Structuring and organizing your thesis

A well-thought-out outline is the cornerstone of a successful thesis. Here you will find instructions and advice on structuring your work.

Essential components of a thesis

Title page and directories (table of contents, list of figures, list of tables)
Introduction and theoretical background (approx. 40% of the scope)
Methodology and results (approx. 30% of the scope)
Discussion and conclusion (approx. 20% of the scope)
Bibliography and appendices (variable scope)

Recommendations for effective structuring

Plan enough time for each section
Observe the specific guidelines of your department
Develop a logical and comprehensible outline
Conduct a comprehensive literature review
Write a concise abstract that provides an overview of your work

Avoid common mistakes in the outline

Unclear or too broad research questions
Lack of structure and logical sequence
Neglecting the connection between theory and practice
Non-compliance with formatting guidelines

Tips for effective writing

Start planning and writing early
Set clear goals and create a detailed schedule
Use writing techniques like brainstorming and mind mapping
Revise and proofread your work multiple times

Planning and time management

Effective time management is crucial to the success of your thesis. Plan buffer times for unexpected challenges and work continuously on your project.

Create a schedule with realistic milestones
Use techniques like the Pomodoro Technique to increase productivity

Formatting Guidelines

Adhering to your university's formatting guidelines is essential. Pay attention to font, font size, line spacing and a uniform citation style.

Use the prescribed formatting templates
Make sure all quotes are formatted correctly

Detailed structure of a thesis

An overview of the individual elements of a thesis, its scope and important notes.

Structure element	Scope	Content	Important notes
Title page	1 page	Title of the Bachelor Thesis Author's name Course of study and university Supervisor's name Submission date	Pay attention to the exact specifications of your university, especially regarding formatting.
Abstract	Max. 1 page	Background of the work Objective Methodology Results Conclusions	Write the abstract last and formulate it concisely and comprehensibly.
Table of contents	Variable	All chapters and subchapters with page numbers Clear structuring	Make sure the headings and page numbers are up-to-date.


Introduction / Preface	Approx. 10% of the work	Introduction to the topic Presentation of the problem Objective of the work Research questions or hypotheses Structure of the work	Awaken the reader's interest and clarify the relevance of the topic.
Theoretical background / Literature review	30-40% of the work	Presentation of the current state of research Definition of central terms Theoretical models and concepts	Use current and relevant literature sources to support your argumentation.
Methodology	Approx. 10% of the work	Description of the research design Methods of data collection Methods of data analysis Justification of the method selection	Be detailed enough so that the study is reproducible.
Research results	10-20% of the work	Presentation of the obtained data Objective presentation of the findings Use of graphs and tables	Present the results clearly and precisely, without interpreting them.
Discussion	15-25% of the work	Interpretation of the results Comparison with existing literature Answering the research questions Implications for theory and practice Limitations of the study	Discuss the significance of the results and draw conclusions.
Conclusion	5-10% of the work	Summary of the most important findings Overall assessment of the work Outlook on future research	Summarize the results without introducing new information.

Appendix	Optional	Additional Materials Raw Data Questionnaires Interview Transcripts Detailed Calculations	References in the text to the appendix, if relevant.