BTR Dashboard › Writing the Thesis

BTR Written Thesis Guidelines

Your comprehensive guide to writing your final thesis

<15K
Max Words
25%
of BTR Grade
25MB
Max File Size
200
Word Abstract

📤 Submission Requirements

Collent submission, file size, and penalties

📊 Word Count Rules

Length requirements and extension process

🏗️ Thesis Structure

All required sections from abstract to reflection

📈 Grading & Feedback

Assessment criteria and feedback process

⚖️ Academic Integrity

Critical plagiarism rules and consequences

📤 Submission Requirements

▼

Where to Submit

⚠️ CRITICAL: ONLY via Collent

All BTR submissions, including the Request to Start, Proposal, Final Thesis and Video submissions must be submitted through Collent and not through Canvas.

  • If you submit a document on Canvas, it will NOT be graded or processed
  • Any document sent by email will NOT be accepted as an official submission
  • Your thesis will be considered missing if not submitted via Collent

🔗 Collent Platform

Deadline

Check Your Timeline:

Your exact thesis submission deadline is provided in the personalized calendar you received at the start of your BTR. Check the BTR Timeline page for your specific cohort deadline.

File Naming Convention

Required Format:

Name_ID_DocumentType

Example: AbedNadir_i612345_Thesis

File Size Limit: 25 MB Maximum

On Collent, the capacity for uploading is 25 MB for the final thesis.

⚠️ Important:

A large thesis that exceeds the upload limit of 25 MB cannot be submitted through Collent is NOT a valid excuse for late submission.

Solutions for Large Files:

  • Compress images: Reduce to maximum 300 dpi resolution
  • Use appropriate formats: JPEG for photos, PNG for diagrams
  • External link option: Put a link for a full resolution, larger file in the appendix
  • Electronic appendix: Put images in a provided electronic appendix
  • Additional copy: Provide an additional copy to the supervisor and internal advisor just for visualization
Coordinate with Supervisors:

These specifics need to be arranged with the Research Supervisor and communicated with the Internal Advisor, NOT with the BTR office.

⚠️ Critical Note:

Material not submitted directly to us (e.g. material stored on websites with links in the thesis) will NOT be considered as part of the thesis.

Late Submission Penalties

Timing Penalty
Within 1 hour late 0.5 grade reduction
More than 1 hour late Additional 0.5 penalty (total 1.0 reduction)
Over 12 hours late Will NOT be accepted

Multiple Submissions Penalty

⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING:

Only ONE version of work (proposal or thesis) may be submitted without penalty, even though Collent may allow multiple submissions.

Penalty Structure:

  • If more than one version is submitted, the student will be penalized 0.5 for each additional submission
  • This applies even if further versions are submitted BEFORE the deadline
  • If further versions are submitted AFTER the deadline, the student will also receive a grading penalty for those
Best Practice:

Carefully proofread and finalize your thesis before submitting. Only submit ONCE to avoid penalties. Make absolutely sure your file is correct before clicking submit.

📊 Word Count Rules

▼

Standard Word Count: Less than 15,000 words

Official Requirement:

The thesis should be less than 15,000 words long, not including the reference list or any appendices (and only these things!).

Longer Theses: Approval Required

A longer thesis (which should be a planned decision, not a last-minute reaction) requires written approval of the Research Supervisor, which must be communicated to the Internal Advisor and the BTR Office (by email to msp-btr@maastrichtuniversity.nl), with reasons minimally 48 hours before the thesis is submitted.

⚠️ CRITICAL: Penalty for Exceeding Without Approval

Without this approval process being followed, theses will receive a penalty of 0.5 per 500 words (or part thereof) over 15,000 on the overall average grades from the Research Supervisor and Internal Advisor.

Requirements for Extension:

  • ✓ Written approval from Research Supervisor
  • ✓ Communication to Internal Advisor
  • ✓ Email to BTR Office with clear reasoning
  • ✓ Minimum 48 hours BEFORE thesis deadline
Additional Note:

Word extensions should only be granted if absolutely necessary. Theses will be graded harshly if any word extension is not well used.

What Counts Toward Word Limit?

✗ NOT Included in Word Count

  • Title page
  • Reference list
  • Appendices

ONLY these things excluded!

✓ INCLUDED in Word Count

  • All main body text
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusion
  • Critical reflection
  • Figure/table captions
  • Section headings

Everything else is included!

