Your Guide to Degree Completion
| Website: | JKU Moodle |
| Kurs: | 284.003, SE Master Thesis Seminar, Robert Breitenecker / Edit Juhasz / Marcella Krawinkler, 2024W |
| Buch: | Your Guide to Degree Completion |
| Gedruckt von: | Gast |
| Datum: | Montag, 12. Mai 2025, 16:31 |
1. Find a topic & get a supervisor
MGB students can choose the institute where they want to write their Master's thesis, depending on their preferred field (Innovation Management, Marketing, Strategy, Finance, Leadership, etc.). Many students opt for our Institute of Innovation Management (ifi), as our supervision approach is tailored to the Global Business Master's program.
Writing your thesis at our institute:
There are several ways to choose a topic for your Master's thesis. You can either propose your own topic and discuss it with the MGB team (mgb@jku.at), or select a research area from the list of suggested topics (see below) as a basis for choosing your topic.
Once your topic is selected, a supervisor who best matches your thesis area will be assigned to you. During your initial meeting, your supervisor will provide essential information on the thesis process, including its scope, academic writing guidelines, and other key details.
Important: After selecting your topic, please complete the topic development sheet (available below) and bring it to your first meeting with your supervisor. The document should not exceed one page.
2. Develop a concept
To develop your Master's thesis topic, outline and refine your idea using the provided concept presentation template (see below).
At this stage, it's important to familiarize yourself with the structure of your thesis, conduct a thorough literature search, and assess the quality of journals. You will also need to formulate clear research questions, follow the correct application of the anti-plagiarism policy, and adhere to APA (American Psychological Association) citation guidelines. Utilizing citation software (e.g., Citavi, Zotero) is also strongly recommended.
We encourage you to review the literature recommendations and resources listed below. These will help you understand how to properly structure your thesis and the key elements needed for the successful organization and execution of a Master's thesis.
For any questions, do not hesitate to contact your supervisor.
- Concept Presentation Template
- Introduction to Academic Writing Fundamentals
- Information on plagiarism policy at JKU
- Guidelines for using APA Citation Style
- Citavi - Reference Management & Knowledge Organization (provided by JKU)
- Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research methods for business students (8. ed.). Pearson. (Detailed information on LISSS)
3. Present your concept & integrate feedback
Once you have developed your concept (see stage 2), you will present it in a Master's thesis seminar class and engage in a Q&A part with instructors and fellow students. Your presentation should last no longer than 10 minutes. Be sure to use the concept presentation template outlined in Chapter 2 (Develop a Concept).
After the presentation, you will convert your concept into a written introduction for your thesis, approximately five pages long. It is strongly advised to incorporate the feedback received during the concept discussion into this version. The introduction should include the following subchapters: Relevance and Motivation of the Topic, Research Questions and Objectives, and Structure of the Thesis.
Begin the writing process using the Sample Cover Sheet (available below). At this early stage, we strongly advise using literature management and citation tools, such as Citavi or Zotero. Citavi is available for free to JKU students. Take the time to familiarize yourself with these tools to ensure proper citation and organization.
Once you have successfully presented your concept in the Master's Thesis Seminar, completed your introduction, and received full approval from your supervisor, you must register your Master's thesis with JKU. Your supervisor will assist you with this process! -> Please complete the necessary registration document and submit it to your supervisor. We will then forward the signed document to the Office of Examinations and Recognition Services once it has been signed by both you and your supervisor.
- Sample Cover Sheet (JKU Master's thesis template)
- Master's Thesis Registration Form
4. Develop and write the main sections of your thesis
In this section, you'll find the average page requirements for a Master's thesis at our institute. Please note that the final page count will depend on factors such as your chosen topic, research questions and objectives, and the research strategy (quantitative, qualitative, or literature-based). It is advisable to allocate approximately 4 to 6 months to write the main sections of your thesis.
For an empirical Master's thesis, the following is a general structure with approximately 65 text pages (excluding cover sheet, lists, and appendices):
- Introduction (see Chapter 3; ~ 5 pages)
- Literature Review (~ 25 pages)
- Methodology (~ 5 pages)
- Findings and Discussion (~ 25 pages)
- Conclusions (~ 5 pages)
At this stage, it's crucial to adhere to good scientific practices. Make sure to learn about academic writing and proper citation techniques (also see Chapter 2). Please note! To prevent plagiarism, your thesis will undergo a plagiarism scan once it is submitted to the Office of Examinations and Recognition Services.
5. Master's Thesis Seminar & Final Presentation
In this stage, you will present the final draft of your Master's thesis in a seminar class. Please use the provided template for your presentation (see below).
Note! The Master's Thesis seminar thrives on the exchange of peer feedback. Regular attendance and active participation are crucial, as they contribute significantly to both giving and receiving constructive feedback. This participation is also a component of your final seminar grade, as outlined in the syllabus on the Moodle course page.
6. Complete and submit your thesis
In this final stage, you should incorporate feedback from both the Master's Thesis seminar (final presentation, Q&A) and your supervisor into your final draft.
Complete your thesis, including the abstract, lists, and appendices if applicable. Ensure that all figures and images are of high quality and readable, as they are crucial for the clarity and professionalism of your work.
Once you have finalized your thesis, create a final PDF version and send it to your supervisor for final approval. Only after receiving their approval should you proceed with the official submission to JKU. The submission will be followed by a plagiarism check and the final grading.
The final grading of your thesis is based on a thorough evaluation by your supervisors. Key assessment criteria include (1) the clarity of the problem statement and research questions as well as the logical structure of your thesis, (2) the quality of the theoretical background and literature review, and (3) the appropriateness of the chosen methods (whether empirical or literature-based). Additionally, (4) the originality and validity of your conclusions, (5) adherence to academic writing standards (including terminology, references, and layout), and (6) your ability to work independently throughout the research and writing process are also considered.
Please note that the formal process at JKU, including grading, may take up to 3 months. For detailed information on the formal submission process, refer to here (see Diploma Degree / Master's Theses -> Submission); please follow the steps thoroughly!
What's next? After completing these steps and receiving official confirmation that you have completed your studies, you may register for the official graduation ceremony.
Congratulations on reaching this milestone! We wish you all the best in your future career.
Your MGB team