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Choosing Between a Thesis or Non-thesis Master's Degree

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  •       Resources       Choosing Between a Thesis or Non-thesis Master's Degree

As of 2015, approximately 25.4 million Americans held advanced degrees , with more citizens joining these ranks each year. As studies continue to show the career advancement and salary benefits of completing a master's degree, more and more students elect to pursue advanced educations. When considering their options, many question whether to enroll in a master's requiring a thesis or not. The following guide examines some of the reasons degree seekers may want to write a thesis while also highlighting why they might not. Students on the fence about this important decision can find expert advice, actionable tips, and relevant guidance to help them make an informed choice in the guide that follows.

Understanding the Master's Thesis

What is the difference between a thesis & non-thesis master's program, the decision not to do a thesis.

As students research various master's programs in their chosen discipline, it's common to find that many degrees require a thesis – especially if they want to enter a research-heavy field. While this word gets thrown around a lot in academia, some learners may want more information regarding what it entails in order to make an informed decision.

What is a Master's Thesis?

The master's thesis is an original piece of scholarship allowing the student to dig into a topic and produce an expanded document that demonstrates how their knowledge has grown throughout the degree program. These documents require significant independent research of primary and secondary sources and, depending on the subject, may require interviews and/or surveys to support the overarching argument.

Individual schools and departments dictate the length of these documents, but they typically range between 60 and 100 pages – or approximately 20,000 to 40,000 words. While tackling a document of such heft may seem overwhelming at first, learners need not fret. Each master's candidate receives a faculty advisor early in their tenure to provide support, feedback, and guidance throughout the process. Because the final thesis is expected to be of a publishable quality, learners seeking the highest marks typically send their supervisor excerpts of the document as they write to ensure they are on the right track.

When picking a thesis topic, no magical formula exists. Students should consider their interests and read extensively on that topic to get a better sense of existing scholarship. They should also speak to other academics working in that sphere to familiarize themselves with ongoing projects. Only after they feel reasonably well-read should they begin looking for uncovered angles or interesting ways of using emerging methodologies to bring new light to the topic.

When considering formatting, degree seekers should check with their specific schools and departments, as they may have unique requirements. To get a general understanding of what to expect, learners can review Simon Fraser University's guidelines on thesis formatting. After completing the thesis, some programs require an oral defense before a committee while others read the document and provide a grade. Check with your prospective schools to get a better sense of procedure.

Format & Components of a Master's Thesis

While this guide attempts to provide helpful and actionable information about the process of deciding whether to follow a thesis or non-thesis track in a master's program, readers should remember that specific components and requirements of a thesis vary according to discipline, university, and department. That being said, some commonalities exist across all these – especially when it comes to what students must include in their final drafts.

As the first section a reader encounters after moving through the table of contents and other anterior text, the introductory allows the writer to firmly establish what they want to accomplish. Sometimes also called the "research question" section, the introductory must clearly state the goals of the paper and the overarching hypothesis guiding the argument. This should be written in a professional yet accessible tone that allows individuals without specializations in the field to understand the text.

This section allows learners to demonstrate their deep knowledge of the field by providing context to existing texts within their chosen discipline Learners review the main bodies of work, highlighting any issues they find within each. Constructive criticism often centers around shortcomings, blind spots, or outdated hypotheses.

Students use this section to explain how they went about their work. While scientists may point to a specific method used to reach conclusions, historians may reference the use of an emerging framework for understanding history to bring new light to a topic. The point of this section is to demonstrate the thought processes that led to your findings.

This section allows for learners to show what they learned during the research process in a non-biased way. Students should simply state what information they gathered by utilizing a specific framework or methodology and arrange those findings, without interpretation, in an easy-to-read fashion.

After providing readers with all the necessary information, the discussion section exists for candidates to interpret the raw data and demonstrate how their research led to a new understanding or contributed a unique perspective to the field. This section should directly connect to the introduction by reinforcing the hypothesis and showing how you answered the questions posed.

Even though the previous sections give prospective degree seekers a better sense of what to expect if they decide to write a thesis during their master's program, they don't necessarily help learners decide whether to pursue a thesis or non-thesis track. The following section highlights some of the reasons students frequently choose to complete a thesis or bypass the process altogether by providing a pros and cons list.

Why a Thesis Program

  • Especially when entering a research-heavy discipline, completing a thesis shows prospective schools and employers that you possess the skills needed for researching and writing long-form reports.
  • Students hoping to pursue a Ph.D. stand in better stead with admissions panels if they wrote a thesis during a master's program.
  • Individuals hoping to enter a field that values syntax and grammar often better their writing skills by completing a thesis.
  • Students who write a thesis can submit the final product to various academic journals, increasing their chances of getting published.
  • Theses expand students' understanding of what they're capable of, deepen their ability to carry out an argument, and develop their skills in making connections between ideas.

Why a Non-thesis Program

  • Because they don't require a significant written product, non-thesis master's tend to take less time to complete.
  • Often mirrors a bachelor's program in terms of structure, allowing learners to complete classes and take exams without a great deal of research or writing.
  • Students who excel in project-based assignments can continue building skills in this arena rather than focusing on skills they don't plan to use (e.g. research)
  • Provides learners the opportunity to work more closely and more frequently with faculty on real-world projects since they don't spend hundreds of hours researching/writing.
  • Allows learners to take more classes and gain hands-on skills to fill the time they would have spent researching and writing a thesis.

How to Choose a Master's Program: FAQs

Within some academic disciplines and professional fields, research and writing plays a key role in work done on a daily basis. Because of this, master's programs in these fields require learners to complete theses to compete against peers and be seen as competent in their work. Other disciplines, conversely, rely on other tools to accomplish work and progress ideas – making theses less important.

Yes. Master's programs focused more on application than research typically don't require a thesis – although they may still give students the option. Examples of common non-thesis master's programs include nursing, business, and education.

Even though non-thesis students won't be writing a 100-page paper, that doesn't mean they avoid completing a significant project. In place of a thesis, most applied master's programs require students to take part in at least one internship or complete a culminating project. These projects typically ask learners to take what they learned throughout coursework and create an expansive final project – examples include case studies, creative works, or portfolios.

While students who followed a non-thesis path routinely receive acceptance to Ph.D. programs, those with theses often find the process easier. Even if a learner pursues a Ph.D. in a discipline that isn't research-heavy, admissions panels still want to get a sense of your academic interests and ability to engage in independent, nuanced thought. Students with theses can provide solid proof of these skills, while those without may struggle to demonstrate preparedness as thoroughly.

