By Graduates Corner · Updated
A company thesis can connect academic research with a practical problem. The strongest match supports both the organization's needs and your university's assessment requirements. Before applying, define what your degree requires and what you want to learn.
Define your academic requirements first
Ask your programme or academic supervisor about scope, credits, timing, supervision and assessment. Write a short summary of the methods and outputs your thesis should include. Use it to evaluate advertisements rather than assuming every company project can count toward your degree.
Separate a research question from a product-development task. A useful company project should give you room to investigate a question, explain your method and evaluate results. Discuss that distinction with both supervisors before agreeing on a topic.
Search beyond a single job title
Search by your topic, method, technology and target industry as well as by master's thesis. Local terminology can help: examensarbete, Masterarbeit, masteroppgave and afstudeer are examples of terms used for thesis-related projects. Read the actual academic level and requirements in each advertisement.
Use country, field and opportunity-type filters to keep your shortlist manageable. An internship may be relevant experience without satisfying a thesis requirement; check its purpose and assessment arrangements. Always confirm the current deadline and application route on the organization's website.
Check data, supervision and publication
Find out what data, tools and facilities are available, who provides day-to-day supervision and when access can start. A promising topic can become difficult if essential data arrives late or cannot be used for academic assessment.
Discuss confidentiality, publication, ownership of results and examiner access with your university and company. Record the agreed arrangements in the form required by your institution. Do not send confidential project material in a public portfolio or application without permission.
Make conditions explicit
Compare start date, duration, location, remote-work expectations and whether the project is individual or shared. If pay or a stipend is advertised, confirm the amount and conditions. If compensation is unspecified, keep it marked as unknown until the company answers.
Plan time for literature review, analysis, writing and supervisor feedback. Check how company milestones fit the university's submission date. Ask about any required enrollment or practical prerequisites in the original posting.
Apply with evidence of fit
Use a concise CV and a short motivation that explains your academic background, relevant methods and interest in the problem. Describe one or two projects that demonstrate the requested skills, including your own contribution and what you learned.
Tailor your documents to the advertisement, verify attachments and use the official application channel. Keep a shortlist with deadlines, questions and application status. Once a project progresses, arrange academic approval before treating it as your confirmed thesis.