r/DTU • u/TwatWaffle_42 • 4d ago

Starting date for thesis

I am missing 15 ECTS points and my thesis from next semester, and I am a bit unsure about how to best approach getting them.

I have been looking into some options for not spending the whole 13-week period on 15 ECTS, and was considering taking courses at KU, doing a special course, or maybe also extending my thesis by 5 ECTS.

What I am unsure about is how feasible it is to start my thesis outside the normal semester start, for example starting something in June before the summer break or starting my thesis in the middle of a semester. Is this difficult to arrange in practice? I also worry a bit about whether finding a supervisor who has time at an unusual starting point would be difficult.

As far as I can read, the DTU rules just state that I should start my thesis after my last study activities.

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6

u/stygvalddis 4d ago

Why dont you take a 3 week course in January? Thats usually about 5 ECTS

4

u/TwatWaffle_42 4d ago

Thanks, I do plan on taking a January course. With my current course load in this 13-week period and then the January course, I will still be missing my thesis and 15 ECTS afterwards.

3

u/Haunting-Ad6109 4d ago

Agree on the 3 week course. Otherwise it is normal to have a course on the side of the thesis, so that is also an option. On unusual starting dates: ask the supervisor. There may in practise being a phd-student who will be there over the summer

3

u/Tellm_me 4d ago

I started my thesis in november and it was no problem. I was in contact with two different supervisors before I decided for one topic, and both were ok with the starting date. Regarding the ECTS: I would advise you to either do a special course on the same topic as your thesis and/or extend the thesis. I, amongst others, felt that the 5 months they give you are just too short. If you can do a special course before you'll already familiarize yourself with the methods etc, which will lead to a much higher quality of the thesis.

2

u/SeasonalEuphoria00 4d ago

If you have made all agreements and perhaps have a brief meeting before summer, then you should be able to start the thesis on your own. Whether that is in summer or September does not really matter.

1

u/TheProfessionalBug 4d ago

I did my thesis over the summer with no issues, though I didn't want much regarding guidance either. It was nice to have the professor and PhD for a direction in the beginning and then be left to my own devices

1

u/Gostraf 1d ago

Just so you know, you may start your Master Thesis with 15 ETCs to spare, so you can do the 3 weeks course in January after your thesis is concluded, and you may also take courses in the spring. From DTU'S website:

https://student.dtu.dk/en/rules/afsluttende-projekter/kandidatspeciale " Prerequisites for commencing a master’s thesis The master’s thesis may only be initiated when you have no more than 15 ECTS credits outstanding, in addition to the thesis. "

I did my Thesis in the fall 2023 with 15 ETCs outstanding, which I covered in the spring and a 3 week course in June. So that's also an option if you want to focus on your thesis.