The answer to this question depends on many factors, but typically it is okay not to do a thesis if you plan to enter a field that doesn't depend heavily on research or writing, or if you don't plan to complete a Ph.D.

Students wanting to work in academic, research, or writing should always opt for the thesis track. They should also follow this path if they have any doctoral degree aspirations.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to complete a thesis rests with the individual student. Figuring out how to proceed on this front requires lots of careful consideration, and learners should ensure they consider various aspects before coming to a final decision. The following section helps students consider how they should and should not come to a conclusion.

Dos and Don'ts of Choosing a Thesis or Non-thesis Program

  • Consider the longevity of your decision: will you feel the same in 5-10 years or are you making a decision based on current desires?
  • Talk to others who with experience in this area. Ask them questions about their decision-making process and if they regret their choice.
  • Research potential thesis topics before starting a program. Going in with a game plan can help you feel more confident and settled about the process than if you're scrambling for a topic while in school.
  • Reach out to prospective schools to speak with faculty and/or current students following both tracks. This will provide knowledge specific to the school while also expanding your network if you choose to attend there.
  • Research Ph.D. entrance requirements to ascertain if the majority expect learners to possess a thesis when applying. This will give you a sense of whether you may experience issues later on if you do not complete one.
  • Decide not to complete a thesis simply because you have never taken on such a task and feel overwhelmed or fearful that you will fail.
  • Complete a thesis simply because you think it will look good on your resume. Theses require intense devotion over an extended amount of time; learners who complete them without conviction often find the process miserable.
  • Forget to research alternatives to writing a thesis. Just because you don't complete a research paper doesn't mean a non-thesis track lacks rigor or challenging coursework.
  • Forget to read examples of theses by previous students. If you feel overwhelmed by the task, reading work other people have done can often make the task at hand feel less scary.
  • Let yourself off easy by taking the non-thesis path. If you find you have extra time in the program, talk to your advisor about taking more classes, develop meaningful projects for yourself, or see about presenting at an academic conference.

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Why might a student decide to follow a thesis track? Why might they follow a non-thesis track?

A student might decide to take a thesis track if she/he wants to pursue a Ph.D. Also, if the students want to focus on careers where research and writing have a strong focus, the students opt for the thesis option. Research assistantships at the graduate level are also more often available to students who opt for the thesis option.

A student who might feel that writing is not one of their strengths might choose to go the non-thesis track. Likewise, a student who has other work commitments may find a non-thesis option more convenient.

Do you have any tips for deciding on a program?

I chose a thesis option because being able to conduct independent research was a big reason to go to graduate school. Also, showing the ability that I could do research was what afforded me research assistantships which meant that my tuition was paid for and I got a stipend that paid for expenses while I was in graduate school. This also allowed me the opportunity to work closely with the faculty mentor that provided me with the support and the accountability I wanted.

I would not recommend taking a non-thesis option if all the degree requires is for you to take courses. You have little to show in terms of your learning other than your grades unless you are already working on something on the side that does that for you and all you need is a certificate.

Opt for a non-thesis option if you can still work closely with a professor or on a project and if you'd rather be involved in multiple projects rather than focus on a single project. If you already have a good (informed) reason for choosing one over the other, go for it.

What's the most important thing to consider when choosing a program?

The most important thing to consider when choosing a program is getting excited about the projects that at least one of the faculty members are involved in. Do some research and see why you are excited about a particular work that at least one of the faculty members have been involved in.

Who should students talk to when considering options?

Students should talk to other students and also reach out directly to the graduate coordinator and even individual faculty members. This means that students should have done prior homework and have some good questions ready. Asking good questions will get you at least halfway through to make the right decision.

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Mechanical Engineering

Thesis or Project?

ME students have the option to complete a total of six (6) units of graduate Thesis, Plan A (ME 299, 3 units each semester) or graduate Project, Plan B (ME 295A and ME 295B) towards their MSME degree. Students are expected to approach a full-time faculty (preferably related to their area of specialization) to solicit thesis or project ideas or discuss their own ideas (personal interest or work related). When the idea is approved as a possible thesis or project topic, the student is expected to prepare a comprehensive proposal.

Project Option (ME 295A and ME295B)

The project option typically involves a topic less theoretical and more directly applied in nature than that of the thesis option. Projects frequently involve design or improvement of existing hardware used in an experiment and/or software development. Completion of a project demonstrates the ability to apply theoretical concepts to a real-world problem. The project option may also be used for a research topic, leading to a conference presentation or published journal article. Schedules & Deadlines

Thesis Option (ME 299)

Pursuing the thesis option requires preparation of a formal thesis, which becomes a published document. The thesis option is well suited for analytical, numerical, and experimental research topics of a more original and fundamental nature. Completion of a thesis may also aid in successfully applying for admission to Ph.D. programs. Schedules & Deadlines

Specific format requirements must be followed for the thesis option.

In obtaining thesis approval from GAPE, the student must defend his/her thesis. This is accomplished by a successful oral presentation of the thesis work to the student’s official committee. The oral defense is scheduled by the department. Make sure that all the committee members have a copy of the final report in advance of the oral presentation. Note that a final copy of the thesis must be given to the advisor (the original must be turned into GAPE office) and the department (through the Graduate Coordinator). While not required, it is also customary to offer committee members copies as well.

See the GAPE web site for the Thesis Review deadlines .

See also the University Thesis Guidelines .

The final report for a project is generally like a thesis report. A final printed copy must be given to your committee chair, and if requested, to the committee members. Similar to the thesis option, the student is expected to make a formal oral presentation to his/her committee. A rough draft of the project report must also be provided to each committee member two weeks in advance of the presentation date. The final bound copies with approved signatures are due to the course instructor/coordinator and Committee Chair within one week after the semester ends.

Basic Requirements for Project and Thesis

Both, thesis and project are 6-unit courses: ME 295A/ME 295B and ME 299, respectively. These courses are designed to be completed in two separate semesters. The first semester project entails the design phase, followed by the design-verification phase during the second semester. The phases of the project require a final report and oral presentation.

Whether you select a thesis option or the project option, there are three basic requirements for the contents of a project: (a) The project should involve higher math and physics, (b) application of advanced mechanical engineering concepts, and (c) A comprehensive final report that satisfies the Culminating Experience requirement as stipulated by the GAPE.

The thesis is research-oriented work and requires completion of an original research on a mechanical engineering topic. The final report must satisfy the guidelines stipulated by the university, and must be submitted in a timely manner by the deadlines set by the university for review.

