F.A.Q.

Here are the frequently asked questions

The following FAQ will provide you with a framework and assist you in writing your thesis. The information includes our own mandatory guidelines, which are adopted from the examination regulations at the Berlin School of Economics and Law. For content-related issues contact your supervisor or check out the date below for our colloquium regarding bachelor/master/PhD thesis which is held every semester. 

Next colloquium: t.b.a.

1. General Information

1.1 Do I have to submit a draft proposal?

Yes, the proposal should be approximately seven pages long, including a table of content and list of references. It will guide you through your own writing process of the thesis and will highlight possible problems early on, not only for you but also your supervisor.

You have to hand it in in advance!

1.2 Do I have to hand in a digital version of my thesis?

Yes. Add one USB flash drive to every thesis.

1.3 In what form do I have to submit my thesis?

Please submit your thesis once in printed form (to the hands of Dr. Sebastian Block LL.M.) as well as in digital form.
Attach a stick with all necessary data such as Excel tables, hyperlinks etc. to the printed thesis.

2. Information Regarding the Thesis

2.1 Structure of the Thesis

  • cover (outer cover)
  • cover page (empty or if necessary non-disclosure notice)
  • title page (inner cover)
  • content including page references
  • list of abbreviations (if needed)
  • list of figures and tables
  • text
  • references
  • list of appendixes (if there are more than two separately disclosed appendix-parts)
  • appendix
  • statutory declaration

Each heading needs to include a belonging text. Furthermore in case of using (e.g.) a subdivision in paragraph 1.1, at least one more paragraph (1.2) must follow.

2.2 Statutory Declaration

Feel free to copy this statutory declaration:

Statutory Declaration

 

“I herewith declare that I have composed the present thesis myself and without use of any other than the cited sources and aids. Sentences or parts of sentences quoted literally are marked as such; other references with regard to the statement and scope are indicated by full details of the publications concerned. The thesis in the same or similar form has not been submitted to any examination body and has not been published. This thesis was not yet, even in part, used in another examination or as a course performance. Furthermore I declare that the submitted written (bound) copies of the present thesis and the version submitted on a data carrier are consistent with each other in contents.”

 

Place, Date: ……………………………………..……. Signature: ……………………………………

2.3 Size of Sections

The individual sections should be of sufficient scope, which, generally speaking, should not fall below one page. Hereby one should on the one hand adhere a visually recognizable structure and on the other hand recognize a reference between font and size.

“The use of hyphens should be avoided.”

2.4 Use of Abbreviations

Abbreviations can be very useful, nevertheless they should not be used in headings of sections or paragraphs and neither in the title of the thesis. If an abbreviation is used, it needs to be explained at the first occurrence in the text in an explicit form. 

 

Example:

European Union (EU)

 

After the determination of an abbreviation within the text, it has to be used in the course of the text in general, except for headings. To facilitate the handling of abbreviations, you should create a list of abbreviations in alphabetical order.

2.5 Citation Method

Please use the Harvard citation format for your thesis. Our general suggestion is to use the program “Citavi” which saves a lot of time by helping you with citing sources right automatically. The HWR Berlin provides you with a free license for it. For more information, visit: https://www.hwr-berlin.de/fileadmin/portal/Dokumente/HWR-Berlin/Serviceeinrichtungen/Bibliothek/Citavi-Info.pdf

2.6 Footnotes

In general footnotes are numbered page by page. Therefore, they have to be integrated in a page-related way. The separation to the text is achieved through a roughly 6 cm long line, which is created by Word automatically. Example below.

Example:

3. Information regarding page layout and formatting of the thesis

3.1 Word Count

12,000-17,000 words

3.2 Site Margins

Left margin: 3 cm

Right margin: 2 cm

Top and bottom margin: 2.5 cm

3.3 Line Spacing

The line space is 1,5. between lines and six points at the end of a paragraph. Spacing between heading and the following paragraph is 18 points to the top and three points to the bottom.

