This English text is intended to help students understand the regulations. The legally binding version is the official German examination regulation.

The research phase takes place in the 3rd and 4th semester and is considered one coherent academic unit. It consists of:
- the Research internship for the Master's thesis worth 15 credit points, and 
- the Master’s Thesis worth 30 credit points.
Together, these components form the final research-oriented part of the Master’s programme.

Admission to the Research Phase
Students may start the research phase only after they have successfully completed the required modules the synchronisation area. In addition, before registering for the research phase, the candidate must have earned a total of at least 54 credit points, including at least 21 credit points in the area of specialization (track a or b).

Proof that these requirements have been fulfilled must be submitted to the Central Examination Office when registering for the research phase.

Research internship
The Research internship prepares and supports the work on the Master’s Thesis. It includes the planning, implementation and analysis of experiments, simulations or model calculations that are directly connected to the thesis topic.

The Research internship must be completed successfully before the Master’s Thesis can be officially registered.

Duration of the Research Phase
All components of the research phase, including the Research Internship and the Master’s Thesis, must be completed within nine months.

If you wish to complete the research internship on a part-time basis alongside the current semester, this can be discussed individually with your advisor. The available time will then be extended accordingly. However, official registration must still take place 3 months before the start of the actual master’s thesis.

The Master’s Thesis is usually written in the student’s chosen specialization (track a or b). In justified cases, the Examination Board may approve a different specialisation upon request.

The thesis may be assigned and supervised by a professor who is employed full-time at TU Dortmund University. Supervision by a professor or qualified researcher from outside TU Dortmund University is possible if approved by the Examination Board.

Students may suggest a supervisor and a topic for their Master’s Thesis. If a student is unable to find a supervisor or a topic, the Chair of the Examination Board will ensure that a suitable topic and supervisor are assigned.

Language and Length
The Master’s Thesis must be written in English. It should not exceed 100 pages.
The thesis should include an abstract in German and English.

Declaration of Academic Integrity
When submitting the Master’s Thesis, students must declare that they have written the thesis independently, used only the sources and aids listed, and properly marked all direct and indirect quotations.

For this declaration, the official form provided by the Central Examination Office must be used. It must be signed and included as part of the thesis or, in the case of digital submission, uploaded together with the thesis as one file.