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My undergraduate thesis project is a failure and I don't know what to do [closed]

So I'm writing my undergraduate thesis and I have written around 80% of it. My project was to develop a device to use in the lab, but my first prototype doesn't work at all and I don't know if I should just write that it didn't work. I don't have time to make another one. I have to finish this as soon as possible because I'm starting grad school at a really good university :(. I haven't told about it to my supervisor. My question is how bad is it to present a failed attempt at something like the development of a device.

I hope someone can help me.

  • research-undergraduate
  • negative-results

GoodDeeds's user avatar

  • 60 You need to talk about this with your supervisor. This is a normal situation, but only your supervisor or another person very familiar with your work can tell you what you need to do. –  Anonymous Physicist Commented Dec 27, 2020 at 8:47
  • 17 This is perfectly fine. My undergraduate thesis project didn't work either. Just write up your work and talk to your supervisor. Nothing to panic about. You can write about your troubleshooting attempts... what you thought went wrong etc. But yes, most importantly talk to your supervisor. –  Ameet Sharma Commented Dec 27, 2020 at 13:23
  • 4 Also, don't panic. Worst thing that happens is a lower grade. Maybe not even that if your writeup is good. It's not the end of the world. –  Ameet Sharma Commented Dec 27, 2020 at 13:32
  • 1 Related: academia.stackexchange.com/questions/30995/… –  Ethan Bolker Commented Dec 27, 2020 at 16:51
  • 4 On a related note, if you are passionate about your device and want to develop a working prototype (and this is a novel device), consider asking if you could continue this project on as a Masters or PhD. Undergraduates rarely have enough time or skill to develop cutting edge technologies, only the truly gifted or extremely lucky manage such a feat. It usually takes several years of research for us mortals. –  Crazymoomin Commented Dec 28, 2020 at 1:08

3 Answers 3

"It didn't work" is not a thesis.

However, "this is what I made, this is how I tested it, these are the results of those tests, this is how I attempted to fix/would attempt to fix in the future", etc, can be just fine, even if the ultimate conclusion is that your device isn't currently functional.

Undergraduate theses are typically fairly short-term projects, so you may not be able to follow up with all the avenues you would have for a longer project.

Most importantly, though, talk to your supervisor . Their role as a supervisor is for exactly the situation you're in: applying their experience and expertise as a researcher to help guide you in what to do. If everything worked out perfectly without any kinks or setbacks a supervisor would hardly be necessary.

Also most importantly (I'm running out of superlatives here), as a student, the success/failure of the endeavor should be primarily judged on what you as the student have learned along the way rather than the overall outcome (the proverbial "it's the journey not the destination"). Your device may not be working, but if you've learned something along the way I would not say the project is a "failure".

Bryan Krause's user avatar

  • 26 Many projects that might be described as "failed" are actually valuable since they extend knowledge. Knowing what isn't true or doesn't work can be just as valuable as knowing what does. As you say here, the writeup can describe what was learned and thus be "successful". If we only ever get the expected result then we aren't trying hard enough. –  Buffy Commented Dec 27, 2020 at 12:48
  • 11 An enormous amount of trouble is caused by young researchers in countries with a "you must succeed" culture falsifying results to look good... and being forced to retract papers later. If something doesn't work then write it up as accurately as you can, since there's always a chance that what you've done will provide inspiration to somebody with the experience to fill in the gaps... at which point you've scored an honest citation. –  Mark Morgan Lloyd Commented Dec 27, 2020 at 14:35
  • Imagine you discovered that COVID-19 cannot be treated by ventilators, or hydroxychloroquine. That would be a pretty important discovery, don't you think? –  user20574 Commented Dec 28, 2020 at 17:24
  • 3 @user253751, there's already quite a bit of research showing that malaria drugs don't work on Covid-19. Also, ventilators aren't a treatment for the disease, it's for the lung failure the disease causes. It's to keep the patient alive long enough to overcome the acute problems, not a cure. I know that seems like nitpicking, but with all the misinformation already spamming the internet, I think that line needs to be drawn. Sorry, and please, let's get back to the regularly scheduled thread about the Answer. Thanks. –  computercarguy Commented Dec 28, 2020 at 21:24
  • 1 Thank you I notice now that yes, I have learned so much from working on my thesis and that counts more than the final product working since I basically designed everything from scratch and I'm not even an engineering major, also my written paper is really good, I think that counts too to have a good grade, thank you, everyone –  asm821 Commented Dec 30, 2020 at 7:55

What have you told your supervisor? And when?

If you've kept them posted on progress, and they know what you've been doing all along, then the fact that some part of this failed (perhaps you didn't allow for enough strength in a 3D print, say) is not the end of the world. You may still have proved the concept.

If you have actively lied to them about your progress though, you can rightly expect your final grade to be extremely bad.

And if you haven't been in contact with them at all for the entire year, that is a major fail from them. The purpose of having a supervisor is to guide you in the right direction with regular expert feedback. If your project has failed because of a lack of supervision, you may need to talk to your head of department about considering mitigating factors in your grade.

Do you know why it failed, and can you say what you would have done to improve it if you'd had more time?

That's the crux of this. The point of undergraduate projects is to practise your skills in real life, before you start using them in a real job. In a real job, things often go wrong and you need to work out how to fix them. If you can show you're picking up those skills, you should still get decent grades.

Graham's user avatar

  • 6 To expand on this answer - it's especially interesting to describe whether you think the approach itself could work (with a second prototype, now that you have more experience), or whether this approach isn't likely to work at all. Either one makes your thesis interesting, either to someone who wants to try the prototype but avoid mistakes; or to someone who now knows a different approach is needed. Making a good analysis of this question is how you make your thesis valuable and impress readers with your future potential. –  ObscureOwl Commented Dec 27, 2020 at 18:22
  • thanks, I made a mistake in my question, it works but not completely, lets say that it does 50% of its functions, my supervisor knows about that but since its holidays I haven't told them about me failing to make it work at a 100%. I know some of the problems and how to fix them but I don't have time to actually fix them. –  asm821 Commented Dec 30, 2020 at 7:49
  • @asm821 That's not too bad then. Perhaps you won't get full marks for having something working perfectly, but if your report says what the next steps are, you should be OK. Of course that depends on if you've run out of time because you've left the project to the last minute, or if you've run out of time because it's a genuinely difficult problem which needs several iterations to find the bugs! If it's the latter, and you've made real progress which another student can build on, then you should still be looking at a solid B grade and maybe an A if the work is good. –  Graham Commented Dec 30, 2020 at 11:58

As previously mentioned, as long as you update your supervisor with the situation and be diligent about actually explaining what you did and what went wrong you should be fine. Again as previously mentioned, sometimes a nonfunctional project is a guide for others on how to improve and what to avoid.

