Adjust the standard structure
Adapt the standard structure shown below to your topic and the approach you have chosen. Combine e.g. “Summary” and “Outlook” and replace the heading with meaningful titles without changing the meaning. You may omit elements that are not needed. In any case, discuss your outline with your instructors.
Formal elements before the main content
| Cover | mandatory |
| Title Page | mandatory |
| Thesis Declaration according to APO/RaPO | mandatory |
| Abstract/Summary | mandatory |
| Table of Contents | mandatory |
| List of Figures | optional, usually not required |
| List of Tables | optional, usually not required |
| List of Symbols | optional, usually not required |
| List of Abbreviations | optional, usually not required |
Main content
| Introduction | mandatory |
| Theory/Theoretical Background | mandatory |
| State of the Art/Research/Science | mandatory |
| Method/Approach (Development of the Solution) | depending on the type of thesis, if applicable consult with instructors |
| Results | mandatory |
| Tests | depending on the type of thesis, if applicable consult with instructors |
| Discussion | mandatory (except for development projects) |
| Summary | mandatory |
| Outlook | mandatory |
| Conclusion | debated among faculty, consult with instructors |
Formal elements after the main content
| Works Cited | mandatory |
| Appendix | if originals or extensive sections are to be included |
“Remember that every good structure adapts to the type of thesis. If deviating from a ‘regular’ structure benefits understanding, you may and should adapt it accordingly.”
– Prof. Dr. Matthias Hopf, Faculty of EFI, TH Nuremberg
Frequently asked questions
How can I structure my thesis?
Adapt the respective standard structure to your topic. Separate content-related elements from formal elements that appear before and after the main content.
Does my thesis have to follow the standard structure?
In any case, discuss your structure with your instructors. As a rule, you should adapt the standard structure to your specific topic. If it suits your thesis, you can, e.g., combine “Method” and “Implementation.”
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This article was published in August 2025 and last updated in December 2024.