Before you start

We typically supervise master theses in the Mannheim Master of Management (MMM) and the Master of Business Informatics (BI). The programs differ in timeframe and credit points. This will be considered when scoping your topic.

•  MMM: 4 months, 24 ECTS
• Business Informatics: 6 months, 30 ECTS

To ensure that you can work independently on a technically and conceptually demanding topic, we expect you to have a solid foundation in Information Systems. 

A completed seminar paper in the Area Information Systems. The Area recommends writing the seminar paper at the chair where you plan to write your master thesis. Seminar modules IS 702, IS 712, IS 722, IS 742, IS 751, and IS 752 are mutually recognised; recognition from another area is possible in exceptional cases. 

Basic familiarity with enterprise systems and empirical research methods. Courses such as IS 540 (Management of Enterprise Systems) and IS 541 (Theories and Methods in Information Systems) are strongly recommended preparation. 

We usually do not hand out fixed thesis topics. Instead, we define a topic jointly so that it matches (1) the research interests of the supervisor and (2) your skills, interests, and available data access. To prepare, review recent publications and ongoing projects of the chair and identify a concrete problem that you want to investigate. 

Useful starting points include: 

• The topic of your seminar thesis
• Design, implementation, and use of enterprise systems (for example, adoption, change management, user behaviour, transparency, service delivery, or productivity impacts)
• Enterprise systems security (for example, governance, compliance, risk management, secure configuration, security behaviour, or incident response in enterprise contexts)
• Related areas where enterprise systems play a key role (for example, outsourcing and governance, platform ecosystems, or healthcare information systems)

Look at the specific research interest of the possible supervisors for futher information. 

If you fulfil the prerequisites and have a topic direction, please apply by e-mail.
Send your application to the potential supervisor most closely alligned with your topic. If you are unsure you can apply via applicat@uni-mannheim.de.

The application must include:

•  Motivation letter (including suggestions regarding your intended research
  project)
• Current CV
• Current transcript of records
• Your seminar thesis (as a pdf)

If you already work with a member of the chair (for example, through a seminar thesis, teaching assistant work, or a working student position), you can also approach that person directly about potential supervision.

There is no specific application deadline, as admissions are processed on a rolling basis. 

However, you should apply at least one month before your intended start date.

We welcome thesis projects in cooperation with companies if they enable access to relevant data and a research contribution. Discuss data protection, NDAs, and practical constraints early.

As a rule of thumb, a master thesis is about 60 pages of net content (text, tables, and figures). If your project includes substantial implementation work, a shorter manuscript can be appropriate. Clarify deviations with your supervisor early.

Use the official thesis template of the chair (Word or LaTeX) provided by your supervisor. Ensure consistent formatting and APA 7th edition citation style throughout.

Thesis projects typically include the following phases:

• Exploration: Literature review, scoping, and (potentialy) proposal writing. This phase often takes 4–8 weeks and usually happens before official registration.
• Research: Data collection, analysis, and theory-driven interpretation
• (Optional) Implementation. Building software artifacts, prototypes, or analytical pipelines.
• Writing: Turning your work into a coherent thesis document. Keep notes and
  intermediate results well documented.
• Finalisation: Proofreading, consistency checks, and polishing.

Your thesis is your responsibility. Be proactive in requesting feedback and decisions. As a practical rule, plan at least one check-in per month, and bundle small questions into one message or meeting.

Tools such as ChatGPT can support your writing (for example, improving clarity or style). You remain fully responsible for correctness, terminology, and citations. Do not use AI tools as a substitute for your own scientific contribution, and never include unverifiable or fabricated references

If you want, you can share a near-final draft with your supervisor for high-level feedback (structure, positioning, obvious issues). Supervisors however cannot proofread the full manuscript line by line.

Follow the official submission rules of your program and your supervisor’s instructions. 

• An electronic submission (PDF, plus code/data as applicable) to your supervisor by the deadline
• Printed copies submitted according to the faculty requirements (binding and number of copies may vary)

Theses are typically assessed along the following dimensions:

• Structure and outline: clear motivation, positioning in the literature, and well-specified research questions
• Foundations: appropriate and complete theoretical and methodological background
• Use of literature: relevant and comprehensive academic sources; clear differentiation between prior work and your contribution
• Content and method: sound execution of the chosen method; results address the research problem
• Evaluation: appropriate evaluation of results or artifacts
• Discussion: scientific and practical implications, limitations, and future work
• Citations and academic integrity: correct referencing and careful handling of sources
• Language and presentation: precise writing, consistent terminology, and clean formatting