Master's Thesis

The Master's Thesis serves as the culminating achievement of the Transfer Project. It allows students to demonstrate their capacity for independent research, critical analysis, and the development of well-founded solutions to complex issues arising from professional practice (i.e., companies, industries, etc.).

The two tables below contain the most important formal requirements for the Master's Thesis.

If you started your studies before April 2026 and would like to request a switch to the new Study Regulation (with the new model of Transfer Project), please submit your request here.

For students enrolled in the M.A. 1-year and all MBA study programs:

	SPO before April 2026 Applies to all students starting their studies before April 2026 (unless they explicitly request a switch to the new SPO and granted by S-Next)	SPO April 2026 Applies to all students starting their studies on and after April 2026
Size	60 Pages (from the introduction to the beginning of the bibliography)	60,000-80,000 Characters (approx. 30-40 pages, from the introduction to the beginning of the bibliography)
Tolerance for size	Deviation up to +/- 10% without point deductions Deviation from +/- 20% failed	No deviation allowed
Evaluation criteria	The evaluation criteria are documented in the Evaluation Reports, that the reviewers use to evaluate papers and presentations.
Grading weight	Written Thesis 75% Defense 25%	Written Thesis 50% Defense 50%
Templates	The MS Word templates are available in this folder
ECTS-Points	15 ECTS
Registration	Using the form "Registration for Master's Thesis and Thesis Defense" via the Registration Page for Transfer Project Elements, latest 5 (five) months before the desired Thesis Defense date. Please note that your registration will only be accepted if your PSW received a passing grade by the time you register.
Method of submission	Transfer Project Submission Page If an upload is not possible for larger attachments, the Master's Thesis, including its attachments, can be sent to the Examination Management Team by email.
Format of submission	As a PDF, file name: Last Name-First Name_Master-Thesis
Processing time	Maximum 4 (four) months after submitting the "Registration for Master's Thesis and Thesis Defense" form via the Registration Page for Transfer Project Elements
Additional document to submit	A 3- to 5-page summary as a separate PDF document

For students enrolled in the M.A. BOP and M.Sc. study programs:

	SPO before April 2026 Applies to all students starting their studies before April 2026 (unless they explicitly request a switch to the new SPO and granted by S-Next)	SPO April 2026 Applies to all students starting their studies on and after April 2026
Size	80 Pages (from the introduction to the beginning of the bibliography)	60,000-110,000 Characters (approx. 30-55 pages, from the introduction to the beginning of the bibliography)
Tolerance for size	Deviation up to +/- 10% without point deductions Deviation from +/- 20% failed	No deviation allowed
Evaluation criteria	The evaluation criteria are documented in the Evaluation Reports, that the reviewers use to evaluate papers and presentations.
Grading weight	Written Thesis 75% Defense 25%	Written Thesis 50% Defense 50%
Templates	The MS Word templates are available in this folder
ECTS-Points	20 ECTS
Registration	Using the form "Registration for Master's Thesis and Thesis Defense" via the Registration Page for Transfer Project Elements, latest 5 (five) months before the desired Thesis Defense date. Please note that your registration will only be accepted if your PSW has received a passing grade by the time you register.
Method of submission	Transfer Project Submission Page If an upload is not possible for larger attachments, the Master's Thesis, including its attachments, can be sent to the Examination Management Team by email.
Format of submission	As a PDF, file name: Last Name-First Name_Master-Thesis
Processing time	Maximum 6 (six) months after submitting the "Registration for Master's Thesis and Thesis Defense" form via the Registration Page for Transfer Project Elements
Additional document to submit	A 3- to 5-page summary as a separate PDF document

If you started your studies before April 2026 and would like to request a switch to the new Study Regulation (with the new model of Transfer Project), please submit your request here.

The MS Word template for the Master's Thesis provides more than just formatting specifications. It contains recommended chapter structures, examples, and detailed guidance on the content and purpose of each thesis section, helping you prepare a well-organized and academically sound research project in line with Steinbeis NEXT requirements.

Together with the Master's Thesis, a 3- to 5-page summary in the language of the Master's Thesis must be submitted in electronic form by the deadline. This separate summary is mandatory but is not included in the evaluation. It can be created without citation from the elements of the introduction and the conclusion of the Master's Thesis. The separate summary does not require any indexes or references.