Thesis information MSc

As a final of the MSc program the students make a Thesis.

The Subjects of Thesis

The MSc Thesis is the evidence that a candidate has completed all the requirements of a scientific field (here: mechatronical sciences) and he/she is capable to perform any engineering tasks at the highest level and to control assigned BSc graduated engineers or to launch individual scientific researches. Therefore the requirements for content of the Thesis are much more advanced level.

Students can only use software for any university assignment / project / thesis for which the university has a valid license (in the given period)! This is the consultant's responsibility! In the case of an industrial project, the company must provide a valid license!

As a final of the MSc program the students make a Thesis.

Sample of a Thesis

The Subjects of Thesis

The prerequisite of registration on Thesis II is that a student completed all the subjects of the first academic year conceded in the model curriculum in the previous closed semesters. The prerequisite of the subject Thesis II is a completed Thesis I course. In justified cases the subjects of Thesis I and Thesis II can be registered on in the same semester with the admission of the Head of Department and the supervisor’s proposal. In this case a student have to produce such great performance that is proportionate to 15 weeks multiple 24 hours per week that is equal with 360 hours of work so that the subjects can be completed with a grade conceded by the supervisor. The criteria for completing the subjects are determined by the subject supervisor.

The selected topic must be announced on a Thesis topic announcement form. This document must be signed by the referee and the supervisor before handing in and the parts of the task to be developed must be designated too.

The student has to make his/her Thesis within the framework of Thesis I and Thesis II subjects. The student can make a Thesis of a topic conceded from an outer firm (from an internship place or other companies) approved and announced by the Department or of a topic announced by the Department according to the student’s choice. The topic of a Thesis can be a continued topic for example of an essay to the Scientific Students' Associations (SSA). This Thesis is not equivalent of the Thesis on BSc training. 
This Thesis is the evidence that a candidate has completed all the requirements of a scientific field (here: mechatronical sciences) and he/she is capable to perform any engineering tasks at the highest level and to control assigned BSc graduated engineers or to launch individual scientific researches. Therefore the requirements for content of the Thesis are much more advanced level.

There is a significant rule that to quote or transfer parts from the student’s earlier written thesis is forbidden but it can be relied on. Quotation and transfer is permitted from earlier works to NCSSA by the student with appropriate reference, if his essay to NCSSA was not used for his thesis on BSc. 

 

THESIS SUBMISSION

The deadline of thesis submission is 1 December 2022, 12 o’clock at noon only in E-learning!

Students must submit their Thesis in 1 copy on the day of the final exam to Nóra Tóth, Building B, 1st floor, 4th office! The Thesis Announcement form must be attached at the beginning of the dissertation.

Link to E-learning: https://elearning.unideb.hu/course/view.php?id=3884#section-2

The Department of Mechatronics shall accept theses submitted strictly on time. There is no possibility for extension. 

Documents required for the confidentiality procedure:

• Confidentiality Agreement between the University and the Company  – must be filled in four copies, be signed and must be handed in in room 120. One of the four copies must be laced up into the thesis.
• Confidentiality Agreement between the Student and the Company

The Structure of theThesis:

• Top cover: the title is „Thesis”, the student’s name and the academic year must be included
• Inner cover: The name of the university, the faculty, the major, the writer’s name, the title of the thesis and the year of submission, the supervisor’s and referee’s names must be included
• The Thesis Application Sheet (original, signed by the Head of Department)
• Thesis evaluation sheet (only one of the copies has to include it which remains at the department)
• Plagiarism Statement and a fine quality (passport) photo not older than one year
• Table of contents
• Abstract of the thesis (in English and in Hungarian too. Note: the Hungarian version should be prepared by your supervisor.)
• Main part

1. Introduction: representation of the task, the purpose of the thesis, justification of the task, a short summary about the structure of the thesis. (maximum of 3 pages).

