Master Program Marine Geosciences
Master Thesis

Information on the Master Thesis

You start to develop a topic for your master thesis after the second semester, usually in close collaboration with a working group at the Department of Geosciences or with one of the cooperating research institutes. The topic should deal with a current scientific problem, which is not yet fully documented in the literature. In the third semester Research Seminar, the topic of the thesis should be clarified at the latest. The fourth semester is dedicated to the thesis work. Under the guidance of a supervisor, each student conducts an independent scientific project.

The thesis can be carried out on field studies, laboratory experiments or projects outside the university, for example in cooperation with the industry. Part of the master thesis are literature research, data preparation and interpretation, modeling and simulation (optional), and finally writing the report.

The Master Thesis is evaluated by two reviewers, with the primary reviewer typically serving as the thesis advisor. In a concluding colloquium, the student presents and defends her/his work. The colloquium lasts about 45-60 minutes.

Check List

Find a topic and specify during the Research Seminar (3rd semester)
Find a supervisor (external supervision possible, then usually a colleague from the Geosciences Department serves as the 1rst reviewer)
Find 2 evaluating supervisors (only teachers of Dept. GEO, but from different research groups)
60 CP including the module "Research Seminar" required before starting
Submit the application for approvalof the Master Thesis (s. Downloads and Links) electronically to the Examination Office (zpa-fb5@uni-bremen.de)
Once the application has been processed students will receive a letter of admission by mail from the Examination Office
Duration of the Master Thesis: 24 weeks
Extension: upon application only possible once for 6 weeks (s. Downloads and Links)
Submission of the Master Thesis exclusively as a PDF version on a suitable data carrier (USB stick). Attachments in other media formats are permitted (e.g., video files). Please remember the filled form Declarations (s. Links and Downloads)
reviewers reports must be submitted within a maximum of 8 weeks (zpa-fb5@uni-bremen.de)
Arrange the colloquium date with your supervisors, reserve a room (consultancy for study affairs and career perspectives)
2 weeks before: register at the examination office (zpa-fb5@uni-bremen.de) for the colloquium (s. Links and Downloads)
Colloquium: bring to the colloquium the form Colloquium Protocol (s. Links and Downloads)
Failed? The master thesis can be retried once with a different topic.

Learning Outcomes, Targeted Competencies

Students are able to develop a topic for their master thesis by attending to contemporary marine geoscientific issues.
Students have shown how to prepare and realize an independent scientific project including literature research, data preparation and interpretation, optional modelling and simulations.
Students have shown the performance of the written essay.
Students show the ability to present and defend their results.