Master Program Materials Chemistry and Mineralogy
Master thesis

Information on master thesis

You start to develop a topic for your master thesis after the second semester, usually in close collaboration with a working group involved in this master program. The topic should deal with a current problem, which is not yet fully documented in the literature. The thesis topic should be clarified by the third semester 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 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's thesis is evaluated by two reviewers, with the primary reviewer typically being the advisor. In a concluding colloquium, the student presents and defends his / her work. The colloquium lasts about 45-60 minutes.

check list

Find a topic and specify during the 3rd semester
Find a supervisor (possible: extern experts; if intern: usually the 1rst evaluating supervisor)
Find 2 evaluating supervisors (only teachers of the study program, but from different research groups - the first supervisors should be a teacher from the chosen profile)
Prerequisite: 60 CP
Submit the application for approval of 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: 24 weeks
Extension: upon application only possible once for 6 weeks (s. Downloads and Links)
Submission of the master’s 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. Downloads and Links)
reviewers reports must be submitted within 8 weeks (zpa-fb5@uni-bremen.de)
Arrange the colloquium date with your supervisors, reserve a room (consultancy for study affairs and career perspectives)
register for the colloquium at the examination office (zpa-fb5@uni-bremen.de) 2 weeks before (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 have shown to be able to develop and work out a topic for their master thesis in Materials Chemistry and Mineralgoy.
Students have shown how to prepare and realize an independent scientific project including literature research, sample preparation and characterization, data processing and interpretation.
Students have shown the performance of a written thesis.
Students have proved their ability to present and defend their results.

Prior Knowledge

At least 60 CP of the study program including one Research Module in the selected profile have to be accomplished by applying (s. application form). If both modules have been completed with the same number of CPs (24) in both profiles, the choice of the master`s thesis is not bound to one profile. However, a research module in the profile the master`s thesis belongs to must also have been completed.
Your supervisor can request the prior completion of certain modules that are considered relevant for your specific thesis.

Course Type

Master Thesis (TH) 0.0 SWS ( 0.0 h)

Workload

0.0 h presence time
840.0 h self-study
60.0 h exam workload

900 h total workload
24 weeks

Exam Type

module exam

Examination

exam elements: 2
SL: 0

75 % master thesis
25 % colloquium

Literature

Depending on the thesis, topic literature may or may not be provided to some extent by the supervisor, however, the student will have to find and amend the considered literature by autonomous and independent literature research.