Student Work FAQ

Topic Selection and Registration

How do I find a topic for my thesis?

Available thesis topics are published on the chair's website. You can also contact members of the chair or Fraunhofer AISEC directly if you are interested in their research areas. Many theses originate this way, including topics that have not been formally advertised.

How does communication with Prof. Boenisch work?

There are two opportunities for direct interaction with Prof. Boenisch: during the thesis proposal stage, when she reviews your proposal and provides written feedback, and during the poster session, where you present your work and discuss it with her in person. Your supervisor is responsible for day-to-day academic guidance.

When can I register my thesis in the CIT Portal?

Only after your thesis proposal has been approved. Registration marks the official start of your thesis period, which should not begin before the scope and objectives of your work have been clearly defined. Your supervisor initiates the registration, which you then confirm in the portal.

How long does it take from topic approval to registration?

Typically, two to three weeks to prepare your thesis proposal, plus the time required for feedback. This period does not count towards your official thesis period because it takes place before registration. You therefore do not lose any time allocated to your thesis, but you should account for this phase when planning your schedule.

Thesis Proposal

What is the thesis proposal, and what is its purpose?

The thesis proposal outlines what you intend to investigate, how you plan to approach the research, and the steps involved. It provides an opportunity to identify and correct an unsuitable scope before investing significant time in the project.

How long should it be, and what should it include?

Three to four pages for a bachelor's thesis and four to six pages for a master's thesis, excluding references.

The proposal should include:

  • Motivation

  • State of the art and how your work differs from existing research

  • A clearly defined research question

  • Planned methodology, including baselines and evaluation metrics

  • Milestones and a week-by-week schedule

  • Risks and contingency plans

  • A statement on the use of AI tools

Your supervisor will provide a LaTeX template.

Who should I send my thesis proposal to?

Send it to your supervisor. Your supervisor reviews and approves the proposal before forwarding it internally. Do not send it directly to Prof. Boenisch. Initial drafts that have not been reviewed by a supervisor will not be considered.

When will I receive feedback?

Thesis proposals are collected on the 1st and 15th of each month. Feedback is provided within seven days of these dates. The maximum waiting time is therefore three weeks.

What are the possible outcomes?

There are three possible outcomes: approved, approved with conditions, or revision required. If revisions are required, you have two weeks to submit a revised version.

Poster Session

What is the poster session?

The poster session is a meeting for all students currently working on their theses. It takes place in person in Garching four times a year. Your supervisor will inform you of the dates.

You present your work on a poster, and Prof. Boenisch visits each poster to discuss the topic with you for approximately five to ten minutes. Supervisors also attend the session.

Is participation mandatory?

Yes, for all ongoing theses. In practice, bachelor's students usually participate once, while master's students generally participate twice. Students submitting their theses within the two weeks before the session are excused.

What should my poster include?

The content depends on your progress:

  • Early stage: Research question, scope, planned experimental setup, and initial baselines.

  • Midway through the thesis: Methodology, preliminary results, and unresolved issues.

  • Shortly before submission: Results, ablation studies, and interpretation of findings.

Negative preliminary results and open questions are explicitly welcome.

Does the poster session affect my grade?

No. The poster session is intended as a working meeting. You are encouraged to discuss difficulties and challenges without worrying about negative consequences for your assessment.

Do I need a printed poster?

You need an A0 or A1 poster, either printed or displayed on a screen. Please coordinate printing arrangements with your supervisor.

Final Presentation

Do I need to submit a copy of my thesis to the chair?

Yes. Please send a copy of your thesis to the chair's administrative office at bengler@sec.in.tum.de.

The chair does not have automatic access to your thesis through the CIT Portal, so this copy is essential. Missing submissions are the most common reason for delays in scheduling final presentations. Please make sure to send your thesis in good time.

How long is the presentation?

  • Bachelor's thesis: 20-minute presentation followed by 10 minutes of discussion.

  • Master's thesis: 25-minute presentation followed by 15 minutes of discussion.

Where does the presentation take place?

The presentation takes place in person in room 01.08.033. Audience members may join remotely if necessary.

In which language should I give my presentation?

In English, as theses are generally written in English. If you write your thesis in German, please agree on the presentation language with your supervisor in advance.

Is there a slide template or are there any formal requirements?

No. Students are free to design their presentations according to their own preferences. The chair does not prescribe a standard template or uniform formatting requirements.

Please keep the allocated presentation time in mind and remember that your audience may not be familiar with the details of your research topic.

How do I schedule my presentation?

Final presentations take place on designated dates, with several students presenting their work consecutively.

Your supervisor will book a presentation slot internally and inform you of the date. For any scheduling questions, always contact your supervisor rather than the administrative office or Prof. Boenisch directly.

Does the presentation take place before or after thesis submission?

Usually after submission. Nevertheless, please ask about presentation dates well in advance, as presentation sessions are scheduled ahead of time.

Isn't this called a thesis defense?

Many students are familiar with the term "thesis defense." We use the term "final presentation." Both refer to the same event.

Assessment and Grading

What criteria are used to assess my thesis?

Your thesis is assessed according to five categories derived from the applicable examination regulations:

  • Analysis: Research question, scope, and literature review.

  • Conceptual Design: Justification of methodological decisions, baselines, and ablation studies.

  • Implementation: Independent technical contributions and correctness of experiments.

  • Scientific Practice: Reproducibility, presentation of findings, and references.

  • Independence: Ability to work independently.

Your supervisor can provide further details about these criteria.

Does the final presentation count towards my grade?

This depends on the Academic and Examination Regulations applicable to your degree program. In all cases, the final presentation is a mandatory component of the module.

Will I receive a written explanation of my grade?

TUM does not require a written assessment report for theses. Only the final grade is officially reported.

However, many supervisors provide feedback on the thesis, and you are explicitly welcome to request it.

All information on this page applies to the Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in Informatics (Computer Science).

Use of AI Tools

Am I allowed to use ChatGPT, Copilot, and similar tools?

Yes. Permitted uses include language editing, coding assistance, literature searches, explanations of concepts, and debugging.

What is not permitted?

The following are not permitted:

  • Generated or unverified references

  • Fabricated results or numerical data

  • Content presented as your own work that you cannot explain or justify

Do I have to disclose my use of AI tools?

Yes. Your thesis must include a brief statement explaining which AI tools you used and for what purposes. Such a disclosure will not negatively affect your assessment.

What happens if my thesis contains fabricated references?

Every reference must have been read and must be verifiable. References to non-existent sources or sources whose content has been misrepresented will have a significant negative impact on your grade.