Anton Menshov's user avatar

  • 8 both sentences here start with "as previously mentioned". What does this answer add to the previously posted answers .... ? –  Ben Bolker Commented Dec 27, 2020 at 18:34
  • 6 Hi and welcome to Academia SE. Your answer contained a long part which was totally unrelated to the question. Please recall that, unlike forums, Stack Exchange sites are not built for general discussions, but as repositories of answers to well-defined questions. It's thus important to keep the answers focussed, and for this reason the irrelevant part has been removed. I kindly invite you to have a look at the Tour and at the Help center to see how this site works. –  Massimo Ortolano Commented Dec 27, 2020 at 19:06
  • 2 @AntonMenshov and DailyReader: Meta discussion on the edit . –  Massimo Ortolano Commented Dec 27, 2020 at 19:28
  • This conversation about religion has been moved to chat . Please see this FAQ before posting a comment below this one. –  cag51 ♦ Commented Dec 28, 2020 at 19:17

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged thesis research-undergraduate negative-results .

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Each of these individual discussions takes place within a “subreddit.” A subreddit can best be compared to a Facebook or LinkedIn group in that there is a broader theme or topic of interest that defines the group. For example, r/engineering is a community dedicated to discussing topics related to engineering (note: r/ is just a prefix used on the site, similar to www.). R/AutomotiveEngineering is an entirely separate and distinct subreddit for the discussion of topics specifically related to automotive engineering.

Anyone can start a subreddit on just about any topic (and sometimes this can result in duplicate or similar subreddits), so it’s best to judge the significance/importance of a subreddit based on how many members it has. We’ll look at a few essential subreddits for engineers and engineering marketers in a moment.

Why is Reddit so Useful?

Reddit isn’t just another social media platform. Of all the major social media platforms, it’s the most community-oriented and most explicitly interest-based. This is what makes it so powerful for marketers.

Reddit allows you to focus on specific topic-based communities of users you know are interested in something because they are browsing and participating. Suppose users are actively seeking out and participating in subreddits related to, for example, aerospace engineering. In that case, it’s safe to say that those users are in, or trying to break into (e.g., a student), the industry.

In effect, your audience on Reddit will be more informed and educated about the space your company operates in than your audience on Twitter, Facebook, etc. This is also why your interactions on Reddit should feel more organic and non-promotional. Your audience already knows the basics and they might even know the details!

So, when you interact with members of a subreddit community, keep it conversational and try to offer information, advice, etc., that is genuine and only promotional when it’s relevant to the topic at hand. Engineers see through marketing fluff, so engage with them honestly!

How Do I Get Started on Reddit?

First, you’ll need an account. It’s okay to use your company name as your username, but you may want to start with a personal account first to familiarize yourself with the site. You can’t change your username later, so start with a personal account, and once you feel comfortable, sign up with your company name later.

Something to think about here are the requirements for starting a subreddit of your own. To create a subreddit, your account must be at least 30 days old, and you must have around 50 “karma.” Karma is awarded to you each time another user on Reddit upvotes or engages in a positive manner with one of your posts/comments. So, if you sign up with the username Bob_Bobson will get listed as the administrator of your company’s subreddit. So, be aware of this if you plan on starting a subreddit as quickly as possible.

Subreddits for Engineers

Before posting or advertising on the platform, you’ll want to determine which subreddits you want to engage with. While the following is not a definitive list, these are some subreddits engineering.com engages with and which I feel might be relevant to your marketing efforts.

  • r/engineering : hopefully, you saw this one coming. With 385,000 members at the time of this blog’s publishing, this subreddit is dedicated to professional engineering topics (note, there is a separate subreddit for engineering students). This forum is for engineers to share information, knowledge, experiences, and best practices related to any of the numerous engineering disciplines.
  • r/EngineeringStudents : the student equivalent to the above subreddit, this forum has 465,000 members at the time of this blog’s publishing. This subreddit is for engineering students of any discipline to ask for career advice, help with work, discuss methods, or just engage in conversation with other engineers. While the topics may be of a more theoretical or elementary nature than those discussed in the r/engineering subreddit, many may still find thissubreddit intriguing or valuable when trying to reach the engineers of tomorrow.
  • r/EngineeringPorn : it’s not what you think…or maybe it is? With 794,000 members, this is the largest engineering subreddit we've looked at in the past. This subreddit is dedicated to sharing helpful videos, pictures, or stories of today's latest and greatest engineering-related technologies. Based on the name alone, I hope you can tell this forum is the least professional and most fun-oriented. If you want to reach people who are highly interested in engineering-related topics and not just professionals working in the field, this might be the subreddit for you.

These are the three largest engineering-related subreddits on the site, but numerous other subreddits look at specific disciplines ( i.e. , r/manufacturing, r/cad, r/AutomotiveEngineering, r/ElectricalEngineering, r/AerospaceEngineering, etc.). While some of these subreddits might have smaller memberships, it may still be worth engaging these communities if you know the bulk of its members are specifically interested in or work in that engineering discipline.

A Note on Reddit Advertising

If organic engagement on Reddit feels overwhelming, or you just want to utilize the platform to the full extent, consider paid advertising. The paid advertising platform for Reddit, found here , should be relatively intuitive for anyone who has ever used Facebook or LinkedIn advertising before. You’re able to upload a photo or video-based advertisements and target them at specific subreddits or topics.

This is a simple (but more expensive) way to get your company's products or services in front of an audience on Reddit. It can also help supplement your organic efforts on the platform. For example, if members of a subreddit have had positive interactions with members from your team and later see your ads on the same subreddit, they'll be more likely to engage in some way.

Reddit and Forget It?

Reddit isn't a silver bullet for your marketing efforts, but neither are other social media platforms. Reddit is a significant online community that many companies have yet to utilize. Despite its prolific growth over the last few years, Reddit's active monthly user base grew 44% year-over-year from 2019 to 2020, and it will likely match that figure by the end of this year as well.

If you’re looking for new avenues of engagement for your marketing efforts, consider giving Reddit a shot. Even if you don’t find it useful for your company’s marketing efforts, you might just find a community of technically minded individuals that you enjoy participating in.

If you have anything you’d like to add to the content of this blog, like sharing your personal or professional experiences using Reddit, please feel free to leave a comment below!

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Engineering Science

Research Thesis

All EngSci students are required to complete an independent thesis in their final year of study.

Students can work on an approved engineering-related project under the supervision of any U of T faculty member .

U of T's exceptional breadth and strength in research allow students to find projects that fit their individual interests , and work in theoretical, clinical, design or laboratory setting.

