Department of Urban Development

Status: December 2016

Master’s Thesis Guidelines
and
Master’s Thesis Registration Form
for Urban Development Students of TU Berlin Campus El Gouna

Table of contents
1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................... 1
2. FINDING A SUPERVISOR DURING THIRD SEMESTER IN EL GOUNA ......................................................................................... 1
3. REGISTRATION PROCESS FROM MID- TO END FEBRUARY.................................................................................................... 1
4. WRITING PERIOD AND DEADLINE FROM BEGINNING OF MARCH UNTIL MID-AUGUST .............................................................. 2
5. FIRST MEETING IN MARCH .......................................................................................................................................... 2
6. DEADLINES FOR PRELIMINARY DRAFTS AND CORRECTIONS IN MID- / END JUNE...................................................................... 2
7. REJECTING A TOPIC / CHANGING THE TITLE OF THE M.SC. THESIS ........................................................................................ 2
8. CONTENT OF THE M.SC. THESIS ................................................................................................................................... 2
9. PROOFREADING YOUR THESIS ....................................................................................................................................... 2
10. SUBMISSION......................................................................................................................................................... 3
11. EARLY SUBMISSION ................................................................................................................................................ 3
12. EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE .................................................................................................................................. 3
13. EVALUATION OF YOUR M.SC. THESIS ......................................................................................................................... 3
14. M.SC. THESIS PRESENTATION AND GRADING .............................................................................................................. 3
15. CERTIFICATE ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
16. IMPORTANT ADDRESSES AND LINKS ............................................................................................................................ 3
17. TIMELINE ............................................................................................................................................................. 4
REGISTRATION FORM FOR M.SC. THESES IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT AT TU BERLIN CAMPUS EL GOUNA............................................... 5
R E Q U E S T for Master thesis deadline extension.....................................................................................................6

1. Introduction
These guidelines should cover the most frequently asked questions related to registering for and writing your M.Sc.
thesis at TU Berlin Campus El Gouna. This document is based on the Study Regulations (StuPO, 27.03.2009) of the
Urban Development M.Sc. program and the Regulations Governing General Study and Examination Procedures
(AllgStuPO, 08.05.2013), which are the legally approved bases for the processes described below. If any questions
remain, please contact the Examination Office of Campus El Gouna: examination@elgouna.tu-berlin.de.

2. Finding a Supervisor during Third Semester in El Gouna

You should select a main supervisor, who will decide, with your consultation, on the second supervisor. The first
supervisor must be a professor at TU Berlin, and the second can be a recognized expert in the field of your thesis.
Supervisors’ time is limited, so it is recommended to begin the search early on. Please take the opportunity to talk to
professors during their stay in El Gouna in your third semester.

3. Registration Process from Mid- to End February

In order to start the formal M.Sc. thesis registration process, you need to have passed at least 70 credits during the
previous semesters (§ 6, StuPO). Registration should be completed in mid-February, immediately after the third
colloquium, which aims at settling your thesis topic. You will need to fill out a registration form (in German). All M.Sc.
candidates receive an email from the Examination Office with explanations and tips on how to complete the form.
The form contains four sections and steps.

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 a. In the first step of the registration process, you officially request a M.Sc. topic from the Examination Office.
This needs to be completed and signed in mid-February. The paper or a scan thereof must be sent or
emailed to the Examination Office.
b. In the second step, the Examination Office sends the request to your supervisor. This step can be skipped if
the Examination Office allows you to send the paper directly to your supervisor,
c. In the third step, the supervisor adds your topic, names a second supervisor and signs the form (which does
not have to be signed by the second supervisor). The original or a scan thereof must be sent to the
Examination Office.
d. In the final step, the Head of the Examination Committee signs the form and formally confirms your topic
and deadline for submission. This may also be sent via email. From this moment, the official writing period
begins.
This process takes at least two weeks. Thus, after registration in mid-February, the writing period starts around the
beginning of March.

