You will receive the preliminary grade for your Master's Thesis three weeks after the submission deadline. This is the grade the committee has given your written thesis and the grade you defend on the oral defense. Alongside the grade, you will also receive a written explanation from the committee.
The oral defense will take place in the coming two weeks after you receive your preliminary grade. The oral defense serves to adjust the grade given on the written thesis. The result can be either the same grade, one grade up or one grade down.
The oral defense can take place either with physical attendance or via Zoom (depending on the external examiner). The oral defense takes about 45 minutes to an hour. After a short welcome and introduction to the timeline/procedure, two main parts take place:
- You get 20 minutes sharp to present your thesis at the start. It is recommended that you focus on a general introduction for the people attending your thesis defense and where appropriate including an initial clarification/reaction on the written explanation of the grade you received for the written thesis part.
- After your presentation, the committee will use about 20 minutes to ask questions and engage in a discussion with you.
After the oral defense, you receive the final grade for the Master's Thesis. If a grade adjustment was made, you will be informed of the grounds of the adjustment.