Project Study Work (PSW)
The PSW serves as the structured starting point of the Transfer Project. Its primary aim is to provide orientation, clarity, and initial planning for all parties involved—the student, the university, and the project client.
The PSW marks the entry into the Transfer Project and is intended to provide all participants—students, the university, and project clients (if applicable)—with orientation and initial planning for the Transfer Project and its course.
In the PSW, students focus on the following aspects:
- The challenge/problem/research interest as the starting point of the Transfer Project
- The leading research question and any sub-questions to be answered in the final Thesis. These questions can also be changed in the further course of the Transfer Project, e.g., if initial research results make this seem useful.
- Overview of theoretical approaches that can be used in the course of the Transfer Project.
- First discussion of possible scientific methods that could be used in the Transfer Project.
A mandatory component of the PSW is an ungraded presentation of the research project in an online Project Presentation Session (PPS; formerly known as GPS), even before the PSW is submitted. During the PPS presentation, a member of the Academic Management Team and a few other students will be present to give the presenters constructive feedback on the ideas of the Transfer Project so far. For this reason, students are recommended to participate in a GPS at least once as an observer to have a chance to learn from other students, question their own approach, and be able to incorporate information into their own PSW.
A mandatory component of the PSW is an ungraded presentation of the research project in an online Project Presentation Session (PPS), even before the PSW is submitted.
The first formal step to start a Transfer Project is to register your Transfer Project topic via the Transfer Project Registration Page. This will indicate to us that you are starting your Transfer Project and help us ensure that we provide Project Coaching sessions related to your topic area. This will also ensure that you can have a smooth journey and be included in information distribution about relevant sessions.
The first formal step to start a Transfer Project is to register a Transfer Project via the Transfer Project Registration Page.
Further information on the written elaboration of the PSW can be found in the Word template for the PSW. The chapters in this template provide insight into the Transfer Project and its planning. The following is the content structure of a PSW:
- The problem / challenge
- The research question of the Thesis
- The first forecast of relevant scientific theories
- The first forecast of relevant scientific methods
The table below describes the formal requirements for PSW.
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Size |
15 Pages (from Chapter 1 to Chapter 4) |
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Tolerance for size |
Deviation up to +/- 33 % without point deductions |
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Format |
Word template for the PSW and PowerPoint template for the PSW presentation |
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ECTS-Points |
5 ECTS |
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Registration |
No specific registration is needed for the PSW, but please register your Transfer Project topic(s) using the form "Registering the Transfer Project" via the Transfer Project Registration Page to let us know that you are starting to work on your Transfer Project. And once you registered your Transfer Project and started working on your PSW, please remember to then register for your PSW presentation at the monthly PPS, using the form "Project Presentation Sessions (PPS)" via the Transfer Project Registration Page as well. |
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Processing time |
No deadline; we recommend that you submit the PSW approx. 6 (six) months after the start of your studies |
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Form of submission |
As PDF, file name: Last Name-First Name_PSW |
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Method of submission |
via the Transfer Project Submission Page |
You may refer to this Evaluation Report for the PSW template to gain a clear understanding of the expectations for your written work.