’s thesis, the final module also includes a 45-minute oral defense conducted by the first examiner and an invigilator (usually the second examiner). In this oral examination you defend your master’s thesis.

Make an appointment for the oral examination with your examiners in good time.

Students who were admitted from Winter Semester 2013/14 the oral examination is not required.

If your final thesis does not receive a passing grade, you have one more attempt. At the latest, you must sign up to redo the master’s thesis 6 weeks after you receive the initial notification of your results (see also Section 14 subsection 11 MA examination regulations).

For the repeat attempt, you must agree to a new topic with your supervisor. You cannot revise an original master’s thesis that has been graded “insufficient.”

Requesting your certificate

Together with the assessment, you will receive a form to request your certificate. As soon as this is ready and signed, you will be informed and can pick it up.

Withdrawing from studies

Your enrollment does not automatically end. Once you receive your certificate, you will not receive a request the following semester to reenroll.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to the master’s thesis, you must have successfully completed all require modules in the first 2 semesters (M1 to M5) (subject-specific provisions, Section 14 subsection 2). Students who began studying in Winter Semester 2013/14 must also have acquired an addition 75 ECTS credits.

Early registration

If you have taken exams but not yet received your grades and thus do not have the required number of ECTS or modules, you can apply early for admission to a master’s thesis.

In this case, enclose an informal application for early registration (i.e., an application composed by you) with your master’s thesis registration form (see Point 2), explaining which admission requirements have not (yet) been met and the reasons for seeking early registration.

Supervisor and choosing a topic

You must discuss supervision and your topic with your first examiner before officially registering for your master’s thesis.

You must present the topic as a research proposal to be agreed on by you and your supervisor.

In principle, university lecturers (professors, junior professors) and University members with a Habilitation (private lecturers, other staff) are entitled to conduct all examinations in their subject area (Section 64 HmbHG). The first examiner of the master’s thesis must be a university lecturer. A list of potential examiners can be obtained from the help desk or via the following link:

• Who is authorized to conduct examinations in the Department of Social Sciences? (PDF)

The admission of other supervisors—e.g., those who are not university lecturers or external lecturers, i.e., lecturers from other subjects at the University of Hamburg or other universities—can be approved by means of submitting a corresponding, informal request (i.e., one you write yourself); provide reasons and submit the application to the chair of the examinations board of the respective degree program. Research associates may be admitted as examiners for final examinations in individual cases after approval by the responsible examinations board, if the topic of a final thesis relates to the subject matter of their individual courses or the associated modules.

To find a suitable topic, contact the teacher by email or arrange a personal appointment. Talk to your teachers, e.g., the supervisors of your term papers and project work, about possible topics at an early stage. You can facilitate this process by thinking about a possible topic, and briefly summarizing these considerations in writing (in the form of an outline or synopsis).

Contact a potential second examiner only after you have the topic, structure, outline, etc. for the thesis with the first examiner. The first examiner may also recommend potential second examiners. The actual supervision of the thesis is usually carried out only by the first examiner.

Group work

It is possible to write the master’s thesis as a group, provided that the individual contribution and the individual examination performance are clearly distinguishable (see Section 14 subsection 7, MA examination regulations). This must be agreed with the supervisor.

Registration for the final module in STiNE

You do not need to register for the final thesis or the final module in STiNE. This is done by the examination management on the basis of your registration form.

Withdrawing from studies and semester(s) of academic leave during the master’s thesis

You do not have to be enrolled at the University of Hamburg until you complete your master’s thesis. You are still entitled to take examinations up to 2 years after withdrawing from your studies (Section 9 subsection 2c, MA examination regulations).

You cannot take a semester of leave to prepare for or write your final thesis.

Registration period

Once you have earned 90 ECTS credits, you should register within 6 weeks to do your master’s thesis. The date on which your final examination results are announced is used to determine the due date for your thesis.

The date of registration for the master’s thesis (submission of the registration form) must be before the start of the completion period (i.e., the registration must be submitted at the latest one day before the start of the completion period).

Registration form

Register using the official registration form (PDF) provided by the academic office (also available at the help desk), and submit it to the academic office.

The examinations board recommends formulating your topic thoughtfully. One the one hand, it should be formulated to reflect the topic as precisely as possible. On the other hand, it should be open enough that after you are admitted and begin work, unexpected developments do not require you to change the title unless absolutely necessary. The title of the master’s thesis does not have to be set in stone for later publication.

Subsequent title changes

The topic (= title) of the master’s thesis is noted on the registration form.

You may not make subsequent changes, additions (e.g., subtitles to the main title) or similar on your own. In exceptional cases, however, you can request an amendment by submitting a request to your master’s supervisor which justifies the necessity of the change.

The supervisor must agree to the request, determine the new title or subtitle, and inform the examinations board of the change. The examinations board grants the change and forwards it to the Social Sciences Academic Office.

Completion period

The completion period for students who started their studies by Winter Semester 2013/14 is 5 months; for students who started their studies by Winter Semester 2014/15: is 6 months.