4. Writing Period and Deadline from Beginning of March until Mid-August

The writing period of your master’s thesis is exactly 5 months and 12 days. If the registration is completed in time,
the submission date will be in mid-August. If the submission date happens to be on a Saturday, Sunday, or public
holiday, you may submit the thesis on the following working day. Please be aware that you must adhere to this
deadline. Even if you submit your thesis only a day later, it cannot be accepted and you will have failed this attempt.
This is also the case if you have to send your thesis as a hard copy by post or transportation services (such as DHL or
UPS) from Egypt or any other place. If you face any difficulties in meeting the deadline, please contact your
supervisor well before the deadline! For deadline extensions, see below.

5. First Meeting in March

Even though you may have been in contact with your supervisor during proposal writing by mid-February, you have
to formally contact your supervisor by sending the outline and discussing the topic by March at the latest. During this
talk, she or he (1) discusses content and layout issues such as maximum lengths, layout, citing system, fonts, line
spacing etc. and (2) informs you about the details of cooperation with and involvement of the second supervisor, and
(3) suggests dates for submissions of preliminary drafts.

6. Deadlines for Preliminary Drafts and Corrections in Mid- / End June

You must hand in at least one preliminary draft (according to the supervisor’s request) by latest mid- to end June in
order to receive comments early enough to apply changes to the final version of your thesis.

7. Rejecting a Topic / Changing the Title of the M.Sc. Thesis

Changing the topic or title of your thesis is only allowed once, and only within the first six weeks of the writing
period. To do so, inform your supervisors, who will contact the Examination Office of Campus El Gouna. The
registration procedure will have to be completed again.

8. Content of the M.Sc. Thesis

Your thesis must include at least:
- A title page, including your name, address, student registration number, name of the study program, names of
the supervisor and second reviewer, and of course the title (please note that the title has to be exactly the same
as outlined in the registration form!)
- A declaration stating that the thesis is your own work followed by the date, place and your signature. Please use
the following paragraph (in German):
Eidesstattliche Erklärung
Hiermit versichere ich, dass ich die vorliegende Arbeit selbstständig verfasst und keine anderen als die angegebenen Quellen und
Hilfsmittel benutzt habe. Alle Ausführungen, die anderen veröffentlichten oder nicht veröffentlichten Schriften wörtlich oder
sinngemäß entnommen wurden, habe ich kenntlich gemacht. Die Arbeit hat in gleicher oder ähnlicher Fassung noch keiner
anderen Prüfungsbehörde vorgelegen.
- An abstract
- A table of contents, tables and pictures / figures
- Main body
- A bibliography that lists all sources used. All citations must be clearly noted.
Any other questions about what should be included and in which form can be discussed with your supervisor.

9. Proofreading your Thesis

We advise you to ask a native speaker to proofread your thesis. This will definitely enhance the quality of your paper.

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 10. Submission
You must submit three printed copies of your thesis and a digital version on CD/DVD to the Examination Office of
Campus El Gouna in Berlin (see address below). We will confirm receipt and forward two copies to the supervisors
for evaluation.

11. Early Submission

It is possible to submit your thesis before the deadline. However, the total time necessary for preparing the thesis
must be realistic, i.e. submission a few weeks after assignment of the topic is not realistic and will not be accepted.

12. Extension of the Deadline

The deadline for submission of your thesis can only be extended under exceptional circumstances. In case of
sickness, students can request an extension for the delay indicated on the medical certificate, which needs to be
handed in as proof. It is also possible to extend the deadline if submission is delayed for reasons beyond your control
(e.g. an important interview is cancelled). In such cases, please use the form on the last page of this manual, contact
your supervisors, who will get in touch with the Examination Committee. If your application for extension will be
accepted, the Examination Office will inform you about the new deadline.
Please note: reasons such as slow writing or even participation in conferences are not acceptable! The extension of
the submission deadline is only valid once you have received a written confirmation.

13. Evaluation of your M.Sc. Thesis

The supervisors should agree on a grade for your thesis within a maximum of 6 weeks. Supervisors can usually
confirm shortly after submission whether a student will receive a pass grade. In this case, the examination office will
issue a formal Studienabschlussbescheinigung – a letter stating that the Urban Development M.Sc. program has been
successfully completed, in case you need. This letter can be used for job applications.