Students experience the entire research process from initial project framing and literature review, through experimental design to documentation of their work in a final research thesis and oral presentation. Support is provided throughout the course through lectures and workshops on topics like proposal writing and research documentation.

The course is excellent preparation for those intending to pursue graduate studies and provides all students with valuable experience in independent critical thinking and problem solving .

thesis student

Deb Raji (1T8 PEY Robotics)

Deb was internationally celebrated for her research into racial and gender bias in artificial intelligence algorithms.

Thesis title: Investigating the Influence of Demographic Diversity on Model Performance in Facial Recognition (Prof. Ashton Anderson, CompSci)

"My thesis supervisor and the thesis course coordinator taught me to think broadly about the impact of technology on society."

Students begin thinking about potential supervisors and topics in Year 3, with a focus in the Winter and Summer terms on firming up commitments with supervisors. By mid-October of Year 4, students are expected to write a formal thesis proposal that defines their projects, though many students have already started their research by then.

Spacecraft attitude control by magnetic actuation and double-gimbal variable-speed control moment gyroscope (Prof. Chris Damaren, UTIAS)

Aerodynamic shape optimization process for a streamlined land-based solar-powered vehicle (Prof. Amy Bilton, MIE)

Development and application of a production cost model for the Ontario electricity sector (Prof. Brian Karney, CivE)

Toward unifying deterministic and stochastic deep reinforcement learning algorithms (Prof. Jimmy Ba, CompSci)

Day trading portfolio construction using technical analysis and machine learning (Prof. Roy Kwon, MIE)

Motion planning for autonomous parking of vehicles in an urban environment (Prof. Tim Barfoot, UTIAS)

Traveling wave based protection of series-compensated transmission lines (Prof. Reza Iravani, ECE)

Development of a high-throughput platform for imaging tumour cell response to hypoxia (Prof. Alison McGuigan, ChemE/IBBME)

Nonadiabatic holonomic two-qubit gates with superconducting qubits (Prof. Aephraim Steinberg, Physics)

Material stocks and flows in Toronto's road infrastructure (Prof. Shoshanna Saxe, CivE)

Creation of an epidemiological model capable of simulating vaccine hesitancy (Prof. Jason Foster, EngSci)

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Undergraduate thesis

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Undergraduate Thesis

UNSW Engineering students are required to complete an undergraduate thesis project during the 4th year of their study. Students can choose from a variety of projects, with research and industry thesis options available. The standard thesis is 4 UoC (Unit of Credit) per term starting T1, T2 or T3.

You’ll enrol Thesis A, Thesis B and Thesis C and complete the thesis across three consecutive terms. Once Thesis A is taken, Thesis B and Thesis C must be taken consecutively in the two terms that follow.

Your school may also offer the option to complete a practice thesis. You’ll enrol in Thesis A and Thesis B, each worth 6 UoC over two consecutive terms.

For further information or questions, please contact your  Undergraduate Thesis Coordinator .

All undergraduate students enrolled in the dual degree with Biomedical Engineering (regardless of undergraduate major), must enrol in 12 UoC of thesis courses with the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering.

Students will complete their thesis over three terms (4+4+4) or over two terms (4+8). A summary of the assessment is as follows:

BIOM4951 Thesis A : It is intended that Thesis A cover the scoping, planning, and completing preparations for the project.

BIOM4952 Thesis B : The primary intention behind Thesis B is to ensure students stay on track with their projects and project work as they progress through the year.

BIOM4953 Thesis C : Thesis C continues the project work. The key deliverable is the Written Report, alongside a poster presentation.

Before commencing Thesis A

You must nominate 3 different supervisors to work with.

Please follow the below instructions in order to view the projects available and to find a supervisor.

The instructions to view the projects are as follows:

You must complete this process and have a project allocated BEFORE starting BIOM4951. If you are planning on doing a project with industry, this requires an industry supervisor and a supervisor from GSBmE. Please contact me  [email protected] .

  • Go the Moodle course  Selection of Biomedical Thesis Project  
  • Self-enrol as a student using the key Student50
  • The projects are listed under Thesis Database
  • Contact the supervisor directly if you have any questions
  • When ready, follow the instructions on the Moodle page for nominating your three supervisors. Project selection opens midway through the previous term (e.g. for Thesis commencing in T2, selection opens in Week 6 of T1). Selection closes on the last day of exams of previous term.

Undergraduate students are required to complete at least 12 UOC of thesis courses. The table below shows the default Thesis course sequence for your stream and any additional options you may have. The following sections provide more information about each of these sequences.

STREAM THESIS

 – You may also like take   as an elective.

Alternatively, students may be permitted to take   instead of Research Thesis.

We strongly encourage using 12 UOC of electives to also take  . This course will complement your group-based product design project with an individual research project.

Research thesis (CEIC4951/2/3)

Research thesis  consists of three courses worth 4 units of credit each –  CEIC4951  Research thesis A,  CEIC4952  Research Thesis B &  CEIC4953  Research Thesis C. Undergraduate students may commence Research Thesis once they have completed at least 126 UOC from a School of Chemical Engineering discipline stream and their 3rd year core.

You  must  identify a supervisor and project prior to commencing CEIC4951. To find out more about Research Thesis courses, the projects available and how to find a supervisor, please join the  Research Thesis Projects  page on Moodle (enrolment key co3shyh).

  • These courses are normally taken over three consecutive terms. However, students that make excellent progress in Thesis A, may be allowed to take Thesis B and Thesis C in the same term.
  • High performing students may be permitted to take  CEIC9005  (or CEIC4005) in lieu of their regular Research Thesis courses. Contact the course coordinator for more information.

Product Design Project Thesis (CEIC4007/8)

Product Design Project Thesis  consists of two courses both worth 6 UOC –  CEIC4007  Product Design Project Thesis A and  CEIC4008  Product Design Project Thesis B. Undergraduate students may commence Research Thesis once they have completed at least 126 UOC from a School of Chemical Engineering discipline stream.  CEIC6711  Complex Fluids Microstructure and Rheology is a co-requisite course.

You do not need to secure a supervisor before commencing Product Design Project Thesis A.

Research Thesis Extension (CEIC4954)

Research Thesis Extension  ( CEIC4954 ) aims to provide you with an opportunity to go extend your thesis project by exploring your research problem in more breath &/or depth. The work you do in this course builds on the work completed in CEIC4951, CEIC4952 and CEIC4953. This course is especially relevant for undergraduate students considering a research career in fields related to chemical engineering and food science. The activities in this course are designed to introduce you to the ways in which research is practiced and communicated in a higher degree environment.

