Describing your research idea

When to start

More than five months before your targeted date of handing in the thesis (e.g. If you intend to hand in the thesis at the end of July, you may start this step around the mid of Feb.)

What to prepare

A thesis topic that fits the Topic Approval Request form.

Guidance for preparation

In the part “Problem Description”, you should clearly describe the background of the problem. Consider writing about the real life situation from which the problem arises, but keep it brief. Eventually, conclude this part by writing “This thesis will investigate/study ….”

In the part “Research Question(s)”, you should formulate precisely the question (with a question mark). The question should be clear and brief, taking one line, at maximum two. Preferably only one question is presented. If necessary, you can break down the question to 2-3 sub-questions. It is important that the main question is very short and clear, and the sub-questions are obviously relevant.

In the part “Literature”, besides listing the key references, you may also indicate one or two articles (by stars) based on which your methodology will be built.

In the part “Data”, it is necessary to be sure that the data is available (even not cleaned yet). The data source and the size of dataset should be described.

In the part “Methodology”, no formula is needed, but a clear description of the method to be applied is needed. Also try to explain why the results derived following the proposed methodology can help answer the research question.

What to expect

There is no supervision in this step. You will receive a decision from the thesis coordinator on whether I will be your supervisor.

How to move on to the next Step

If the decision is positive, I will invite you for a 30mins meeting to further discuss your research idea. After the meeting, you need to revise the texts in the form and put the revised texts into a structure towards the thesis proposal. Then we move to the next Step.

Time line regarding this Step

This step should be finished within in two weeks. If you start in Round 1, the deadline is around the end of Feb. From the moment the Topic Approval Request form is approved (around mid of March for Round 1), there is about four months before your targeted date of handing in the thesis. Finishing this step later than the end of March poses a great risk that you cannot hand in the thesis at the end of July and defend in August.