14. M.Sc. Thesis Presentation and Grading

The presentation (also called a defense) is an obligatory part of obtaining a M.Sc. in Urban Development and takes
place after submission. It will take 20 to 30 minutes, either in the form of a small personal meeting, in front of a
larger audience with other students and/or external guests, or as a videoconference if supervisors and students
cannot come together in the same place.
Your supervisor will talk to you about the specific profile of your presentation, so that you will be aware in advance of
the framework and audience. The grade for the presentation counts for a third of the overall grade.

15. Certificate
Students will receive three documents certifying their M.Sc. degree: a master’s certificate, a transcript and a
document named ‘Diploma Supplement’. All documents are issued in English. Please note that final documents can
take several weeks to be issued.

16. Important addresses and links

 Examination Office Campus El Gouna:
Adress: Technische Universität Berlin, Zentralinstitut El Gouna,
Ackerstraße 76, Sekr. ACK 4-1, 13355 Berlin
Contact Person: Daniel Karsch (Alternatively to be contacted: Dr. Krystyna Schneider)
Email: examination@elgouna.tu-berlin.de

 Master’s Thesis Registration Form:

Find this form on the last page (or for download on: http://www.campus-elgouna.tu-
berlin.de/urban/v_menu/msc_urban_development/modules_curricula_and_regulations/: look on the right side of this
page
By signing this Registration Form you sign as well that you have noticed and read these guidelines.
 Study Regulations of Campus El Gouna: http://www.campus-elgouna.tu-
berlin.de/urban/v_menu/msc_urban_development/modules_curricula_and_regulations/: (study regulations for your
M.Sc. degree are in the right side of this page)
 Regulations Governing General Study and Examination Procedures (Allgemeine Studien- und Prüfungsordnung,
AllgStuPO): http://www.referat-1a.tu-
berlin.de/fileadmin/ref6/DateienIA1/Gesetze_und_Verordnungen/EN_AllgStuPO_30052014.pdf

See the timeline of the whole process on the next page!

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 17. Timeline
The timeline below illustrates the process from developing ideas for your thesis topic to receipt of the final certificate. The dates may vary marginally. The process starts at the beginning
of the 3rd semester and is complete at the end of the 4th semester.

Mid-/ End June

Mid-October

September 30

December 15
November

February 15

August 15
March 1

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 Registration form for M.Sc. Theses in Urban Development at TU Berlin Campus El Gouna
To be sent to after completion: Examination Office of Zentralinstitut El Gouna, Sekr. ACK 4-1,
Ackerstraße 76, 13355 Berlin. By email: examination@elgouna.tu-berlin.de

First Name Student ID number

Name
Phone number
completed by the student

Street, Number

Postal Code City

I am kindly asking Prof. (M.Sc. thesis supervisor) to compose a

M.Sc. thesis topic in the field of Urban Development for me.

I have passed module examinations totaling 70 credits.

I took notice of the M.Sc. Thesis Guidelines for Urban Development Students above.

Date, Signature by Student

Examination Office of Zentralinstitut El Gouna Berlin,

completed by examination office

Prof. Sekr.:
is kindly requested to compose a M.Sc. thesis topic for the abovementioned candidate, and to nominate a second
officetudent

supervisor.
By order:

Examination Officer Zentralinstitut El Gouna

To the Chairperson of the Examination Committee of the course of studies in Urban Development
completed by supervisor & chairperson of examination committee

Prof. Sekr.:

The above-mentioned candidate receives the following M.Sc. thesis topic:

I announce as a second supervisor:

Sekr.:
Date / Signature by Supervisor
The topic and the second supervisor
for the M.Sc. Thesis are herewith confirmed
Date / Signature Chairperson of Examination Committee

M.Sc. thesis topic announced on: Submission date of M.Sc. thesis: M.Sc. thesis submitted on:

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Technische Universität Berlin
Department Urban Development

R E Q U E S T for Master thesis deadline extension

Year of
Master program Matr.Nr.
Matriculation

Name:

Address:

Contact data City:

Phone:

Email:

Herewith, I request the deadline extension for the master thesis for two months.

Supervising Professor

Original deadline New deadline

 Sickness:

Justification for
 Other reason, not represented by the applicant (state here):
extension

Date and signature of

the applicant

Statement of the
supervising professor
 YES, approved  NO, not approved

Decision of the examination committee

 YES, approved Date of extended new deadline

 NO, not approved Reason

Date and signature with

stamp of examination
committee