Final thesis
General information about the final module
The final module is typically taken in the 6th semester of the Bachelor's program or in the 4th semester of the Master's program. The final module in physics consists of the final thesis and a colloquium. The thesis is evaluated by two reviewers. The colloquium typically takes place in the context of a group seminar. Participation has to be proven through a protocol including a grade. The start, topic, and reviewers of the thesis have to be announced in time at the academic office. For this purpose, please use the corresponding registration form. The academic office will then announce the deadline by which the thesis must be submitted to the physics academic office in electronic form (PDF) with a photo/scan of the signed affidavit. Please be sure to use the e-mail address of the functional mailbox abschlussarbeiten.physik @ uni-hamburg.de for this purpose.
In addition, a single copy of the thesis must be submitted to the academic office.
How do I find a topic? How do I get into a working group?
Since the thesis takes place in a research group of the department, we recommend getting acquainted with the research and subject areas in the department in time. Initial contacts can be made with the lecturers after the lectures. Also, the mentors, as experienced researchers and teachers, can certainly give helpful tips. Some research groups also advertise their offers on their websites or post a notice in the foyers of the research institutes. More information can be found under Forschung.
Can I do an external thesis?
In exceptional cases, it is also possible to prepare a thesis externally. However, some requirements have to be fulfilled.
- Since the thesis still takes place under the jurisdiction physics department, one of our professors must be in charge. The topic must be coordinated with this person in advance.
- An external thesis, an external reviewer, or an external supervisor must be approved in advance by the responsible examination board. This means that the informal applications must be submitted to the academic office at the latest with the registration for the final thesis.
- The applications for an external thesis must include the approval of the supervising professor.
IMPORTANT: In the case of external master's theses or research phases (familiarization project, preparatory project; project study), the application must be submitted and approved before the research phase begins.
Thesis registration
As soon as you have agreed on the topic with the two reviewers and any other supervisors, you must register the thesis in writing with the Academic Office. There is a form[RK1] that you and the first and second reviewer must sign.
After registration, you have the following time to prepare the thesis, depending on the course of study:
Nanosciences (B.Sc.): four months
Physics (B.Sc.): five months
Nanoscience (M.Sc.) and Physics (M.Sc.), Physics (M.Sc.): six months
Research phase Masterprogram
Research phase M.Sc. Nanosciences
The research phase of 45 credit points consists of a project study (15 LP) in chemistry or physics and the Master's thesis (30 LP). The project study should lead up to the Master's thesis and must be coordinated with the future supervisor of the Master's thesis.
The Office of Student Affairs will then take care of the module and examination registration in STiNE. Successful completion of the project study is confirmed to the Office of Student Affairs by means of a form. This can be done at the same time as registering for the Master's thesis.
Students who have successfully completed the project study and have earned at least 75 credit points can be admitted to the Master's thesis.
research phase M.Sc Physik/Physics
EInarbeitungsproject:
Students who have acquired at least 44 credit points from the specialisation phase in the Master's degree programme Physics/Physics can be admitted to the research phase or the familiarisation project.
The student registers for the familiarisation project in the physics study office, stating the area of specialisation. The successful registration for the research phase is preceded by an examination of the fulfilled admission requirement by the study office. The study office then takes over the module and examination registration in STiNE.
Preparatory project:
Those who have successfully completed the familiarisation project in the Master's degree programme in physics can be admitted to the preparatory project. The confirmation of successful completion of the familiarisation and preparatory project (incl. assessment), stating the research focus, can also only be submitted to the study office when registering for the Master's thesis. The assessment entry in STiNE for the familiarisation and preparatory project is made by the study office.
Submission of the thesis
NOTE: Regardless of the information you have received in your topic registration, the thesis must only be submitted in electronic form.
- Final theses must be submitted in due time and exclusively in electronic form (PDF, max. 10 MB) with the signed affidavit to the Physics Office. Please be sure to use the e-mail address of the functional mailbox abschlussarbeiten.physik @ uni-hamburg.de for this purpose.
- The affidavit can be submitted with a digital signature or by scan.
- The final paper must be submitted in the functional mailbox by 23:59 pm on the last day of submission at the latest.
- Only the version submitted first will be taken into account for the assessment and will be recorded in the files. Therefore, multiple submissions of different versions should be avoided, as further submissions after the first receipt of the thesis will not be considered.
- After submitting the electronic thesis, an automatic reply will be sent via the functional mailbox.
- NO CD with another electronically stored version is to be submitted!
For the design of the cover sheet, there are templates provided by the Universität Hamburg (Intranet).
Review of final theses
Physics B.Sc./Physics M.Sc.:
The lead supervision and the first evaluation are done by
- a university teacher
- § 17.1 HmbHG-Professor*innen / § 17.2 HmbHG-Privatdozent*innen
- a junior research group leader
from the Department of Physics.
The second reviewer is a member of the physics department with a doctorate.
Nanoscience B.Sc. M.Sc.:
The lead supervisor and the first reviewer will be
- ·a university teacher
- § 17.1 HmbHG-Professor*innen / § 17.2 HmbHG-Privatdozent*innen
- a junior research group leadera university teacher
from the departments of chemistry or physics.
The second reviewer comes from among the doctoral members of the departments of chemistry and physics.
External review:
An external reviewer and or external supervision may only be used after a separate application has been submitted and appropriate approval has been granted by the Examination Committee on a case-by-case basis. The approval must be obtained before the start of the thesis or the research phase (Master's program).