The completion period is the same for part-time students.

Calculating the due date

The completion period begins on the date entered on the registration form. After submitting the registration form, you will receive written confirmation of your registration by post from the academic office. Find the topic, the examiners, and the exact, binding due date under “Meine Prüfungen” in STiNE.

Rejecting the topic

An assigned topic may be justifiably rejected only once after it has been assigned, and this must be done within the first 2 weeks. The examiner may accept a reasoned request to withdraw the topic of the final thesis if treatment of the topic is no longer possible for subject-related reasons (see Section 14 subsection 5 of the MA examination regulations).

Extending the completion period

In cases of hardship, you can ask to extend the completion period. As a rule, you may extend once by a maximum of one week. To do so, you must complete a request to extend the final thesis (PDF) and, submit this with proof of hardship to the Social Sciences Academic Office. In case of illness, you need to submit a medical certificate.  

Requests of an extension beyond one week can be granted only in cases of extraordinary hardship and for reasons for which the student cannot be held responsible. The examinations board decides on these informal extension requests.

In case of longer extensions (more than a week) and in cases of repeated illness, you must complete an informal request (i.e., one you write and justify yourself) and submit this to the examinations board with a medical certificate attesting to your illness. In other cases, you must provide a detailed account of the reason for your extension request and, if necessary, provide supporting documents.

In case of unexpected delays in the research process, you need to provide a plausible explanation to your supervisor. The supervisor will then provide the examinations board with a statement and the board will decide on the extension request.

In particular, internships or employment at the same time as you are completing your master’s thesis cannot be deemed acceptable reasons for requesting an extension.

You must submit the request and supporting documents (e.g., medical certificate) before the completion period ends. The academic office will then inform you of the new due date.

Scope

You must agree the scope of your master’s thesis with your supervisor. As a rule, it should be between 60 and 100 pages, including the bibliography. It should also include an appendix.

Layout and citation

For guidelines on layout, citations, etc. for the master’s thesis in journalism and mass communication, see Section 9 of the degree-program information on how to design your thesis.

Language

The master’s thesis is usually written in German or English. Any deviations with regard to the language must be agreed with the supervisor.

Title page

The topic (= title) on the title page must be phrased exactly as it was in the registration form. If the title has been subsequently changed by the examinations board, this changed title must be noted. You can find a template for the title page in the appendix of the PDF version of this information on the Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Declaration

You must include an affidavit as the last page, and confirm it with the date and your signature, preferably using the following wording:

“I hereby declare and affirm with my signature that I completed this work on my own and without the help of third parties and I have not submitted this work in any other examination procedure. I have used only the literature and information sources listed in the bibliography and have not used any other Internet sources or AI applications. Quoted or paraphrased work from other publications must be cited accordingly. This is also true for drawings, sketches, visual material, etc. and for Internet sources. The written version submitted corresponds to that on the enclosed electronic storage medium.

[Place], [Date] [signature]”

You should also provide a declaration about whether you consent to have your master’s thesis made available for reading in the Social Sciences Library:

“I hereby declare that I consent [or:] do not consent to having my master’s thesis lent to the Social Sciences Library.

[Place], [Date] [signature]”

“Submission by the due date”

The master’s thesis must be submitted by the due date,i.e., your thesis must be submitted by the due date given at registration at the latest. The due date can be demonstrated by the receipt of submission provided by the Social Sciences Academic Office or by the date of the postmark if sent by post. If the submission deadline falls on a day on which the building at Allendeplatz 1 is closed, the submission deadline is the working day immediately following.

A master’s thesis not submitted on time will be graded as “insufficient” (Section 16 subsection 1, MA examination regulations).

Copies

You must submit 3 printed copies (with adhesive binding).In the case of authorized group work, submit 4 copies (use adhesive binding).

Every copy must be submitted with a labeled data carrier on which the submitted version of the thesis has been stored.

The data carrier (usually a CD-ROM) should be adequately attached to the thesis (e.g., by means of appropriate adhesive pockets in the cover) and, if possible, contain the master’s thesis in Microsoft Word or PDF format (see Section 14 subsection 8 MA examination regulations).

Assessment

Both examiners must promptly evaluate the master’s thesis, no later than 6 weeks after its submission (see also Section 14 subsection 10 of the MA examination regulations). The assessment reports will be sent to you by the academic office.

Grading

The final grade is calculated from the mathematical average of the grades awarded by both examiners in accordance with Section 15, MA examination regulations.

If your final thesis does not receive a passing grade, you have one more attempt. At the latest, you must sign up to redo the master’s thesis 6 weeks after you receive the initial notification of your results (see also Section 14 subsection 11 MA examination regulations).

For the repeat attempt, you must agree to a new topic with your supervisor. You cannot revise an original master’s thesis that has been graded “insufficient.”

Requesting your certificate

Together with the assessment, you will receive a form to request your certificate. As soon as this is ready and signed, you will be informed and can pick it up.

Withdrawing from studies

Your enrollment does not automatically end. Once you receive your certificate, you will not receive a request the following semester to reenroll.