This guide is a (non-binding) compilation of guidelines, rules and information on Bachelor’s theses, aimed at preventing common problems from arising in the first place. It is intended to provide assistance and guidance and does not claim to be exhaustive. The guide was drawn up by members of the Programme Committee and the Student Council. Please send any corrections, additions or comments to the members of the Uwi Programme Committee (with Prof. Dr Heinz Wilkes as Chair), the academic advisory service or the Student council.

The provisions set out in the Bachelor’s Examination Regulations are decisive and binding. It is advisable to read these.

1. Formal requirements

• Bachelor’s Thesis Module (bam, 15 CP = 12 CP for the Bachelor’s thesis + 3 CP for the accompanying course; 1 CP = 30 hours). The module must be completed within 4 months.
• A minimum of 120 credit points must have been earned beforehand, and the core curriculum (compulsory modules) must have been completed.
• Typical steps involved in writing a Bachelor’s thesis are:
  • Familiarisation and literature review
  • Data collection, planning and carrying out experiments and measurements
  • Data analysis and processing, compilation of results
  • Writing and submission of the thesis
  • Attendance at the accompanying course (running alongside the thesis/semester)
    • Regular attendance, usually whilst working on the Bachelor’s thesis
    • Presentations on the project and progress of the work (unmarked; no ‘defence’ of the thesis)
• The required work must berelevant to the Bachelor’s thesis and should be carried out during normal office hours. Laboratory work is subject to the general regulations; it is only permitted following induction and safety briefing, and in the presence of another qualified person.
  Any additional work goingbeyond the scope of a standard Bachelor’s thesis may only be undertaken at the student’s request. Under no circumstances may this additional work be a determining factor in the thesis’s final assessment.
• The Bachelor’s thesis should, as a rule, address an independent, academic topic. A link to a previous contact placement is possible, provided that a clear thematic distinction is established in advance. This must be agreed with the supervisors of the Bachelor’s thesis and the module coordinator for the contact placement (and, where applicable, other supervising staff).

2. Course of the thesis

Finding a topic and a supervisor

The Bachelor’s thesis is a key element in shaping your own course of study; the acquisition of skills and competences often goes beyond the scope of standard modules. You are therefore expected to take the initiative when selecting a topic. In principle, it is possible to come up with a topic yourself and seek out a suitable supervisor from your discipline. Pre-defined topics are often offered. The topic must be relevant to the purpose of the examination, i.e. it must generally relate to environmental science.

Ways to find a suitable topic (click to expand and read more)

• Information sessions presenting topics from individual research areas or research groups (e.g. Buchwald, Kiel, Massmann): announcements also available on Stud.IP (“Presentation of upcoming topics…”)
• Stud.IP list under the heading Thesis Topics, though this is only used by some research groups
• Topic announcements on the research groups’ websites (e.g. Wolff Research Group); however, this is not used consistently
• Sign-up lists for interested students on notice boards at the research groups, as well as notices posted on notice boards (e.g. ICBM stairwell)
• On request within research groups, from lecturers and other academics; topics are then identified and defined, and some lead time may be required
• Proposing your own topic and seeking suitable supervision
• Final-year projects can be undertaken in any research group at the UOL associated with the Faculty of Humanities (these groups are listed in Stud.IP under ‘bam – Bachelor’s Thesis Module’), but they can also be carried out at external institutions (see ‘Supervision and Topic Allocation’).

Planning with your supervisor

When planning the thesis, it should be clarified as early as possible what preparatory work is expected (e.g. software, literature review, etc.). The type of bachelor’s thesis, or rather its components, must be clarified with the supervisor. The following types of experimental or theoretical projects can be broadly distinguished:
­Literature review
­Field surveys, fieldwork
­Laboratory work
­Data analysis(of existing data)
­Methodology development(in the laboratory or theoretically)
­...

Scope/Format

There are no universally applicable, fixed regulations regarding scope and format. There are no general regulations on the number of pages. This must be agreed with the lecturer. Some lecturers have set out written rules regarding the expected format. Data documentation is often an important part of Bachelor’s theses, which can result in lengthy appendices. The appendix is not considered part of the main body of the thesis. In addition to traditional formats, a manuscript in publication form may be requested. The latter is often more concise.

You should also clarify with your supervisor whether a specific typesetting programme (such as LaTeX) is required. The research group may also provide a pre-designed layout for theses (you may also wish to consult other departments for guidance).

