Frequently Asked Questions

For all general enquiries or administrative issues during your BTR, contact the BTR Administrator, Martijn Jeurissen, via the msp-btr@maastrichtuniversity.nl mailbox.

All email correspondence related to the BTR must include this address as the primary recipient or in the CC field to be answered.

To start the Bachelor Thesis Research, students must have completed at least 145 ECTS credits of the 150 non-BTR credits.

If you have any further questions regarding this requirement, or special circumstances, please contact the BTR mailbox and let us know.

An internship agreement must be signed between Maastricht University, the host institution, and the student before starting an external BTR.

Additional legal documents, such as Non-Disclosure Agreements, must also be submitted to the BTR Administrator in advance for legal checking.

Access the Internship/External Agreement:
Download Agreement from Canvas

Students may request to take a maximum of five non-BTR credits during the BTR period if they are working in or near Maastricht.

This requires permission from both the research supervisor and the Board of Examiners. However, if the additional course is failed, it may delay graduation.

To request an additional module:
Submit Additional Module Request Form

All proposals and theses must be submitted through Collent, the official platform for submission and grading.

Collent Submission Platform:
Access Collent Dashboard

The word count includes everything except the references and appendices. Tables are included in the count.

For Physics students using LaTeX or extensive mathematical formulas:

You should discuss how these elements affect the word count with Martijn Jeurissen (send email to msp-btr) in advance.

Generally, equations, within sensible use (e.g., if you cover three pages in a mathematical derivation you might be penalized), are not included in the word count.

The final BTR grade is a weighted average of several components:

• Research Proposal: 15%
• Midterm Practical Grade: 15%
• Final Practical Grade: 35%
• Written Thesis: 25%
• Video Presentation: 10%

Specific criteria can be found in the detailed grading rubrics on Canvas.

A student is only graduated after they received their graduation decision from the Board of Examiners (BoE).

Once the BoE have concluded that a student does meet the requirements, the BoE processes graduation and sends the student their graduation decision.

It is best to wait with deregistration from MSP until you have received your graduation decision (i.e., officially graduated) from the BoE.

If you encounter problems during your BTR, communicate them to your internal advisor or the BTR Administrator (msp-btr mailbox), depending on the topic.

It's the student's responsibility to make any necessary requests, such as extensions.

All BTR submissions are subject to plagiarism checks to maintain academic integrity.

Suspected cases of plagiarism are referred to the Board of Examiners for examination and are evaluated individually based on context.

Checks occur through:

• The graders' interpretation
• Official TurnitIn plagiarism checkers

The proposal should include:

• Research background
• Aims and hypotheses
• Methodological outline
• Anticipated outcomes
• Importance of the research
• Ethical issues
• Plan/timeframe

Word limit: Less than 2000 words, excluding references and appendices.

Guidelines can be found on Canvas.

The video should be 5-7 minutes long and aimed at a non-scientific audience.

It should describe:

• Your research
• Its scientific and societal importance
• Any ethical considerations

Submission Steps:

1. Upload your video to the secure Surfdrive folder: Surfdrive Upload Link (Mandatory for permanent storage)
2. Ensure your Video Title matches your Thesis Title (e.g., name/student number)
3. Upload your video to WeTransfer and copy the link
4. Add the WeTransfer link to your Collent submission

Further details can be found in the video guidelines document on Canvas.

The BTR abroad allows students to conduct their Bachelor Thesis Research outside the Netherlands, offering an opportunity to gain valuable international research experience.

This project is a significant part of the MSP curriculum, accounting for 30 ECTS.

BTR abroad can start in either September or February.

You need to ensure all preparations and approvals are completed well before these start dates.

To be eligible:

• You must have completed at least 145 ECTS
• It is preferable to have met all other graduation requirements
• Your research modules must be pre-approved by the Board of Examiners (BoE)

Yes, it is your responsibility to identify and secure a supervisor at a university or research institution where you wish to conduct your BTR.

This supervisor will guide you throughout your research.

You must first discuss your BTR plans with your Academic Advisor.

Then, complete the BTR Request to Start form available on Collent, including details of your research supervisor and proposed project.

Submit this form to Collent so the BTR Coordinator can assess it for approval.

Ensure the following:

• Your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your return date
• For non-EU destinations, obtain the necessary visa
• Renew your residence permit if needed
• Secure health and travel insurance
• Arrange your accommodation

Prepare a detailed budget that includes:

• Living expenses
• Travel costs
• Any additional fees

Apply early for scholarships such as the Erasmus+ grant, which might help cover some of your expenses.

You might be eligible for an Erasmus+ grant if your host university is a partner institution of MSP in Europe or the UK.

For non-EU destinations, the NL Scholarship might be available, depending on current offerings.

It is important to maintain regular contact with your MSP Academic Advisor and your research supervisor abroad.

This ensures that your research stays on track and any issues are promptly addressed.

Ensure that all credits earned during your BTR abroad are properly converted and transferred to your MSP transcript.

This is essential for the successful completion of your degree.

While you can propose an institution for your BTR, it must be approved by the MSP and meet the academic standards required for your research.

For September start: Apply by early August

For February start: Apply by early January

Ensure that all necessary approvals and preparations are completed well before these deadlines.