Master's Thesis
Please see our Master's Thesis Guidelines for comprehensive and detailed information.
Each term we offer two dates for master thesis registration (Note: students must have completed 60 ECTS in order to register their thesis). Usually, the first date is at the beginning of the term (in early November or late April), and the second date is towards the end of the term (in early February or early September). Students can decide which date suits them best.
Upcoming Registration Dates:
Winter Term 2024-25
21 January 2025, official topic confirmation on 28 January 2025 (start of processing time)Deadline for thesis submission: 1 July 2025
Summer Term 2025
Deadline for thesis submission: 07.10.2025
09 September 2025, official topic confirmation on 16 September 2025 (start of processing time)
Deadline for thesis submission: 17.02.2026
Past Registration Dates:
Deadline for thesis submission: 15 April 2025 3 September 2024, official topic confirmation on 10 September 2024 (start of processing time)
Deadline for thesis submission: 11 February 2025
How to register
Study and Examination Regulations 2013
- Form Engl. 'Thesis Registration' (pdf)
- Form Engl. 'Thesis Topic' (pdf)
- 'Declaration in lieu of oath' (pdf)
- Thesis Submission Instructions Engl. (pdf)
How to find a supervisor
You will have to find a first supervisor for your master's thesis yourself. Normally, you ask one of the people on the list of official supervisors at the Institute. Under special circumstances, you can also ask an external supervisor. Note that external supervisors must hold a Ph.D., have to be authorized for examinations, and must be approved by the Examination board. A second supervisor is usually appointed by the Examination Board. You can, however, suggest a second supervisor. Second supervisors from the Institute do not necessarily have to hold a Ph.D.
Lecturers have limited capacities therefore you are strongly advised to approach potential supervisors as early as possible, at least 6 weeks before the official registration date. Moreover, you should approach them with a short exposé, highlighting your research question, its relevance as well as first ideas about your theoretical framework and methodology.
When to attend the MA colloquium?
The MA colloquium is offered during summer and winter terms. Ideally, you take the colloquium parallel to writing your thesis to benefit most from it, as it involves you presenting and discussing your schedule and the preliminary findings of your thesis. However, you can also first attend the colloquium and write your thesis in the following semester (the supervisor is only needed at the moment of registering your thesis, not necessarily for attending the colloquium).
Is it required to be enrolled for writing the Master's thesis?
No, you don't have to be enrolled for registering, writing and submitting your Master's thesis. You only need your last proof of enrollment for registering your thesis. You only have to be enrolled if you have coursework left to complete.
However, after exmatriculation, you will lose access to Campus Management and all other FU services (such as library or specific software programs), so you have to arrange before all documentation in Campus Management is complete.How to complete your studies and exmatriculate
Once your Master’s thesis has been passed your studies are completed.
In order to receive your award certificates, you are required to make a request for the completion of studies at the Examination Office. Since we assume that you intend to finish your studies after the examination, the request for completion of your studies can be submitted together with your Master’s thesis.
Further to the above process, you will also need to de-register (exmatriculate) from the university. The relevant info and form for exmatriculation are available here.
Please find all information regarding the completion of studies and relevant forms on the website of the Examination Office (please scroll down the section "Abschlussphase" in the FAQs which contains all necessary information in English).
Where can I find previous master's theses that I can guide myself to?
We have compiled for you a selection of very good master's theses done in the program. Click here.
Also the FU repository Refubium contains a few master theses from previous years. Find them here.
How can I publish my MA thesis in the libraries of FU?
Students at the Free University of Berlin have the opportunity to publish their master's theses online on Refubium.
Please use the online publication option via the publication server Refubium, which is provided by the University Library, if you would like to make your thesis publicly available.