Writing Your Bachelor's Thesis at a Company: Here's How It Works

Especially in economics, social sciences, and natural sciences, many bachelor's theses are written in collaboration with a company. However, for other disciplines as well, such an external or corporate bachelor's thesis can offer many advantages. Not only is your thesis tied to real professional practice, but it's often also paid! The path to such a thesis is not without its challenges.

In this guide, we show you how to successfully find a suitable company for your bachelor's thesis and what you need to keep in mind.

 

We've written additional tips on this topic in other articles:

• Writing a Thesis at a Company: Quick Overview
• Writing a Master's Thesis at a Company: What Really Matters

Step 1: Preparation at Your University

If you want to conduct an external thesis, some organizational effort is simply part of the process. Before you start looking for a company, you need to familiarize yourself with your university's guidelines and make some preparations:

 

Consult the examination regulations

Generally, external bachelor's theses are held to the same qualitative and formal standards as a "regular" thesis. The term "external" primarily refers to the organization and execution of your research.

Nevertheless, an external thesis usually needs to be formally approved in writing by the examination office. You can typically find the corresponding application form and information about all deadlines on your faculty's website.

 

Make initial considerations about your thesis topic

At this point, you don't need to have a fully formulated research question for your empirical study, but you do need at least a rough idea of what your bachelor's thesis should be about. This is a first requirement both to find your supervisor and to narrow down suitable companies.

The final commitment to a specific topic or development of your research design usually only happens in consultation with the chosen company. Generally, you can choose your topic freely, just as you would with a traditional thesis, but of course the intended research should also fit the selected company!

 

Find an academic supervisor or primary examiner

Just as with a traditional bachelor's thesis, you need to arrange supervision for your work in good time. Ideally, your primary examiner's research focus should match your chosen topic area. It's also always a good idea to select a lecturer you know from a seminar as your supervisor. What's important is that your primary examiner agrees to supervise an external thesis.

The special feature of an external thesis is that the chosen company will assign you an additional external supervisor who will support your work at the company. Make sure that both supervisors have similar requirements and expectations for your bachelor's thesis. Early and open communication with both supervisors usually helps in most cases.

 

Create a timeline

Although a corporate bachelor's thesis generally follows the same deadlines as a traditional thesis, you should plan for significantly more time upfront.

As a rule, writing a bachelor's thesis at a company, including preparation and application, takes roughly twice as long as writing a traditional thesis. But don't let that deter you—after all, you're investing this time in your future!

 

Step 2: Finding a Company

Once you've clarified the necessary requirements at your university, you can start looking for a suitable company. There are several options for doing this:

 

Unsolicited application to your desired company

If your topic is particularly suitable for a specific company, an unsolicited application is not a bad idea. It's best to research in advance whether the company might offer a corresponding program for bachelor's students. Alternatively, it's always worth contacting your desired company directly first, via email, phone, or social media, to find a specific contact person.

 

Cooperation partners of your institution

At some universities and especially at universities of applied sciences, direct placement at companies through lecturers or departments is available. In such cases, the application process is usually just a formality.

 

Online job postings

Many large, well-known companies like Otto, Audi, Airbus, or Olympus are interested in collaborating with emerging talent and regularly post corresponding job listings. Looking at common platforms like Monster, Stepstone, Xing, or the student portal Stellenwerk can certainly help you in your search.

 

Career fairs

Not only digital fairs are a good place to find the right company, but also on-site job fairs like connecticum, Bonding, or Absolventenkongress, which are specifically aimed at students or graduates entering the workforce.

 

Your existing job network

Whether you work as a student employee at a suitable company or do an internship there, you can definitely use your existing contacts. Just make sure to set up a new contract or contract amendment while you're writing your bachelor's thesis there.

 

Important to know:

When applying, you must attach your CV, a cover letter, and a proposal outlining your research project. In some cases, a letter of recommendation from your primary examiner and your current transcript of grades may also be requested.

However, just as with typical job postings, you don't need to be perfect in all respects to be selected. Even if your grades are just average, a strong cover letter can still make it work!

Step 3: Clarify the Framework Conditions

Once you've found the right company for your bachelor's thesis, there are also some special considerations to keep in mind:

 

Compensation

In many companies, it's customary for corporate theses to be integrated through part-time or student employee work arrangements. Appropriate compensation is regulated by contract.

The pay should not only comply with the legally mandated minimum wage but should also ensure that you don't have to work elsewhere during the final thesis phase. For a work contract of no more than 20 hours per week, the monthly salary should be at least between 700 and 900 euros. If the research results are useful for the company's practice, some companies also award a cash bonus. It's best to clarify the salary in the first conversation.

 

Working hours

Ideally, you can use at least part of your working hours for your thesis, for example to collect and evaluate internal data or if you plan various surveys. A 50/50 rule is common in practice: you work half the time for the company and the other half on your research.

If you were already employed as a student employee beforehand, some companies expect you to write your bachelor's thesis exclusively outside of working hours. However, you should avoid such arrangements, because from experience, you won't have any time left during the final thesis phase!

 

Contract

In addition to organizational employment conditions (duration, salary, tasks, working hours, place of employment), possible restrictions on usage rights and data protection are also specified here.

Typically, you also secure your thesis with a confidentiality clause (= a written declaration) in which you assure the company in writing that internal or confidential data will not be shared with third parties (except for your examiners!). If you want to publish your bachelor's thesis or make it available to the university library, you must agree on this contractually with the company.

Conclusion: Early Organization is Key to a Successful External Bachelor's Thesis!

When writing a bachelor's thesis, successful collaboration with a company can not only provide important practical professional experience, but may also relieve you of the pressure to work elsewhere during the final phase of your bachelor's studies. Plus, it's often very exciting to conduct an empirical study in direct connection with a practice-oriented component.

Without question, you should not underestimate the necessary preparation for an external bachelor's thesis. Above all, early planning is absolutely essential, but the time you invest will certainly not be regretted!