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions are intended to serve as a guide and highlight potential topics that may need to be clarified when planning the thesis.

• What is the approach of the thesis? (Detailed analysis of a research question, methodological study, application or practical test)
• Which points should be highlighted in the thesis, and what are the key areas of focus?
• What methods will be used? What steps need to be taken? (Possibly an additional meeting to discuss fieldwork or laboratory work in detail)
• Are there any time constraints that need to be taken into account when planning? (e.g. laboratory hours or times for using equipment required by different people, or (seasonal) periods for fieldwork)
• What insurance requirements must be observed?
• What literature is recommended? Are there any earlier studies on this topic?
• Are there, or have there been, any other studies in the context of this topic?
• Who are the points of contact for the individual sections of the Bachelor’s thesis, or for specific methods or equipment?
• Is it possible to secure a workstation in the relevant research group?
• Will a computer be provided? Can computers with the necessary software be used?
• Which programmes should be used for the analysis? Are these provided?
• What materials are provided, and what do I need to provide myself?
• If parts of the Bachelor’s thesis are to be carried out outside Oldenburg: what are the arrangements for accommodation etc. at the location? Are all areas accessible by bike, public transport or on foot, or is a car required?
• How often and at what intervals will further meetings take place? (Please arrange a new appointment straight away if possible.)
• How will the accompanying seminar for the Bachelor’s thesis be organised? When should a presentation be given, and what format should it take?
• When will the Bachelor’s thesis be (officially) registered? When is the submission deadline?
• Is the timetable realistic (particularly for experimental work)? Are there any alternatives in case of emergency?
• Are there alternatives if, for any reason, laboratory or fieldwork cannot take place as planned?
• How much attendance per week is expected?
• Is it possible to attend other modules at the same time?
• Will work need to be carried out at unusual times (at weekends or at night)?
• What should the format and structure of the work be? Outline, list of figures, list of tables, bibliography and citation style, appendix [how should this be numbered])
• Will the examiners provide a trial mark (see ‘Revising the thesis’)?

Registration of the Bachelor’s thesist

To register your Bachelor’s thesis, you must have identified your first and second examiners and your topic. The nature of the assignment and the specific task should also be agreed with the supervisor before the topic is allocated.
Registration form [pdf] (Examinations – Forms and Templates – “Registration of the final thesis”)

Examiners

According to the examination regulations (§7/§22), two examiners are required – at least one of whom must be a university lecturer (i.e. a professor or Privatdozent) from the degree programme (exceptions must be applied for at the Examinations Office and should be discussed with the Examinations Office in advance). As a rule, the academic staff member acts as the first examiner.

The list of authorised examiners can be viewed in the examiners’ list (see the list of authorised examiners for the BSc Uwi). The list also includes some lecturers who do not teach, or teach very little, on the BSc Uwi programme but are authorised to supervise Bachelor’s theses. Other examiners may be admitted by submitting a proposal via the Examinations Office.

External Bachelor’s theses

It is possible to undertake Bachelor’s theses outside the university, e.g. at research institutes (e.g. HIFMB, ZMT, …), in companies or at government agencies. This is also possible abroad.

In such cases, external individuals may act as either the first or second examiner. However, external examiners must submit a proposal for an examination entitlement. This can be done informally by email to the Examinations Office or using the application form (available from the Examinations Office or here). Proof of the examiner’s qualifications must be provided, e.g. by means of a brief CV or a link to their website. This is straightforward for someone working in a relevant field at a university; it is particularly important for practitioners. Please send the proposal together with the proposal for admission to the final thesis to the Academic Examinations Office (p-amt.fk5.fk6.dez3@uol.de or via the online contact form).

Examinations Office document on external final theses:
Guidance on the allocation and supervision of final theses involving companies and organisations outside the university [pdf]

Bachelor’s thesis abroad following a semester abroad (e.g. ERASMUS)

