A company bachelor鈥檚
Writing a bachelor鈥檚 thesis at a company: Possible career entry
What must one keep in mind when writing a bachelor's thesis at a company? 漏 Mienny / iStock.com
A better understanding of the industry, excellent contacts, good chances for a job: There are a lot of upsides for those who write their bachelor鈥檚 thesis at a company. It is particularly common at universities of applied sciences. But there are a few things that must be kept in mind.
Updated: 2025-03-07
Bachelor鈥檚 thesis at a company 鈥� yes or no?
An external bachelor's thesis? At universities of applied sciences (HAWs), it is the standard path, since such universities are practice-oriented and often work together with partners in industry. It鈥檚 no wonder then that a relatively large number of HAW students 鈥� particularly those studying technical or scientific subjects 鈥� elect to write their bachelor鈥檚 theses at a company rather than at their university. Just like an external master鈥檚 thesis, an external bachelor鈥檚 thesis can be beneficial for both sides.
At classical universities, by contrast, most courses of study are more theoretical in nature, such that it makes more sense for students to write their bachelor鈥檚 theses at the university itself. Still, depending on the subject and faculty (is an external thesis even allowed?), an external bachelor's thesis can also be a promising alternative for university students.
The advantages of an external bachelor's thesis:
- Real-world experience increases one鈥檚 chances of being hired by the company in question. Writing a bachelor's thesis at a company is thus an excellent door-opener.
- Students who write their bachelor's thesis at a company frequently have better access to resources and are able to use exclusive information, such as from specialists working at the company.
- In the natural sciences, those who write their bachelor's thesis at a company often have access to extremely modern equipment.
- Companies also benefit, especially when the student goes on to take a job there. The candidate is known to the company and the painstaking onboarding process can be skipped. As they work on their theses, students also frequently develop practical approaches that can contribute to solving internal company problems.
Potential disadvantages to an external bachelor鈥檚 thesis:
- Students must meet the expectations of two parties, the university and the company. Conflicts may arise out of divergent expectations and the need to produce both practically useful and theoretically sound papers.
- In some instances, companies prohibit the publication of internal company information. They may demand an embargo to protect their data, which can become a problem both for the evaluation of the paper in question and its potential publication.
- Students who work for a company while completing their studies may find it difficult to devote the appropriate amount of time to their thesis.
Finding a topic and a company
Those interested in potentially writing their bachelor鈥檚 thesis at a company should determine early on whether it is an option at their institution. Once the student receives a green light, it is important for them to familiarize themselves with the basic expectations stipulated by the university, including process, requirements and deadlines. Then, it is time to find a relevant topic and the right company.
The right topic for an external thesis
The bachelor鈥檚 thesis topic should be clearly defined. Ultimately, students must demonstrate that they are able to produce solid academic work on their own. As such, it is essential to formulate a precise question which will then be addressed with a well-researched answer providing new insights. Finding a suitable topic can be a challenge for many students.
In can be easier to find a topic when writing a bachelor's thesis at a company. Employers frequently have a clear idea regarding the topic they would like to be researched. It is important to note, however, that even if a bachelor鈥檚 thesis cannot be compared to a doctoral thesis, students must nevertheless be prepared to devote significant time and energy to the topic. As such, the question at hand must not only be relevant but also of interest to the student performing the research.
Finding a suitable company
There are numerous ways to find a suitable company for a bachelor鈥檚 thesis. The primary focus should be on finding a relevant employer that is a specialist in the student鈥檚 field. That alone can be challenging and time-consuming. The following tips may be of assistance:
- Look for job announcements posted at your university or on the internet
- Ask graduates and professors for their recommendations
- Get to know companies at job fairs or open-house events
- Pay attention to labels like 鈥渉idden champions鈥�, 鈥渇air companies鈥� and 鈥渢op job鈥�
During the search, applicants should also determine if the company has previous experience in supervising theses, whether an opportunity is even available to work in the desired field and whether constant supervision is available. Should all those requirements be met, there is nothing standing in the way of an application.