2. Theoretical summary (minimum of 30 pages): Literary and theoretical summary of the thesis topic. Theoretical summary is a constructed summary on the basis of the latest publications on the thesis topic that introduces what theory,others’ previously presentedresearch results, experiments, engineering creations were applied to the thesis. Theoretical summary must include the required theoretical derivations (with right references), the familiar scientific and/or engineering results. Theoretical summary must be written on the basis of at least 30 vocational books, articles, conference, of which a maximum of one third can be internet resource. (These publication data bases can be entered from computers registered to the university network.: IEEExplore, eisz, Scopus, Science direct , data base of the library.)

3. Main paragraph: elaboration of the task (minimum 30 pages)

4. Summary: evaluation of the results, introducing further possibilities of improvement.

5. Acknowledgements for the support in task elaboration. (optional)

6. Bibliography: guideline on the bases of ISO 690:2010, originally Mechatronics Engineers (MSc) has the right to apply the  referential formof IEEE community, that is equaled to ISO 690:2010 standard: handling references in Word documents, MS guideline

The goal of the literature research is to sum up SOA, State-of-the-Art. In your case the undergraduate SOA, what we have studied you during undergraduate subjects. Suggested steps:

1. You must identify the competences, what is required for your thesis. Example: stepping motor and drive circuit, Pneumatic circuit, machine element of cylinder and valve, PLC programming: ST, and so on.
2. You must identify the subject, where you have studied those competences. You can refer to Mechatronics BSc curriculum: https://edu.unideb.hu/p/mechatronics-engineering-bsc
3. You must collect all references and your notes of those subject. Then you can refer to the specific competence and SOA, what is needed to accomplish your thesis tasks.

7. Appendix (optional)

The length of the thesis must be about 90 pages (from the cover to the appendix) line spacing is 1.5, with about 55-60 characters (including space characters) in a line. The minimum length of the thesis must be 70 pages, the maximum must be 110 pages.

In the thesis the candidate must take care of using precise language and academic style. Variables of mathematics and physics must be displayed by cursives in the text and figures. Vector quantity in physics must be displayed by bold cursives, tensor quantity must be bold.

Summary

A minimum five maximum six-page summarized description (summary) about the thesis must be handed in on separated sheets in one copy. The bibliography of it must contain only the literature applied in the summary. It’s relevant to know that the description does not summarize the thesis but the task has been done, therefore any reference to the thesis must be avoided, such sentences cannot be included in it like "My thesis includes 6 paragraphs." "The second part of the thesis is a literary summary." " My task was to investigate power packs inthe thesis." In case it is consequential the thesis must be listed as a source in the bibliography, its authors are the candidate himself, the supervisor and the head of the department. ([5]     Armin Masoumian, IstvánPógár, GézaHusi: FPGA Based Line Follower Robot, Thesis, Mechatronics Engineering BSc major, Faculty of Engineering, 2017.)

The thesis and the summary both need to be written on the same CD (only one) and it must be handed in to the department. The thesis and the summary must be both in PDF and Word format on the CD.

A state exam can be started only by a candidate whose thesis and summarized description are evaluated with ’pass’ (2 in the AW5 grading scale) by the reviewers and the department.

Turnitin sometimes takes 24 hours to check. It is an online service, and it is quite overloaded during submission.

For MSc graduate students:

Dear Master students,

From the 3rd semester onwards, you will start your Diploma Design I and Hardware Engineering Independent Project I. The two courses, 20 contact hours per week, will amount to 240 contact hours per semester. Please complete a corresponding quality and quantity of work. In the last week of the project, you will have to give a presentation on your results.

In MSc Diploma Thesis I, the main assignment is to study the literature in detail and to provide the scientific basis for the diploma project. This will be the basis for their own work in the Diploma course. The aim is to write at least 30 pages, using at least 50 (quality) references from the literature:

(1) review the most recent research on your topic and

(2) select the model or technical solution best suited to the task, or

(3) performance measurement (validation) logic.

You will obtain a grade in MSc Diploma Thesis I based on the quality of the document produced.