• Occasionally, a Bachelor’s thesis is completed abroad immediately following a semester abroad, sometimes in combination with a contact placement.
• This is possible, but is subject to the rules of the Oldenburg BPO. It is not possible to complete the Bachelor’s thesis module (bam) via an application for credit transfer (according to information from the Examinations Office).
• The supervisor abroad may act as the first or second examiner; often, the UOL academic staff member is the first examiner. There is a form to apply for this, which is straightforward for individuals working at a foreign university (available from the Examinations Office or here). Proof of the examiner’s qualifications must be provided, e.g. via a short CV or a link to the person’s website.
• The second examiner is then a person authorised to examine at the UOL. It is advisable that this person not only writes the second report but also supports and oversees the process and procedures in Oldenburg.
• To register the thesis, the first and second examiners and the topic must be known. Both proposals are submitted together via the Academic Examinations Office (p-amt.fk5.fk6.dez3@uol.de or via the online contact form).
• If the credit points (KP) earned during the (first) semester abroad are required in the near future for admission to the Bachelor’s thesis, an application for recognition should be submitted to the Academic Examinations Office as soon as possible (anrechnung.dez3@uni-oldenburg.de). The application for recognition should be sent to the Academic Examinations Office. It is best to request that it be processed quickly, as you will need the credit points for your final thesis. Recognition is generally not a problem, particularly in well-established programmes (such as Sogdal) and for credits recognised as part of modules mar991, 992 or 993, or the professionalisation stream.

Carrying out the work/evaluating the results

Supervision / Working hours

Supervisors must ensure that the practical work is supervised. This may be carried out by the supervisor or by a person designated by the supervisor who is suitably qualified and authorised. The relevant persons must be present during the work or, at the very least, reliably and continuously available on site in case of questions or if assistance is required. This applies in particular to work that, for justified reasons, is to be or must be carried out outside core working hours (e.g. at night or at weekends).
It is the sole responsibility of the supervisors to organise and ensure on-site supervision by suitable persons. This is not the responsibility of the students.

Obligations of supervisors and students

By agreeing to supervise the Bachelor’s thesis, the lecturer confirms that…
> regular consultations will take place as agreed,
> unscheduled enquiries will be answered within a reasonable time
> and that the funds and resources required to carry out the work are available and support will be provided.

By accepting the BSc dissertation topic offered, the student confirms…
> that they will attend meetings well prepared,
> that they will honour commitments regarding time and organisation,
> and that they will use the resources and funds made available to them carefully and conscientiously.

Once the topic has been accepted, the student must register the dissertation with the Examinations Office and have the topic confirmed by the principal examiner (form: Proposal for Admission to the Final Dissertation). The maximum 4-month processing time begins upon registration. The specified submission deadline must be strictly adhered to.

Methods

All specialist knowledge required for the preparation of the thesis and for the planning and conduct of experiments must be imparted to students by their supervisors or by expert and authorised persons designated by them, to a sufficient extent and in sufficient depth. Knowledge acquired through the basic training provided during the degree programme and commensurate with the stage of the programme is assumed.

For the use of software required or desired for the analysis and presentation of results, support must be provided by the supervisor or a specialist contact person must be designated in advance (see ‘Planning with the supervisor’).

Writing the thesis

You must discuss with your supervisor whether there are any guidelines regarding the format and structure of the final thesis (see ‘Planning with your supervisor’).
It is essential to include a statutory declaration in the submitted document. This must contain a written assurance that the thesis was written independently and that only the sources and resources cited were used. In addition, the general principles of academic work and the publications of the CvO Oldenburg must be observed (see: Guidelines for Good Academic Practice at the University of Oldenburg, as well as
https://uol.de/uni/amtliche_mitteilungen/files/AM2017-013_Regulations_on_Good_Academic_Practice.pdf).

Info: Theses – Frequently Asked Questions; Point 2.7

When writing longer texts, it is most effective to make consistent use of the formatting options offered by word processing programmes right from the start (style sheets, inserting and labelling tables and figures, cross-references, inserting citations from reference management programmes). An introduction to the use of reference management programmes for research and when writing academic texts is offered as early as the second semester. Free software is available via the UOL.

Submitting your thesis

The completed thesis must be sent in PDF format (as a single file) as an attachment to an email to the Examinations Office. For School V, the relevant contact is Team 3 (). Printed and/or bound copies must be produced in consultation with your supervisors.
Both examiners must carry out the marking of the thesis within 6 weeks. Notification of the grade is usually provided when the grade is entered by the Examinations Office.

Information on de-registration

How does de-registration take place?

Once the final examination requirement has been met (often the Bachelor’s thesis), the Examinations Office will record the completion of the degree. De-registration then takes place at the end of the semester. Anyone who wishes to remain enrolled for a valid reason must inform the Examinations Office. Current practice appears to be that graduation will not be recorded if the student informs the Examinations Office that they wish to complete additional credits.