Your Responsibility:
  • Calculate your word count accurately using multiple tools
  • Declare your word count on the title page
  • If you need to exceed 15,000 words: Contact Research Supervisor for approval, then email BTR Office 48h+ before deadline

🏗️ Complete Thesis Structure

▼

The thesis should contain the following elements:

1. Abstract (Maximum 200 words)

Strict Limit:

An abstract of a maximum of 200 words. This is a hard limit.

What to Include:

  • Brief background/context
  • Your research question or aim
  • Methods used (very briefly)
  • Key results
  • Main conclusions
  • Significance/implications

Writing Tips:

  • ✓ Write your abstract last (after completing all other sections)
  • ✓ Be concise but comprehensive
  • ✓ Use clear, direct language
  • ✓ Make every word count – you only have 200!
  • ❌ Do NOT include citations/references
  • ❌ Do NOT include tables or figures

2. Introduction and Literature Overview

Good News:

Based on proposal and feedback, if possible.

  • ✓ This is NOT plagiarism – you are allowed to copy parts of your proposal
  • ✓ Revise and improve based on feedback received
  • ✓ Expand sections that were too brief in the proposal
  • ✓ Update with relevant literature published since your proposal

Should Include:

  • Broader context: What has been done in this research area?
  • Current state of knowledge
  • Knowledge gaps in our understanding
  • How your study addresses these gaps
  • Your specific research question(s) or hypotheses
  • Wider significance and potential impact

3. Experimental Methods

Key Requirement:

Experimental methods should be clear, so replication is possible by another person.

Another scientist should be able to precisely replicate your work based on your description.

Include:

  • Materials: All equipment, chemicals/reagents, software and versions, special preparations
  • Procedures: Step-by-step description, order of operations, timing and conditions, sample sizes, controls used
  • Statistical Analysis: Software used, statistical tests performed, significance levels, data processing methods

4. Results

Results, including summaries of data (diagrams, graphs, tables) and statistics if necessary.

Types of Results Presentation:

  • Figures: Graphs showing trends, patterns, or relationships
  • Tables: Organized data in rows and columns
  • Statistics: Report relevant statistics and p-values
  • Text Descriptions: Guide readers through your results
What NOT to Include:
  • ❌ Interpretation of results (save for Discussion)
  • ❌ Raw data (unless specifically requested – use appendix)

5. Discussion

A discussion, including the importance of results, research impact and future directions for research. This may be combined with the results in suitable cases.

Should Include:

  • Interpretation: What do your results mean?
  • Importance of results: Why do they matter?
  • Research impact: How does this advance the field?
  • Future directions: What are the logical next steps?
  • Comparison with literature: How do results compare with previous studies?
  • Limitations: Acknowledge significant limitations (don't overstate)

6. Conclusion

Required Element:

A conclusion paragraph that:

  • Summarizes the most important aspects of your work
  • Reinforces your key findings
  • States your main contribution
  • Leaves the reader with clear understanding of significance

7. Critical Reflection

What Makes This Section Unique:

A critical reflection of you, discussing the student's personal experiences and the wider lessons learnt.

This is what differentiates your bachelor thesis from a standard scientific paper. This section is about YOU and your personal growth during the BTR.

It Must Be CRITICAL

This is not a place to only celebrate successes. You should critically analyze aspects you could have improved.

Possible Topics for Reflection:

⏰ Time Management

How effectively did you manage your time?

📋 Planning

Were your timelines realistic?

🔬 Skills Development

What technical skills did you develop?

💬 Communication

How effectively did you communicate with your supervisor?

🧩 Problem-Solving

How did you handle challenges?

🎯 Independence

How well did you work independently?

Remember:

This reflection demonstrates your ability to think critically about yourself – an essential skill for any researcher or professional. Your assessors want to see that you've learned and grown from this experience, including learning from mistakes.

8. References

Complete list of all sources cited in your thesis.

Citation Style:

Consult your Research Supervisor for their preferred citation style. Common styles include APA, Vancouver (numbered), Harvard, or discipline-specific formats. Whatever style you choose must be consistent throughout.

⚠️ Critical Rule:

It is NOT acceptable to cite references you have not read.

  • If you learned about a paper from a review, read the original before citing it
  • "Cited in..." or "as described by..." indicates you didn't read the original – avoid this
  • Reading the abstract alone is not sufficient

📈 Assessment & Grading

▼

Weight in Overall BTR Grade

Written Thesis = 25% of your total BTR grade

Complete BTR Breakdown:

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

Who Assesses Your Thesis?

1. Research Supervisor

The person who supervised your research

Weight: 50%

2. Internal Advisor

MSP faculty member assigned to your thesis

Weight: 50%

Final Grade: The written thesis is graded by both the Research Supervisor and the Internal Advisor. Your final thesis grade is the average of both assessors' grades.