Search databases: Google Scholar, Researchgate, Sciencedirect, IEEE Xplore, MTMT.hu, Idea Tutóstér

Please avoid linking to websites. Acceptable documentation: scientific articles, White paper, Application Note

In Hardware Engineering Independent Project I subject the goal is to create a development environment in which you will do your own work (determined after literature review) in the following semester.

I would like to illustrate it with an example. Example thesis topic: speed control of PMSM motor with CSI (current controlled inverter), implementation with NI SbRIO. As part of Harvester Manufacturing Independent Project I, the student builds the NI/LabView based environment in which he/she can program the SbRIO, tests the analog and digital inputs with some example programs. From Diploma Design I, he/she will review PMSM motor models (concentrated, linear, etc...), possible drive methods, PWM, VSI, CSI, possibly choose a Park vector, sensor feedback speed control (taken from Digital Servo Drives, there are Multisim and LabView examples!). Diploma in Management I course with documentation of the PMSM model and inverter connections, supported by scientific papers. The source of scientific articles is also available e.g. on the elearning interface of the Digital Servo Drives subject.

Please coordinate your job with the consultants and email me a one-page summary of the thesis topic, taking into account the above.

For diploma projects undertaken with an industrial partner, I will be the internal consultant.

I wish you good work,

Dr SZEMES, Péter Tamás
Head of Department, Associate Professor
University of Debrecen, Faculty of Technology
Department of Mechatronics

Presentation and submit obligation for MSc Students

Thesis Projects - industrial places

Step-by-step guide to writing thesis

 

1. Registering for the course "Thesis I and Thesis II "

The student has to make his/her Thesis within the framework of Thesis I and Thesis II subjects. The student can make a Thesis of a topic conceded from an outer firm (from an internship place or other companies) approved and announced by the Department or of a topic announced by the Department according to the student’s choice. The topic of a Thesis can be a continued topic for example of an essay to the Scientific Students' Associations (SSA). This Thesis is not equivalent of the Thesis on BSc training.

If you know which topic you would like to choose or which field of mechatronics engineering you are interested in, you should contact an instructor from the Department whom you would like as your supervisor. If he/she accepts your topic, you can register for his/her "Thesis" course at the beginning of the semester via the NEPTUN system. If there is no course with the chosen supervisor you can contact the administrator of the Department or the International Office (Faculty of Engineering).

 

2. Thesis Topic Announcement Form

During the semester you can have two guiders, one instructor from the Faculty and one external supervisor. The external supervisor (referee) is usually an expert from a company where you can do for example additional research work or measurements according to your topic. The external supervisor is not obligatory.

After you have a topic, you have to negotiate its details with your supervisor(s). The Thesis Topic Announcement Form(sample file) signed by the supervisor(s) must be submitted to the Department. The external supervisor’s sign certifies that his/her company provides thesis topic for you. This first version can also be hand-written and is merely a topic plan which will usually change as soon as work on thesis goes forward.

 

Submission deadline for the thesis topic announcement form: 6 March 2020, room 120.

Before the thesis submission deadline, as soon as its details are finalized, the same form (without signature) should be sent in MS Word to Mrs Nóra Tóth at tothnora@eng.unideb.hu. This final form is the basis for the Thesis Application Sheet (original, signed by the Head of Department) which is prepared by the Department and must be bound into the thesis.

The data necessary for the Department to prepare the Thesis Application Sheet are the following:

 

• Name of the student, name of the specialization, full-time training
• Title of the thesis,
• Specific tasks to workout (need to discuss with the supervisor) in imperative form (Please present...!, Please make...!),
• Name of the internal tutor (supervisor),
• (Name of the external tutor, name of the company.)

 

1. Regular consultation with the supervisor

During the semester students have to give account of the current state of the thesis to the internal tutor at least three times.

 

2. Submitting thesis

Formal Thesis Requirements (Sample of a Thesis can be downloaded (here)

The length of the thesis must be about 90 pages (from the cover but not included the appendix) line spacing is 1.5, with about 55-60 characters (including space characters) in a line. The minimum length of the thesis must be 70 pages, the maximum must be 110 pages.

