{"id":156847,"date":"2023-06-30T14:25:28","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T12:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=156847"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:51","slug":"these-students-share-their-tips-on-how-to-survive-your-thesis-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/06\/30\/these-students-share-their-tips-on-how-to-survive-your-thesis-project\/","title":{"rendered":"These students share their tips on how to survive your thesis project"},"content":{"rendered":"

Writing a thesis at the end of your Bachelor’s or Master\u2019s programme is an enormous task \u2013 and for the most part, one that you must do alone. These students explain how they handled the process and share their tips. \u201cBeing well-prepared is half the battle, but it\u2019s still only half of it.”<\/p>\n

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Theo Post (24) is a Master\u2019s student in the Labour Law programme and has now written and defended his fifth thesis, for a total of three Bachelor\u2019s and two Master\u2019s theses. \u201cIt\u2019s always a challenge, every single time, but I\u2019ve become more independent with each go-round\u201d, he says, looking back. \u201cDuring my first thesis, I thought of my supervisor as a kind of all-powerful judge and jury, but now I know that your supervisor is mainly there to help you. You both want the process to be smooth and successful.\u201d While writing his most recent thesis, he frequently spoke with people around him about his topic, working part-time. \u201cThat can sometimes yield unexpected new insights, because those acquaintances are often thinking about things from a real-world perspective rather than through an academic lens.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what advice does Theo have as an experienced thesis writer? \u201cTo quote the rappers De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig: \u2018Being well-prepared is half the battle, but it\u2019s still only half of it\u2019. Finding a good topic is difficult but essential; I spent a lot of time going back-and-forth about it with a classmate. The second half consists mainly of writing your discussion and conclusion, and is something you definitely shouldn\u2019t underestimate. There is still a lot of thinking during that part.\u201d With regard to compiling a bibliography at the end of his thesis, he says: \u201cI wasn\u2019t able to use Scribbr (an online tool for source citations, ed.) because the School of Law uses the legal style for these rather than the APA guidelines. There was a lot of painstaking work in the last few days before the deadline, when I was manually laying out all the footnotes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The book from the professor<\/h2>
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Annaelle Pater (20) and Sophie Ruetze (21) are both students in the International Business Economics & Business (IBEB) programme. \u201cWe talk to each other about our theses, as a way of keeping ourselves on schedule\u201d, they explain. \u201cThe professor gave us a book on how to write a thesis. I use it mainly to make sure my paper has the proper structure and so I know what should go in each chapter.\u201d Annaelle\u2019s thesis is about mergers and acquisitions. \u201cIt\u2019s not something I find terribly exciting, as it turns out \u2013 it\u2019s pretty dry and theoretical.\u201d Her indispensable tip: \u201cBe sure that the relevant research data is available before handing in your proposal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sophie is writing her thesis about CO2<\/sub> emissions and creditworthiness. \u201cSome days, I hate it and want to quit because the research is so tedious and drawn out. But on other days, I feel like it\u2019s a nice way to spend the final months of my study programme. I\u2019m glad there are no hard deadlines in the interim; it\u2019s really flexible. In another programme, for instance, they have a deadline every week.\u201d Sometimes there are setbacks. \u201cCertain elements are taking a lot more time than I thought they would. I\u2019m going to finish later than I had hoped, but I think that\u2019s pretty common for students and their theses. Sometimes you have to adjust your expectations, such as by reducing the size of your sample. That\u2019s the way it goes, and you have to accept it.\u201d Her advice: \u201cMake sure your topic isn\u2019t too<\/em> outside the box: be ambitious but realistic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Make travel plans<\/h2>

Berdil Tosun (21), a student in the Psychology Master\u2019s, is conducting an experiment for her thesis. \u201cThat makes me feel like we\u2019re really testing something.\u201d She has a clear end goal in mind: \u201cI am tremendously looking forward to the moment that I realise all the hard work has been worth it. That\u2019s<\/em> what I\u2019m working towards.\u201d Berdil\u2019s secret: \u201cHonestly, what\u2019s keeping me going at this point is thinking about the trips I\u2019ve planned. I went to Japan last month and am headed to Spain this summer.\u201d She finds this helpful. \u201cYou have to work really hard on your thesis, so that you can go on a trip when you\u2019re done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Berdil does not have any specific advice on how to go about writing a thesis. \u201cYou simply have to get it done. Like the Nike motto says: \u2018Just do it\u2019.\u201d She thinks it is possible to apply the travel strategy at a smaller scale as well. \u201cI also plan little things that I can look forward to during the day, so I don\u2019t lose my mind. Going for walks and playing with the dog I pet-sit, for example, is something I really enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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