An proposal for de-registration (on Stud.IP: Study details > My studies > Proposals) and the CampusCard must be submitted to the university. Further information is available at https://uol.de/studium/studierendenstatus under the section ‘De-registration’.

By when must the application be submitted to avoid having to pay for subsequent semesters?

Refunds of tuition fees and other charges are only possible if the proposal is submitted before or within one month of the start of the lecture period.

BAföG information

Detailed information is available from the Oldenburg Student Services Organisation > BAföG

Students are entitled to financial support for their studies until the end of the month in which the overall result of the final examination is announced, for a maximum of two months after the last examination has been taken. If this occurs before the end of the funding period, the Studentenwerk must be informed of this in writing without delay. (see Studentenwerk Oldenburg)

Transition month: If there is only one month between the completion of the Bachelor’s degree and the start of the Master’s degree, this month may also be covered by funding in accordance with Section 15b of the BAföG. If the Bachelor’s degree was completed in July and the Master’s programme began in October, the grant for August and September would have to be repaid. (Information available on request by email).

Transition to a Master’s programme

The following applies to Master’s applications in Oldenburg:
“You do not yet need a Bachelor’s degree to apply for the first semester of a Master’s programme. A transcript showing a minimum of 150 credit points is sufficient. If you are granted admission, you have until the end of the first Master’s semester to submit your Bachelor’s degree.”
Zeitplan_Uebergang_Bachelor_Master.pdf

3. Accompanying course for the Bachelor’s thesis

The accompanying course (3 credit points) may vary depending on the study group. Seminars are often offered (e.g. ‘Guide to Academic Writing’) or the standard study group seminar is used. These are announced on Stud.IP and participants register there. The exact requirements and the format of the seminar should be clarified with the supervisor.

In these seminars, it is customary to discuss ongoing work. Within this framework, Bachelor’s theses are usually also discussed, and Bachelor’s/Master’s candidates report on the planning, progress and results of their final theses. This is standard practice in academic work. There is no formal ‘defence’ of the thesis or marking of a final presentation for Bachelor’s theses. In the case of external supervisors or Bachelor’s theses, the university supervisor must ensure that the student attends a supporting seminar.

The seminars do not replace ongoing supervision of the thesis or one-to-one meetings.

Attendance at the Bachelor’s thesis seminar is certified via the ‘Bachelor’s Module Certificate’ form. Please note that the certificate can only be issued once the thesis has been registered with the Examinations Office, and that the seminar may only be (formally) attended from that point onwards. In practice, this may be regulated differently.

4. Points of contact in case of problems

Academic issues should first be discussed with your supervisor and members of your research group. If an internal solution cannot be found, student representatives can be found on the Uwi Student council. Uninvolved lecturers or the academic advisory service may be contacted, as may members of the Uwi Academic Committee. The formal points of contact are the examining board or the Academic Commission and the Dean’s Office.

Should non-academic issues arise in connection with the Bachelor’s thesis, such as discrimination or unfair treatment, contact persons at the university are available. These support representatives are available both within the student body and in the Institutes of School V. All status groups are represented among the support representatives in ICBM and IBU. Although they are not professionally trained, they regularly attend training sessions and are bound by a duty of confidentiality. Lisann Bierbaum is currently one of the trained confidential advisors for the Uwi Student Council.

Information on confidential advisors on the ICBM website

5. Sources and information

• Study Regulations and Forms (BPO, subject-specific annexes)
• List of examiners for the BSc Uw
• Study InfoPortal: Theses
• Guidelines on Good Academic Practice at the University of Oldenburg
• Studentenwerk Oldenburg > BAföG
• GUVH – Statutory Accident Insurance Cover on University Premises

Note on accident insurance

As things stand at present, it must be assumed that students are NOT covered by statutory accident insurance as part of their studies whilst carrying out external activities that are not directly supervised on site. This is also the case, for example, when carrying out fieldwork or taking samples independently without the immediate presence of a supervisor. It is advisable to take out (possibly temporary) accident insurance. Laboratory work at the university, on the other hand, is subject to the applicable safety regulations. Students are generally covered by accident insurance in these circumstances. For insurance reasons as well, the Bachelor’s thesis should be registered by the deadline.

Information from the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV):
Statutory accident insurance cover relating to university life