Bachelor's Thesis 2

Bachelor’sThesis 2 #

1. Overview and Scope #

PTO’s Bachleor’s Thesis 2 (BA2) is the first work following scientific standards PTO students create. This implies two main goals:

  1. the student shall demonstrate the ability to successfully solve a problem using state of the art methods

  2. the student shall prove that he/she is to correctly apply scientific methods in problem solving and documentation.

This document contains information specific to PTO’s Bachelor’s Thesis 2 (BA2). Generally all information found in Formal Aspects and Scientific Works fully apply. Information from this document supplements the general guidelines.

2. Course of Actions #

2.1. General Information #

Schedule by year group:

The exact schedule for each year group can be found in the respective Moodle folder

2.2. Applicable Rules #

  1. Topic definition: this process can start already within the first internship, involving the student’s employer. Usually at this point a possible academic advisor will be contacted by the student, based on the overall subject of the thesis. Topics must be related to educational content of the PTO degree program and provide adequate opportunities for the students to prove their ability to use scientific research methods to solve problems. Given that PTO is a cooperative study program the topic must be related with the student’s internship works at their respective companies.

  2. Topic confirmation / formal request for supervision: the chosen topic has finally to be confirmed by the head of the study program not later than 1 week before the end of the 5th study semester. The appropriate form to be filled in and signed by all parties involved (student, head of study program, company and academic adviser) is available at PTO’s administration desk.

  3. Presentations: the thesis work includes at least 2 presentatons by the student including (at least) the company and the academic advisor. Presentations can take place at the student’s employer or online (Zoom, MS Teams, etc.). Usually one of the presentations involves the project idea and a draft plan at the beginning of the writing proccess whereas the second presentation is a comprehensive display off the student’s work.

  4. Ongoing supervision/support: Stay in close contact with your supervisor(s), keep in mind that in the end this might save you precious resources and improve the thesis’ quality

  5. First submission: Thesis has to be submitted for the first time not later than 8 weeks before the anticipated date of the final exam (find the exact date on Moodle). This submission has to be amended with the result of the plagiarism check! Based on the submitted work (including the result of the plagiarism check), the academic supervisor then decides whether the student is eligible for the final exams (i.e. the thesis is approved) or not. The thesis does not necessarily have to be completely finished at this point, but it must be 100% clear at this state that it will be graded positively!

  6. Final submission: Final hand-in must take place not any later than 1 week before the anticipated date of the final exam. For submission details please refer to Submission

Keep in mind…

… that there’s always a slight chance for trouble of any kind at the hand-in date and therefore plan your submission accordingly.

2.3. Teamwork #

Teamwork is generally not permitted.

3. Topics, Language, Structure, Volume #

3.1. Topics #

Topics are usually negotiated between the student’s company advisor and the thesis supervisor. Usually the topic shall cover a problem to be worked on within the company internship. Ultimately the head of the PTO Bachelor’s program has to accept and confirm the topic. It’s de rigeur that the topic not only covers the student’s work at their company (i.e. a project), but gives some room for a scientific treatise to complement the practical work. For details see Scientific Works as a Product.

3.2. Language #

The PTO Bachlor’s Thesis can be witten either in German or English. Refer to your company and academic advisers which language to use. Concerning wording etc. see Formal Aspects/Style Guide and Scientific Works as a Product

3.3. Structure #

See Formal Aspects/structure. Use the template provided as the starting point.

3.4. Volume #

The thesis shall contain between minimum 10000 and maximum 12500 words (corresponding to approx. 40 to 50 printed DIN A4 pages), not including:

  • Table of contents
  • Lists of tables and illustrations (if applicable)
  • Appendices (if applicable)
  • Glossary (if applicable)

4. Submission #

Thesis is handed in electronically via JOANNEUM|Online (unless it’s a non-disclosed work) and in printed format (2 dark book-bound copies) at PTO’s administration desk.

5. Grading #

Grading of Bachelor’s Thesis 2 will be according to this form.

6. Non-disclosed Theses #

Please refer to Non-disclosed (Confidential) Theses for the respective information.