Answers to frequently asked questions about the master's thesis

When will the Master's thesis be written?

The master's thesis is written in the 3rd or 4th semester of the Master of Education. The complex school internship is completed in the other semester.

Is there an information event about the master's thesis?

You will receive all important information about the master's thesis and the deadlines to be met at the STET information event organised by ESE. The date for this will be announced on the homepage in advance.

What do I have to consider regarding the topic?

According to the MEd-PO-R § 21, the master's thesis must have a practical relevance and be related to the respective Master of Education degree programme. In your topic, you should therefore address practical problems and/or make it clear how the selected topic relates to the teaching profession.

If you need support in finding a topic, please contact the MasterMind research laboratory.

Can the master's thesis also be written as a group thesis?

Yes, this is generally possible if this is requested on the application form. The sections written by the individual persons should be labelled accordingly so that the personal contribution is clearly visible.

How do I register a master's thesis? Do I have to enroll via E.L.V.I.S.?

The topic of the master's thesis, which is to be freely formulated in consultation with the supervisor, must be applied for by a specified deadline. You can find out how to apply for the topic here.

The MEd examination board decides on the acceptance or rejection of the submitted topic. There is no assignment via E.L.V.I.S.!

What happens if I don't suggest a topic or an expert report?

It is recommended that you prepare a topic proposal yourself and find suitable expert reviewers. If you are unsuccessful in suggesting these, there is the possibility of a full assignment by the examination board. To do this, select the corresponding option in the application and provide evidence of at least three unsuccessful attempts to contact reviewers. If you submit your application on time, you will be assigned a topic and expert reviewers by the examination board, taking your degree programme into account. It is not possible to change the assigned topic.

What do I do if I have missed the application deadline?

This is a cut-off period. An application is only possible again for the next semester.

How do I find out whether my application was successful?

From the day the topic is issued, you can view the decision in your OnlinESE account and confirm that you have taken note of it. You will only be informed separately by e-mail in the event of a rejection

Can I change my topic after it has been issued?

According to MEd-PO-R § 21, you have the opportunity to return your topic once within two months after the first day of the topic issue.

Who will support me in the process of writing the thesis?

When you apply for the topic, you have the option of proposing two expert reviewers. As a rule, the first reviewer is also the supervisor of the thesis. You are also free to appoint other experts as supervisors. However, the thesis will be reviewed and assessed by the two suggested persons alone.

You can contact the ESE secretariat if you have any questions about dates, deadlines, illness or other matters relating to your master's thesis.

If you need support with your master's thesis, please contact the Mastermind research laboratory.

How much time do I have to complete the work?

The total processing time is 5 months within the deadline.

What do I do if I fall ill during the processing period?

In order to claim health-related absences in the processing procedure, you must provide credible evidence of this using the form Notification of illness during examinations.

You must submit the original to Studies and Teaching.

If the incapacity for work or examination is recognised and it falls within the processing time of the master's thesis, this will be extended by the days of incapacity for work.

After processing, the submission date will be adjusted in WiseFlow and you will also receive a separate email for the deadline extension. The submission date will NOT be adjusted in ESEonline. The e-mail and the date in WiseFlow are binding.

Further information can be found here.

How extensive should a master's thesis be?

According to MEd-PO-R § 21, 15,000 words are given as a guideline. Discuss the specific requirements with your expert reports before submission!

Where can I find the formatting specifications for the work?

There are no centralised guidelines for formatting the thesis. You should therefore discuss the requirements for font size, line spacing and other formatting issues with the first reviewer.

You can find the declaration of independence in the download area.

What happens after the work is submitted?

Copies of the thesis are distributed to the two expert reports. In accordance with MEd RPO §22(2), they are given a period of 8 weeks after receipt to review the thesis in writing.

Once the chair of the examination board has received both expert reports, the certificate of achievement will be issued and you will be notified by email.