3.4 Font

Please use:

  • Times New Roman
  • headings, size 12 point bold
  • size 12 point for text, graphic and table caption (e.g. Fig. 3.1. can be highlighted bold)
  • footnotes and references: size 10 point

3.5 Figures and Tables

You are allowed to copy charts, tables, figures etc. if you cite the source, but it is always better to create your own ones out of the gathered information due to better resolution and consistent design.

4. Information regarding the Oral Examination

4.1 Invitation

If you have passed the written part of your thesis, you will receive a written invitation by mail from your responsible study office. This may take 6 – 8 weeks after submission of the thesis.

4.2 Location

The oral examination will take place in Prof. Dr. Užík’s office in room E 1.07.

The address is:
Campus Schöneberg
House E, Room E 1.07
Babelsberger Straße 14-16
10715 Berlin

4.3 Duration

The oral examination takes up to 60 minutes.

4.4 Preparations

Prepare 8 – 10 slides on your topic. The presentation should last up to 10 minutes and cover the core of your thesis.

In addition, bring two printed copies of your presentation.

Also, prepare a 5 – 8 page summary of your thesis. The template for this can be found here.

The presentation and summary must be submitted to the examiners via mail 48 hours before the date of the oral examination.

5. More information

5.1 Research Portal HoWeR

The research portal HoWeR is the central research tool of the HWR library. With a few exceptions, you can find all printed and electronic resources available at HWR Berlin. By integrating different databases also found journal articles, videos, patents and trade publications.

To access HoWer, please click on this link.

*Please note that you must be logged in to full access via OPAC.

5.2 Online databases

Numerous online databases and other freely accessible services can be accessed via the Database Information System (DBIS) interface.

These include access to databases acquired with the support of the German Research Foundation (DFG) and its partner institutions. DBIS also provides an overview of the database offering of a number of German-language libraries.

To access the databases, please click on this link.

5.3 OPUS Publication Server of HWR Berlin

The OPUS Publication Server is the institutional publication server of HWR Berlin and is overseen by the Academic Library. OPUS allows to archive and publish digital scientific content.

Via the OPUS Publication Server the following content can be made available in terms of Open Access: esp. publication series of HWR Berlin, scientific articles in the form of self-archiving, reports of research projects at HWR Berlin, academic content created by professors of HWR Berlin, and outstanding final thesis of students of HWR Berlin.

Further final theses of students of HWR Berlin can be archived and published on the OPUS Publication Server for internal access; they are accessible from both locations Campus Schöneberg and Campus Lichtenberg. Outside you will have acces via VPN with your HWR Account.

Do you have any questions about publishing via the OPUS Publication Server: either within the network of HWR Berlin or via open access?Please refer to our help section or contact the library; we are happy to provide further information.

To access the OPUS Publication Server, please click on this link.

5.4 Citavi literature management

Citavi is a program for reference management and knowledge organization for Microsoft Windows.

Through the campus license of the Berlin School of Economics and Law, students and employees can use the Citavi literature management software free of charge. Citavi supports you in studying, teaching and research with the collection and organization of literature sources as well as with correct citation.

How to get Citavi?

  1. Intall Citavi Free
  2. Use the university campus license
    • Create your Citavi account for free.
    The form for this can be found at https://www.citavi.com/hwr-berlin.
    Important: Your mail address of the Berlin School of Economics and Law serves as authentication. An account with a freemailer address (web.de, GMX, Gmail etc.) is not possible.
    • In your account you will find your license data. Copy the license data.
    • Start Citavi. In the start window, click License data> Enter license data. Citavi will automatically apply the copied license data.
  3. How long does your license run?
    The license key converts the Free version to the Pro version for the duration of the campus license agreement. The Citavi campus license is limited in time. Citavi automatically alerts you to the end of the license period 60 days before it expires.

5.5 HWR VPN

To access the library and other services from outside the university, please use the VPN client of the HWR Berlin. You can download it here and install it on your computer. To connect to the university, please log in with your HWR user data.

* What is VPN?
A VPN connection (virtual private network) allows you to access the intrinsically closed HWR network from home or other external locations.After a successful connection you can use shared servers and services, e.g. access the library’s services.

If you need recommendations on how to write a scientific paper, please click on the image above.