Draft Review Opportunity

One Draft Review Only:

It is expected that the Research Supervisor will give the student feedback on ONE draft of the thesis and not more.

Internal Advisors will NOT check drafts.

Feedback Options:

  • Option 1: One complete draft - submit full thesis, receive comprehensive feedback, revise and submit final version
  • Option 2: Section-by-section feedback - submit each section as completed, receive feedback individually
  • Option 3: Supervisor-specific process - some supervisors may have their own preferred approach
Your Responsibility:
  • Initiate the draft review process with your supervisor
  • Plan timing carefully (allow time for feedback and revision)
  • Don't wait until the last minute to request feedback
  • Be proactive in communicating with your supervisor

Receiving Final Grades & Feedback

Feedback will be provided in Canvas. Here, you can obtain your grades and feedback forms.

  • Access: Grades and feedback forms available via Canvas
  • Timeline: Check your BTR timeline for grade deadlines
  • Value: Even though it can't enhance your BTR grade, feedback is valuable for future development

If Feedback Is Delayed

If you have not received feedback within three-four weeks of submitting your thesis or you have questions about the received feedback, you should contact your supervisor/advisor to arrange a feedback session.

  1. Check Canvas carefully
  2. Contact your Research Supervisor directly
  3. Contact your Internal Advisor
  4. If still no response, email BTR Administrator: msp-btr@maastrichtuniversity.nl

⚖️ Academic Integrity & Plagiarism

▼
⚠️ CRITICAL: Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism

Result: AUTOMATIC FAILING GRADE

Your work has to be original and written by you. Plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the research thesis and will be dealt with according to the MSP Rules and Regulations.

What Constitutes Plagiarism?

Violations related to plagiarism include but are not limited to:

❌ Copying Theses

Copying from previous thesis work without appropriate citations

❌ Failure to Cite

Failure to include references or to cite said references

❌ Internet Plagiarism

Copying from internet sources

❌ AI & Text Generators

Using ghostwriters, text generators and other tools that negate your own intellectual property contribution to the thesis

The One Exception: Using Your Proposal

You ARE allowed to copy parts of your own research proposal for your thesis introduction (based on proposal and feedback, if possible).

  • ✓ This is the only situation where you can reuse previous written work
  • ✓ You should revise and improve based on feedback received
  • ✓ Expand sections that were too brief in the proposal

Detection & Consequences

Plagiarism Checks:

All submissions within the BTR are subject to plagiarism checks. We are committed to maintaining academic integrity and upholding strict standards against plagiarism.

If a submission is suspected of plagiarism, it will be referred directly to the Board of Examiners for examination. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to handling these cases. Each instance suspected of plagiarism will be evaluated on an individual basis, considering the unique aspects and context of the submission.

How to Avoid Plagiarism

  • ✓ Read all sources yourself – never cite papers you haven't read
  • ✓ Take careful notes while reading, keeping track of what's your thought vs. the source
  • ✓ Use proper citations for every borrowed idea, even if paraphrased
  • ✓ Paraphrase in your own words – don't just change a few words
  • ✓ Use quotation marks for any direct quotes (use sparingly in scientific writing)
  • ✓ Include complete reference list with all cited sources
  • ✓ When in doubt, cite! – over-citation is better than under-citation

🛠️ Resources & Support

▼

Need Help?

📧 BTR Administrator

msp-btr@maastrichtuniversity.nl

  • Requirements questions
  • Word count extensions
  • Submission issues
  • General BTR support

🔬 Research Supervisor

  • Thesis content questions
  • Draft review scheduling
  • Methods and results
  • Discussion interpretation

📚 Internal Advisor

  • Academic writing questions
  • Thesis structure concerns
  • Academic standards

Additional Resources

Canvas:

More details about the thesis are provided on Canvas. Check the BTR module for:

  • Detailed thesis guidelines
  • Grading rubrics
  • Example theses (ask your supervisor)
  • Writing resources

Tips for Success

  • ✅ Start writing early – don't wait until research is complete
  • ✅ Schedule draft review with supervisor well in advance
  • ✅ Proofread multiple times – typos lose marks
  • ✅ Check references meticulously – many points lost here
  • ✅ Verify file size before deadline day
  • ✅ Back up your work regularly (cloud storage)
  • ✅ Test Collent submission process before deadline
  • ✅ Submit with time to spare – don't risk technical issues
  • ✅ Take the critical reflection seriously
  • ✅ Only submit ONCE – multiple submissions = penalties