Master thesis

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Tasks before registration

Find out about possible topics in the specialist areas via the websites or in person. Specific questions or subject areas will be suggested. You can also discuss your own ideas with the potential supervisor.

  • Professors and research assistants from the Department of Clinical Psychology (or related departments) at the Institute of Psychology may supervise and review the thesis, whereby one of the two reviewers must have professorial status.
  • An external reviewer can only be admitted with the approval of the examination board. The (informal) request should be made before registering the Master's thesis. The external reviewer must have at least a Master's or Diplom degree in psychology.
    External reviewers without a degree in psychology (e.g. medicine) are only permitted in exceptional cases and with the approval of the Examination Board. In this case, the topic of the thesis must have a clearly recognizable psychological focus.
    In the case of an external first reviewer, the research design in the form of an exposé must be discussed with the professor in Kassel before registering the thesis.

At the end of the previous semester

  • You decide on a topic in consultation with the supervisors.
  • Registration deadlines are
    • October 01
    • February 01
    • April 01
    • July 01
    • By when do I have to hand in my Master's thesis in order to finish within the standard period of study?
      Hand in your thesis by 30 September of your 4th semester at the latest. The Master's degree is dated with the date of your last achievement (e.g. the deadline for submitting the Master's thesis). If required, you can receive a provisional confirmation of your M.Sc. degree a few days later. For organizational reasons, the certificates will be ready approximately three weeks later.
  • Please use the following form for registration

You are in your third semester or have 50 credits in your transcript of records

At the beginning of the semester of your Master's thesis

The official issue of topics by the Examination Board is considered binding admission and takes place by October 15, February 15, April 15 or July 15. In exceptional cases, you can apply to the examination board for other deadlines via a hardship case.

The institute has 15 laptops that can be borrowed temporarily for working on your Master's thesis. If you need such a laptop, please ask your supervisor to borrow one from Ms. Kolckhorst in the secretary's office. Windows 8 Pro and the following programs are installed on the laptops

  • MS Office 2013
  • SPSS
  • R
  • E-Prime - can only be programmed in the institute laboratories (INCON building)
  • Inquisit

Your supervisors will of course also help you with methodological questions. Otherwise, you are welcome to use the student methods advice service

At the end of the semester of your Master's thesis

The Master's thesis must be submitted within 20 weeks of the date on which the topic is announced (for extensions / exceptions: see examination regulations).

The reviewers have six weeks after submission to write their reviews. This period is formally prescribed and necessary, as many reviewers have to write a large number of first and second reviews for graduates of the various psychology degree programs.

  • You discuss the data basis of your Master's thesis individually with your reviewers.
  • The length should be approx. 50-80 pages (line spacing: 1.5).
  • Include a declaration of independence.
  • Observe the formal rules of design (DGPs or APA)!
  • Self-declaration on the use of AI: AI tools should always be cited, just like other aids and sources. In addition, the AI functions used should be described in a short declaration. Please refer to the guidelines of the University of Basel.
  • Criteria for evaluating the Master's thesis(review template that can be used by the reviewer)

Submit the Master's thesis in due time as a bound written copy and additionally on a data carrier to the examination board (Institute of Psychology, R. 2112: Ms. Braun). Please enclose a raw data set of all test subjects with a clear description of the variables or a file in which the variables are clearly explained. Clarify in good time with your two reviewers whether they would also like a bound written copy or an electronic version of your work including the data set. Please send the electronic version to your reviewers by e-mail on the day of submission. If the deadline falls on a public holiday or weekend, the paper must be submitted digitally by the deadline. Please also contact Ms. Braun/the examination office CC. The bound thesis must be submitted to the Examinations Office by 12:00 noon on the following working day at the latest.

If the work is handed in late, it will be graded as "failed" without exception.

After submission of the Master's thesis

It is not necessary to defend your Master's thesis. However, your supervisor may ask you to present the current status of your thesis in the research colloquium.