CEIC4954 is considered a practice elective in the Chemical Engineering stream (CEICAH) and a discipline elective in all other streams.

Students enrolled in an undergraduate degree within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering need to complete a thesis as part of their program. Students have the option of taking one of the following course combinations to complete their thesis requirement:

CVEN4951 / 4952 / 4953  (Research Thesis A/B/C)

Students must complete the  Thesis Application Form to be registered for the course. This combination of courses are worth 12UOC in total, and will take 3 terms to complete (or 2 with prior approval from the supervisor). A minimum WAM of 70 is required for entry.

CVEN4961 / 4962 / 4963  (Higher Honours Thesis A/B/C)

Students must complete the  Thesis Application Form  to be registered for the course. This combination of courses are worth worth 24UOC in total and requires students to have a minimum WAM of 80.

Note: If you choose to undertake the Research Thesis option (CVEN4951/4952/4953 or CVEN4961/4962/4963) you must also complete CVEN4701 prior to finishing your studies.

CVEN4050 / 4051  (Thesis A/B)

Students are able to enrol themselves into this course directly via myUNSW, it has no minimum WAM requirement, and does not require students to find a supervisor.

If you would like to register for Research Thesis subjects in Summer, you must first obtain approval from your supervisor prior to Summer enrolment. Please check the course notes for more information.

Thesis Submissions

As of Summer 2024, students will need to submit their Thesis submissions via Moodle instead of the School’s intranet.

For the list of topics and available supervisors, you can visit:  Find a Supervisor or Project

UNSW  Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours)  and  Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)  students can find a guide to getting started with Thesis A on the  CSE Thesis Topics Moodle site . Use cse-44747437 to enter the site as a student.

On this site, you will find the Thesis Topic Database. You can look through the topics or visit the academic supervisors' profile pages to find a topic you would like to work on. Once you have chosen your topic(s), you will then need to contact the relevant Supervisor for confirmation.

On this site, you can also find the course outlines of Thesis A, Thesis B and Thesis C, and the detailed instructions about finding a supervisor.

Final year students in Mechanical Engineering and Postgraduate coursework students are required to undertake a three-term, year long project. These projects are usually open-ended research or design projects, where the student works with an academic supervisor to find an answer to an engineering question. Students are required to manage and plan their projects over the three terms. The Thesis course can be started in any term and is generally completed in the final three terms of the degree.

If taking a Research Thesis (individual project), enrol in  Research Thesis A (MMAN4951) ,  Research Thesis B (MMAN4952)  and  Research Thesis C (MMAN4953) .

For Research thesis, you will first need to find a supervisor and get their approval. An approved application is required to undertake Research and to gain permission to enrol. The deadline to enrol in MMAN4951/MMAN9451 is Friday Week 1, but get in early to get the project and supervisor you want.

For information on available projects and the enrolment process, please see our  Sharepoint site , or contact Professor  Tracie Barber .

If you’re an Electrical Engineering student and planning to take Thesis course, you will need to find a supervisor and get their approval prior to enrolling to the course. The deadline to find a supervisor and enrol into the course is Friday week 1. Please follow the procedure below to look for potential supervisors, their topics and enrol into the course

  • Go to:  https://moodle.telt.unsw.edu.au/course/view.php?id=20890
  • Enrol yourself as student using the enrolment key: EETTPstudent
  • Login to Moodle course: 'EET School Thesis/Project'
  • View research profiles of prospective supervisors and topics in 'Research Topics' section.
  • Contact potential supervisor to discuss the possibility of working with them.. You must get their written permission to sign up on a topic before you can proceed to next step.
  • a. Go to ‘Select Supervisor’, find the supervisor and click action box to become a member
  • b. Go to ‘Register Topic,’ ‘Add Entry’ and enter your details and topic title.
  • Enrol into Thesis course on myUNSW.

Engineering (Hons) - Petroleum

Engineering [Main Stream]

Engineering (Hons) - Mining Engineering

Engineering (Hons) - Petroleum Engineering [Optional for high WAM]

MERE4951 Research Thesis A
MERE4952 Research Thesis B
MERE4953 Research Thesis C

12 UoC Research Thesis

Research Thesis

Research Thesis is a compulsory pathway in the Mining Engineering (Hons) degree, Engineering (Hons) – Petroleum Engineering [Main Stream], and an optional pathway for high WAM students doing Petroleum Engineering. This thesis allows a student to work closely with a particular supervisor, learn particular skills – like programming or laboratory work, conduct research and write up their findings. To take this stream, you will need to first enrol in MERE4951 Research Thesis A.

MERE4951 Research Thesis A

In this course you will be required to find a supervisor and topic to work on. You can find a list of our research strengths here:

https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering//our-schools/minerals-and-energy-resources-engineering/our-research

You can also find an individual academic and ask them about topics that they work on. Academics from our school are available here:

https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/ourschools/minerals-and-energy-resources-engineering/about-us/our-people

Once you enrol, make sure you have access to the Microsoft Team (the link is on the Moodle page), which is filled with information and has active forums for asking questions:

engineering thesis reddit

MERE4952 & MERE9453 Research Thesis B & C

These two units (4UoC each) can be taken in the same term or separately. Thesis B involves submitting a video/audio reflection of the work so far and an interim report. Thesis C involves writing your thesis and recording and submitting a scientific presentation of your results./engineering/our-schools/minerals-and-energy-resources-engineering/our-researchengineering/our-schools/minerals-and-energy-resources-engineering/our-research

All undergrad thesis sudents can find a list of thesis topics will posted on the  Thesis A Moodle site . The student key to access the site will be sent out by the thesis co-ordinator to all students who will be taking thesis the following term. You should review the list and discuss the topics with the relevant supervisor to get an idea of what it entails.

Once both the supervisor and student have agreed on the topic, a Thesis Nomination Form should be completed. This is submitted to the Thesis Coordinator and uploaded to the SOLA 4951 Moodle site prior to the student commencing work on their topic. All students must have chosen a supervisor by 9am Monday week 1 of term.

You can develop your own thesis topic, if you can find a supervisor from within the School. This will require you to attach a one page description of the thesis topic and signed by the supervisor to the Thesis Nomination Form.

The School also encourages students who wish to do an industry-led thesis topic. In this case the mentor from industry would be the student’s co-supervisor, however an academic staff member from the School must act as the supervisor of the thesis.

For an industry-led thesis, you must obtain approval from an academic of the School to supervise the topic. You should submit a signed letter from the industry representative and academic supervisor with a brief outline of the project with a Thesis Nomination Form.

All information needed for the deliverables of thesis A can be found in the course outline which is available on the SOLA4951 Moodle site.

