Questions and Answers (Thesis)

Usage of terms must (not), should (not), and may according to RFC 2119. See also the Q&A on seminars.

How long should the final thesis be?

A rough guideline is around 40 to 60 pages for a bachelor’s thesis and 60 to 80 pages for a master’s thesis. These numbers depend on factors such as font size (typically 11pt or 12pt) and other aspects such as spacing and layout. However, you must discuss the specific requirements for your thesis with your supervisor, preferably based on a first draft of the thesis structure.

How long does the defense/presentation last?

For bachelor’s thesis defenses, we allocate 45 minutes. The time is split between a talk summarizing the thesis project (20 to 30 minutes), followed by questions (10 to 15 minutes). For master’s thesis defenses, we allocate 60 minutes. The time is split between a talk summarizing the thesis project (30 to 40 minutes), followed by questions (15 to 20 minutes).

Does the defense/presentation have to cover the whole thesis?

The short answer is: no. It is important to provide a high-level overview of the thesis project and then dive into selected aspects. The main target audience for the presentation is the second examiner, as they usually did not participate in the regular meetings over the course of the project. Sometimes, we ask students to address certain questions that might have come up while reviewing the thesis.