Writing Your Thesis at a Company: Here's How to Make It Work

Nowadays, more and more students write their empirical thesis at a company. The reasons for this are obvious: Those who complete a practice-oriented research project in their desired field at the end of their studies often have better prospects on the job market.

If you decide to pursue this path as well, you still need to be prepared for some special features and regulations that you must observe during your work. In this overview, we have summarized the key aspects of an external thesis for you.

 

We have compiled even more tips on this topic in other articles for you:

• Writing a Bachelor's Thesis at a Company: Our Guide to Your External Thesis
• Writing a Master's Thesis at a Company: What Really Matters

Thesis at a Company: Is It a Good Choice?

Basically, theses that are written outside of the university as part of a bachelor's, master's, or diploma degree program are referred to as external or corporate theses. In most cases, these are empirical studies (e.g., quantitative surveys on the subject being investigated) that are conducted in close collaboration with the selected company.

Such work is particularly widespread in degree programs that either already have a strong practical orientation (such as in business and social sciences) or pursue an applied degree (e.g., in engineering or graphic design). However, external theses can also be worthwhile for humanities scholars: For example, German language specialists can benefit from research at a publishing house, media scholars at a social media agency, and art history graduates at a gallery.

The following thematic aspects can be best examined within the framework of an external thesis:

• Economic examination of company structure and practice, for example in a start-up, law firm, or bank
• Sociological analysis of socially relevant processes, for example in a vocational school, employment office, or supermarket
• Psychological analysis of human behavior, for example through employee surveys at a publishing house or patient observation in a hospital
• Processing of technical processes, for example in an engineering or architecture firm

 

Typical research methods include surveys, observations, or document analysis. Depending on the research question, these can be conducted quantitatively or qualitatively.

 

Traditional Thesis vs. External Thesis

If you are considering an external thesis for your bachelor's or master's thesis, you must first familiarize yourself with the guidelines of your university and your faculty on this topic – you must always follow these! At most universities, a corporate thesis must be requested in writing from the examination office.

In contrast to a traditional thesis, it is therefore especially important that you take care of all organizational details as early as possible (= at least one semester before you submit your thesis). In addition to choosing a specific topic, finding the right company and consulting with your primary supervisor on the topic are among your most important tasks.

If you cannot find information on your university's website about writing an external thesis, your department's secretariat is a good first point of contact. We also recommend that you speak with the responsible instructor about your plans, if possible, as part of your bachelor's or master's colloquium.

Overall, corporate theses must adhere to the same scientific quality standards as any other academic work. However, there are some organizational characteristics that distinguish an external thesis from other types:

 

1. Two Supervisors (Internal & External)

In addition to the academic primary supervisor (= internal supervisor) who provides the final evaluation of your thesis, your selected company will also assign you a mentor (= external supervisor). The external supervisor is an employee of the company and has no influence on the grade. They provide you with many access points within the company and have a substantive and professional interest in your work. However, for the external supervisor, it is also important that the company is portrayed in a positive light in your thesis.

The challenge, however, is that different expectations could be placed on you from both sides. To avoid conflicts, very clear communication with both supervisors before you start your work is extremely important. A personal or digital joint meeting with both parties and a final protocol that summarizes the important points and expectations for everyone is very helpful.

 

2. Simultaneous Work at the Company

While there are exceptions, you will typically be employed at the selected company for the duration of your research. This can take the form of internships, student work, or part-time employment with corresponding compensation. Whether you write your thesis during working hours or outside of them depends on the specific agreement.

The challenge is that you should not devote all your energy and time to working a job. Your main priority should still be on writing your thesis! It is best to not only record your compensation in an employment contract, but also your schedule and the extent to which you are allowed to work on your thesis during working hours (e.g., to conduct employee surveys during work hours). If the results of your study are particularly relevant to the company, you can usually expect more time and financial support.

 

Important to know:

Note that many companies will require you to maintain confidentiality. Immediately after the cover page of your thesis, you must provide a confidentiality notice in writing assuring that confidential information will not be disclosed to the public. In most cases, this applies only for a certain period (= confidentiality period). During this time, your supervisors are allowed to read the thesis, but publishing your study is not permitted

Conclusion: Writing Your Thesis at a Company – A Good Idea?

Overall, there are many advantages to writing your thesis at a company. If you want to use your research to solve a concrete problem and establish a first connection to practice in your future career, a corporate thesis is worthwhile for you. Additionally, working at the selected company is usually paid. However, you should expect that the organizational effort may be significantly higher than for a traditional bachelor's or master's thesis.

Good news: As long as you allocate enough time for your external thesis and maintain open communication with both the company and your academic supervisor, nothing should stand in the way of successful submission!