Undergraduate Thesis FAQs

The Engineering thesis will be taken for the duration of three terms - as Thesis A, Thesis B and Thesis C.

Each course will carry 4 Units of Credit (UoC) for a total of 12 UoC. The total UoC requirement remains unchanged from current.

Students will have two options to take Thesis from 2019:

  • Option 1 - Standard: (4 UoC per term starting T1, T2 or T3) : Students enrol in Thesis A, Thesis B and thesis C and complete the Thesis across three consecutive terms. Total of 12 UoC.  Note than once Thesis A is taken, Thesis B and Thesis C must be taken consecutively in the two terms that follow.  
  • Option 2: (4+8: 4 UoC in one term and 8 UoC in the following term) : Students who demonstrate satisfactory progress in Thesis A may apply to their School to take a 4+8 UoC structure where both Thesis B and C are taken in the next single term of that year. Total of 12 UoC.  This option is subject to having demonstrated satisfactory progress in Thesis A.

Students who do not maintain satisfactory performance in Option 2 will revert to Option 1 and take Thesis across three terms.

Thesis A, Thesis B and Thesis C will run in every term (T1, T2 and T3).

Yes, it’s possible to start your thesis in any term, however once Thesis A is taken, Thesis B and Thesis C must be completed in each term consecutively afterward.

Depending on the thesis course you take, your topic may be provided to you or you will need to develop one.

If you need to develop one, most schools have a website that lists available topics and the staff willing to supervise those topics. You may wish to select a topic based on areas of engineering interest, extracurricular interests (such as the  ChallENG Projects ), or preference for working with a particular academic in your field.  You can even come up with your own in consultation with your thesis supervisor. Take a look!

The process is different for each school, so review the information above.

If you still have questions, contact your school’s  postgraduate thesis coordinator .

Doing thesis in industry is a great opportunity and worth pursuing. Some students are able to arrange a thesis project that follows on from an industrial training placement.

Students wanting to take an industry-based project still need to take the Research Thesis courses for their specialisation. You need to arrange a UNSW academic as a co-supervisor and apply for permission to take thesis offsite.

Please check with your school’s  Undergraduate Thesis Coordinator  for further details.

Yes, there are a number of Humanitarian Engineering Thesis Supervisors within UNSW Engineering who can potentially supervise a thesis.

Students who demonstrate satisfactory progress in Thesis A may apply to their School to take a 4+8 UoC structure where both Thesis B and C are taken in the next single term of that year.

The 4+8 UoC option is intended for high performing students to finish their thesis project in two terms. Students enrolled in this structure will take Thesis A in the first term and then, provided that satisfactory progress has been reached, will take Thesis B and C in the term following Thesis A.

Yes. In addition to the Thesis, you can enrol in up to two additional courses per term. You should enrol in these courses when annual enrolment opens. Overloading is possible but will require program authority approval.

If progress is deemed as unsatisfactory at the end of Thesis A, the student will move to the default Thesis option: Thesis A, B and C (4 UoC).

Yes, you’ll still be able to enrol in up to two additional courses. Given the increased workload of having to do Thesis B and C together, two courses per term would be the maximum recommended by the Faculty.

An enrolment continued (EC) grade will appear against your Thesis A/Thesis B subjects until you’ve completed your thesis. At this time your final grade will appear against your Thesis C. Around a week after you have received your final mark, a roll back process will be run so that the EC grades previously against Thesis A and Thesis B will be updated to reflect your overall Thesis mark.

Information on honours calculations are available on the  Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) program  rules page.

It’s possible to take leave and then continue your thesis on your return. Talk to your supervisor about your situation and the dates involved so that you can work out a suitable plan together.

Most schools have a Moodle, intranet, or web page with detailed information about their thesis program. That should be your next port of call – check your school’s section above for access instructions.

Schools often run information sessions during the year. These will be advertised via email, on social media and/or during class. Keep an eye out for these events.

If you have questions related to enrolment or progression, contact the  Nucleus .

Finally, each school has an  Undergraduate Thesis Coordinator  who can answer specific questions related to your personal circumstances.

GineersNow

The Struggle To Find A Good Thesis Topic For Engineering Students Is Real

To all the engineering students who are having a hard time finding a good thesis topic, good luck. You’ll definitely need all the luck you can get.

Feature News

On my last year in engineering school, it became the most exciting year of my college life… and the most challenging. Exciting because if I played my cards right, I would be able to graduate and walk out of college with a diploma. Challenging because I had a complicated plant design to work on and a thesis topic to find. While I was lucky enough to be enrolled in a class where my professor gave us suggestions for our plant design class, my groupmates and I who had to work on our thesis found it absolutely difficult to come up with a good thesis topic.

I know, I know, we should have thought about it before the school year started. 

engineering thesis reddit

But the thing is, with our minds always occupied with the subjects we needed to pass in the previous semesters, we always had to set it aside. We needed to pass our subjects first before we could really come up with a good thesis topic.

So, there we were, sitting on the steel bench and completely clueless what to work on. We were civil engineering students and with so many thesis topics that have gone by and taken by those who took the course before us, we were left asking ourselves, what’s a good topic to work on? What could be an exciting thesis topic that all of us would be excited to work on? What’s an interesting topic that no one has ever taken before?

engineering thesis reddit

We struggled for hours , searching the internet for a good topic and even asking for good advices from our professors. We even had to joke around with one of our professors and told her to just give us a topic. But alas, there was still no topic that all of us could agree on. The ones we thought of were either boring, too complicated or something someone had already worked on. So the three of us decided to sleep on it and we met the day after to give suggestions if we found any. Unfortunately, all those brainstorming done alone in our own homes weren’t quite helpful. We still couldn’t decide what topic to choose and I personally found it exhausting. The struggle is real apparently.

Did you feel this way when you were still coming up with a good thesis topic for yourself (or for your group)? Wasn’t it hard? Wasn’t it exhausting to be “creative” in a way that the topic wouldn’t be too complicated but at the same time, wouldn’t look like a simple science project as well? What makes it harder is to consider the expenses involved when it comes to thesis projects. We all had to consider how much it will cost us to finish it on time and if we can afford it. Laboratories and equipment available in the school were also considered. I had other engineering classmates who had to travel to a different city just to have their samples tested and it was really expensive as well.

engineering thesis reddit

Another consideration we had to have, which makes finding a good thesis topic a struggle, is the thesis advisers involved. What if you found a good topic but you had no professors who could advise you on what to do or when to change procedures in the experiment? That would really suck. Ugh.