Every application should include a CV (resume) and a cover letter in which the applicant presents their qualifications and expresses their motivation for applying. Later, during the interview process, it makes sense to inquire about the possibility of being hired on a more permanent basis and what the future might hold. It should be kept in mind that the search for an appropriate company isn鈥檛 the only thing that can take time. So, too, can the application process. It isn鈥檛 unheard of for six months to pass between first contact and the signing of the contract. It is vital, in other words, to start the search early.
Avoiding conflicts
Writing a bachelor鈥檚 thesis at a company means that the student has two advisers: one at the company and one at the university. This constellation can produce conflict since the two advisers may have different sets of expectations or requirements for the thesis.
It is important to remember that a bachelor鈥檚 thesis, whether written at a company or at a university, is a requirement for earning an academic degree. As such, the university adviser 鈥� and his or her expectations 鈥� takes precedence. The company adviser will likely be particularly focused on results that can be implemented in practice, while the academic supervisor will place greater emphasis on scholarly aspects.
To avoid potential tensions from developing in the first place, it is important to speak early on with all parties involved regarding their demands and expectations. A three-way meeting with both advisers is the best way to communicate the most important aspects and to clarify potential ambiguities. The following items should be discussed:
- The goal of the bachelor鈥檚 thesis
- Structure and scope of the paper
- Rules pertaining to citation
- Timeline and deadlines
Because writing a thesis is frequently not a linear process, students should hold regular consultations with their advisers throughout.
Data security and embargos
Issues pertaining to data security should be discussed with the company adviser. Because students frequently must refer to sensitive, internal company data, special agreements pertaining to the thesis may become necessary.
Such agreements may include embargos, which may prevent the completed thesis from being published, or non-disclosure agreements for certain information. It may even be the case that certain data or results cannot be used for the thesis at all. It is important to discuss such eventualities with one鈥檚 academic adviser as well to ensure that the university is aware of any limitations.
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Conditions, remuneration, vacation
There is no legal minimum wage for those writing their bachelor鈥檚 thesis. It may even be the case that students writing their thesis at a company receive no pay at all. Students sometimes even have to work elsewhere to cover potential costs 鈥� a time factor that should not be underestimated.
Usually, though, students are employed by the company in question for the duration of their bachelor鈥檚 thesis in the form of a working student contract 鈥� including pay. Working students are also entitled to the minimum wage, which currently stands at 12.82 euros per hour (as of January 1, 2025). That means that for many students, writing an external thesis can be a valuable source of income.
Important for those receiving state financial aid (BAf枚G): Pay received in connection with the bachelor鈥檚 thesis is treated just like wages received for a normal part-time job. Since wages usually exceed the monthly limit of 556 euros, students are required to report them.
The amount of vacation a student is entitled to, if any, depends on the type of employment contract. Working students are seen as part-time workers by the Federal Paid Leave Act (BUrlG). That means they have a legal right to paid vacation days, the number of which depends on how many days they work. Those working six-day weeks have a right to a minimum of 24 days of vacation, while five-day workweeks receive a minimum of 20 vacation days. Depending on the contract or collective bargaining agreement that applies, workers may receive more vacation days. However, only those who have worked at a company for at least six months have a right to the full allotment of vacation days. Prior to that, vacation days are calculated on a pro rata basis.
Work times and flexibility
Working students are not allowed to exceed 20 hours of work per week. It is up to the student to discuss with their adviser in the company whether those hours must be worked regularly (such as four hours per day) and performed on site 鈥� or whether students are free to organize their working hours as they wish.
It is also important for students to clarify whether they can actually write their bachelor鈥檚 thesis in the company. Is it possible to devote all working hours exclusively to the thesis? Or will the student also be expected to perform other tasks at the company?
Should the latter be the case, it is vital that the contract stipulate how much time can be devoted to the thesis and how much to other tasks to ensure that the student has enough time for writing. It should also be clarified in advance whether background research is counted as working time or whether this time-consuming step must be completed outside working hours.
It is difficult to predict precisely how much time background research, primary research, writing, revising and editing will take. As such, a flexible allocation of working hours at the company may be the best model. At which point nothing more can stand in the way of a successful external bachelor鈥檚 thesis.