In the thesis the candidate must take care of using precise language and academic style. Variables of mathematics and physics must be displayed by cursives in the text and figures. Vector quantity in physics must be displayed by bold cursives, tensor quantity must be bold.

Plagiarism is strictly forbidden! Students have to sign the Plagiarism Declaration which must be bound into thesis. The Plagiarism Declaration must be filled out electronically, as well.

 

What to be handed in to the administrator of the Department:

• 2 bound copy (After the state exam one copy is given back to the student, the department stores the other copy.)
• Summary
• CD

 

Submission deadline for thesis: 22 May 2020, 12.00 noon, room 120.

 

The Structure of the Thesis:

• Top cover: the title is „Thesis”, the student’s name and the year of submission must be included
• Inner cover: The name of the university, the faculty, the major, the writer’s name, the title of the thesis, the year of submission, the supervisor’s and referee’s names must be included
• Thesis Application Sheet (original, signed by the Head of Department)
• Thesis Evaluation Sheet (only one of the copies has to include it which remains at the department)(sample file)
• Plagiarism Statement (must be filled out electronically and signed by the student) and a fine quality (passport) photo not older than one year
• (Confidentiality Agreement, only if the company requests it, as the topic is confidential.)
• Table of contents
• A summary of the thesis (only in English)
• Main part

1. Introduction (1-3 pages): representation of the task, the purpose of the thesis, justification of the task, a short summary about the structure of the thesis.
2. Theoretical summary (10-30 pages)

Literary and theoretical summary of the thesis topic. Theoretical summary is a constructed summary on the basis of the latest publications on the thesis topic that introduces: theories others’ previously presented, research results, experiments, engineering creations were applied to the thesis. Theoretical summary must include the required theoretical derivations (with right references), the familiar scientific and/or engineering results. Theoretical summary must be written on the basis of at least 10 specialized books, articles, conference articles of which a maximum of one third can be internet resource. (These publication data bases can be entered from computers registered to the university network: IEEExplore, eisz, Scopus, Science direct , data base of the library.)

3. Main chapter: elaboration of the task (minimum 30 pages)
4. Summary: evaluation of the results, introducing further possibilities of improvement.
5. Acknowledgements for the support in task elaboration. (optional)
6. Bibliography: guideline on the bases of ISO 690:2010, originally Mechatronics Engineers (BSc) have the right to apply the  referential form of IEEE community, that is equaled to ISO 690:2010 standard:handling references in Word documents, MS guideline
7. Appendix (optional)

 

Summary

A minimum five maximum six-page summarized description (sample file) about the thesis must be handed in on separated sheets in one copy. The bibliography of it must contain only the literature applied in the summary. It is relevant to know that the description does not summarize the thesis but the task has been done, therefore any reference to the thesis must be avoided, such sentences cannot be included in it like "My thesis includes 6 paragraphs." "The second part of the thesis is a literary summary." "My task was to investigate power packs in the thesis." In case it is consequential the thesis must be listed as a source in the bibliography, its authors are the candidate himself, the supervisor and the head of the department.

 

CD

The thesis and the summary both need to be written on the same CD (only one) and it must be handed in to the department. The thesis and the summary must be both in PDF and Word format on the CD.

 

Confidentiality Agreement in Hungarian is available below:

Template for Confidentiality Agreement (University - Company - Hungarian)

Template for Confidentiality Agreement (University - Company - English)

Template for Confidentiality Agreement (Student - Company)

 

A state exam can be started only by a candidate whose thesis and summarized description are evaluated with ’pass’ (2 in the AW5 grading scale) by the reviewers and the department.

3. Thesis Review

After the submission the Department send the Thesis to the chosen reviewer. The review can be taken from the Administrator after the written part of the State Exam. At the Thesis defence the student has to answer the reviewer’s question(s). Please note that the committee can also ask further questions. 

4. Improving thesis with a fail mark

If thesis is evaluated with a fail mark by the reviewer, the head of department may decide to change the mark.

If thesis is evaluated with a fail mark by the head of department, the student is not allowed to take the final exam and is supposed to prepare a new thesis.