It took us a month to come up with a solid thesis topic that we could submit to our professor for approval. It was funny that I had to resort to asking a Facebook page’s admin if they can suggest a thesis topic for us. While the people behind the page didn’t give any, they were able to refer us to someone with credibility to do it. I guess, that led us to the thesis topic we eventually worked on.

Luckily for me, I had groupmates who were patient enough to find the best topic we could work on. Even though we were the last group to submit a topic, we managed to get a good response from our professor. But it really was a struggle to get to that point. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of how hard it is to finish the course.

engineering thesis reddit

Finding a thesis topic was a struggle but to finish it ON TIME was harder. But maybe, that’s for another article. So to all the engineering students who are having a hard time finding a good thesis topic, good luck. You will need it. Yes, you’ll definitely need all the luck you can get.

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He Failed the Exam 6 Times But Emerged 1st Placer in Engineering Licensure
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Engineering student in lab

Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Master of Science (MSc)

Thesis-based program

Program overview.

Ambitious students can explore their interest and aptitude in performing research by taking the Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (MSc Thesis) degree. As a stepping stone to the PhD degree, the program allows students to investigate a new research topic in depth with a leading researcher in the mechanical engineering program. Through things such as conferences, peer-reviewed publications and technical papers, students get to disseminate knowledge. They will complete technical courses, present at a conference, and prepare and defend a thesis documenting their research over the course of their two years of full-time study. Students are typically funded through the duration of their study under various mechanisms offered by the faculty, department, and supervisor.

Completing this program

Manufacturing Engineering:  Topics may include computer integrated manufacturing, optimization methods with robotics, CAD/CAM/CAE and more.

Mechanical Engineering:  Topics may include combustion processes, mechanics of compressible flow, instrumentation, mobile robotics and more.

Research Seminar:  Students present at the annual Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Conference.

Additional Courses:  Students complete Numerical Methods for Engineers.

Thesis:  Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.

Pipeline Engineering Specialization:  Students wishing to complete the Pipeline Engineering Specialization must include three courses of Pipeline Engineering approved courses with a Pipeline Engineering project.

Specializations

  • Pipeline Engineering
  • Engineering, Energy and Environment (Interdisciplinary)
  • Environmental Engineering (Interdisciplinary)
  • Energy & Environmental Systems (Interdisciplinary)

Consulting, research and development, forensic engineering, management, process control.

A thesis-based master’s degree in mechanical engineering will give you the pre-requisite for a PhD.

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Five courses with conference presentation

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment.

Two years full time; four years maximum

A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted

See the Graduate Calendar for information on  fees and fee regulations,  and for information on  awards and financial assistance .

Virtual Tour

Explore the University of Calgary (UCalgary) from anywhere. Experience all that UCalgary has to offer for your graduate student journey without physically being on campus. Discover the buildings, student services and available programs all from your preferred device.

Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree. Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.

Photo

Mahdis Bisheban

Bob Brennan

Bob Brennan

Picture of Marie Charbonneau

Marie Charbonneau

Ke Du

Philip Egberts

Leo Fang

Salvatore Federico

Peter Goldsmith

Peter Goldsmith

Schuyler Hinman Photo

Schuyler Hinman

Craig Johansen

Craig Johansen

Admission Requirements

A minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

A four year baccalaureate degree, or equivalent from a recognized institution.

Work samples

Reference letters, test scores, english language proficiency (elp).

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iB T including TOEFL iBT Home Edition)  minimum score of 86 (Internet-based, with no section less than 20).
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)  score of 6.5 (with no section less than 6.0).
  • Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency  minimum score of 180.
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE)   score of 59 or higher
  • Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL)  overall score of 70 (no section less than 60).
  • Academic Communication Certificate (ACC)  minimum of B+ in each course.
  • Duolingo English Test  obtaining a minimum score of 125 (with no sub-score below 105).

*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.

For admission on September 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: June 1 application deadline
  • International students:  Jan. 15 application deadline

For admission on January 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: Oct. 1 application deadline
  • International students:  May 1 application deadline

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Are you ready to apply?

Learn more about this program.

Schulich School of Engineering Room 505, The Mechanical Engineering Building Room, 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 403.220.4153

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

Canadian Natural Resources Limited Engineering Complex 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 403.220.5732

Visit the Schulich School of Engineering website

Learn more about UCalgary by taking a virtual tour

Related programs

If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.

Course-based MEng

Thesis-based MEng

Biomedical Engineering

Thesis-based MSc

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Course-based MEng (Petroleum only)

Course-based MSc

Civil Engineering

Course-based MEng

Thesis-based MEng

Thesis-based MSc

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Course-based MEng (Software)

Geomatics Engineering

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Engineering Research Thesis

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    Hey r/Engineering, I'm trying to make a couple big decisions and I was hoping you guys could give me some advice. Right now I'm a 2nd year Master's student in Aerospace Engineering, currently on track for a Master's with thesis. However, I am having some serious doubts about a) whether I want/need to do a thesis (as opposed to the non-thesis option which requires a "scholarly paper" instead of ...

  3. Anyone here completed their engineering Thesis? A couple ...

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  11. r/engineering on Reddit: Starting a Masters thesis... I'm worried that

    Starting a Masters thesis... I'm worried that my research won't be enough. I may just be pandering for reassurance because I feel like I'm doing this all on my own (my advisor isn't helpful), but I'm worried that I'm going to finish my research and not have a 'full' thesis worth to write on. I've run a few tests with good results so far.

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    The Struggle To Find A Good Thesis Topic For Engineering Students Is Real On my last year in engineering school, it became the most exciting year of my college life… and the most challenging. Exciting because if I played my cards right, I would be able to graduate and walk out of college with a diploma. Challenging because I had a complicated plant design to work on and a thesis topic to ...

  18. Undergraduate Thesis : r/civilengineering

    Undergraduate Thesis. Hi guys I'm a 4th year civil engineering student from the philippines. This semester we start working on our thesis and i would like to ask for suggestions. I've glimpsed at a couple of theses from our school and they're mostly just data gathering and interpretation and such and some project proposals.

  19. Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

    Program overview Ambitious students can explore their interest and aptitude in performing research by taking the Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (MSc Thesis) degree. As a stepping stone to the PhD degree, the program allows students to investigate a new research topic in depth with a leading researcher in the mechanical engineering program. Through things such as conferences, peer ...

  20. Engineering Research Thesis : r/unsw

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  21. Engineering Thesis Google Slides and PowerPoint template

    Premium Google Slides theme, PowerPoint template, and Canva presentation template Are you about to defend your Engineering Thesis? We have created a presentation to meet your needs. Download and edit it now and get your formulas ready.