Graduation: step by step

Please Note!

Before uploading your master's thesis to u:space and submitting it to the SSC, you have to register the topic of your thesis and your supervisor(s) with your StudiesServiceUnit. 

Please ensure that the master's thesis has been correctly registered, otherwise the submission process will be delayed. 

The relevant form and further information can be obtained from the respective StudiesServiceUnit!

Please check with your responsible StudiesServiceUnit whether you have to submit your record of examinations.

As a general rule: Check your record of examinations on u:space to see whether all of your courses have been assigned correctly and whether you have successfully completed all of the required courses. If anything is unclear or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your StudiesServiceUnit.

Below, you can find a brief overview of whether or not you have to submit a record of examinations, and of any deviating regulations:

For the cover page or title page of the thesis, there are specific requirements regarding the layout and the data listed. To ensure that your title page is correct in terms of form and content, the title page is automatically created from your data during the upload procedure via u:space. This title page must be downloaded and merged with the thesis into a single pdf document.

Before uploading, please check your personal data in u:space, that will be printed on the title page. They are taken directly from the database of the University of Vienna and include your name, your previously acquired academic degrees as well as information on the supervision and possible joint supervision of your thesis. Therefore, please make sure that the topic and supervision of your master's thesis have been registered correctly before uploading (see step 2).

Please do not use a title page that you have created yourself in advance, as this will not be accepted during the formal check.
If you have any questions, please contact the SSC to avoid time-consuming corrections!

When you have completed your master's thesis, upload the thesis in PDF format to u:space for a plagiarism check. You can find detailed information about the electronic submission (german) and the upload portal on the website of the Office of the Studienpräses. 

Submission procedure

1. Start by uploading your thesis on u:space so that it can be checked for plagiarism.
   The cover sheet / title page is generated automatically during this process (see step 3).

   Once you have uploaded the document, you will receive an upload confirmation (“Hochladebestätigung”).
   Print out the upload confirmation from u:space and sign it.

2. If any textual similarities are detected between your work and other texts, the directorate of studies will examine whether it constitutes plagiarism (german).
   Please do not proceed with printing your thesis until you have received feedback (via email to your u:account) confirming a successful plagiarism check.
   The printed version must exactly match the electronically submitted version.
   Therefore, please use the PDF you uploaded to u:space.
3. After a successful plagiarism check, you must submit the hard-bound copy of your thesis to the SSC (see step 5).

You can find detailed information about the plagiarism check and creation of the document in the regulations on the formal requirements for the submission of academic theses (pdf).

Please note that since 1 October 2015, you do not have to include your curriculum vitae in you thesis!

Formal requirements

Please note the regulations on the formal requirements for the submission of academic theses (pdf). Here you will find a summary of the most important points:

• The cover sheet created during the upload process (step 3) must be used and merged with the thesis into a single pdf document.
  Please do not use a title page that you have created yourself in advance, as this will not be accepted during the formal check.
• Printing: Pages have to be printed on both sides on A4 paper, hardbound
  (free choice of colour, embossing optional)
• Please note that since 1 October 2015, you do not have to include your curriculum vitae in you thesis!

Abstract

Every thesis must contain a German abstract of at least 500 characters (including spaces/blank characters). The abstract is a brief summary of the central points of your thesis. Optionally, you can also include an English abstract.

If your whole thesis is written in English, it must contain an English abstract.

Blockage of a thesis

All master's theses written at the University of Vienna are published on the thesis server of the Vienna University Library. However, authors are entitled to block their thesis for a maximum duration of 5 years. The corresponding form must be submitted to the SSC together with the printed version of the thesis at the latest. For further information, please see the information sheet on the publication and blockage of the thesis (pdf). 

Application form for the blockage of a thesis (pdf)

After the plagiarism check has been carried out (approximately one week after uploading the thesis), you will receive an e-mail prompting you to submit your master’s thesis to the StudiesServiceCenter. A submission is only possible once you have received the e-mail notifying you that the plagiarism check has been completed.

The master's thesis can be submitted online. 
After you have uploaded your master's thesis to u:space, please send the following completed and signed form to: ssc.sozialwissenschaften@univie.ac.at.

• A signed confirmation that the master's thesis was successfully uploaded to the plagiarism server ("Hochladebestätigung").
  (You will recieve the upload confirmation during the last step of the upload process in u:space)

The SSC forwards your uploaded thesis (u:space) to your supervisor(s) after submitting the two forms. 

Print version of the master’s thesis

The printed version must exactly match the electronically submitted version.
Therefore, please use the PDF you uploaded to u:space.

Please send us two hardbound copies (printed double-sided) of your master’s thesis after uploading it to u:space so that they can be forwarded to the Vienna University Library. You can either send your thesis by post or deposit it at the porter’s desk at the NIG.

Send the hardbound version ONLY from Austria or other EU countries. When shipping from non-EU countries, high customs duties are incurred, which must be paid by you. In this case, use the option of bind the thesis in Austria (e.g. facultas Bindeservice or Lehrmittelstelle) and have it delivered directly to the SSC. 

Following the positive assessment of the master’s thesis (and the completion of all required courses), you can complete the final examination (public defence). Please register for the public defence at your StudiesServiceUnit.

To be admitted to the final examination, your master’s thesis must have been assessed positively. In addition, you require a record of examinations that has been completed and confirmed by the directorate of studies (see above).

For further information about the procedure of the final examination, please see the relevant curriculum or the website of the responsible StudiesServiceUnit:

• Information about the final examination: StudiesService Communication Science
• Information about the final examination: StudiesService Gender Studies (in German)
• Information about the final examination: StudiesService Global Demography
• Information about the final examination: StudiesService Development Studies (in German)
• Information about the final examination: StudiesServiceUnit Social and Cultural Anthropology (in German)
• Information about the final examination: StudiesService Nursing Science (in German)
• Information about the final examination: StudiesServiceUnit Political Science (in German)
• Information about the final examination: StudiesServiceUnit Journalism and Communication Studies (in German)
• Information about the final examination: StudiesServiceUnit Sociology (in German)
• Information about the final examination: StudiesService Science and Technology Studies

The official notice of degree award will be issued by the SSC within four weeks after you have submitted the graduation documents. You will receive an e-mail on you unit e-mail address informing you that your documents have been completed. 

PLEASE NOTE:

You will receive two separate e-mails:

• "Congratulations on successfully completing your studies!"
  • Automated e-mail, the academic degree has been completed in the system.
• "Sending the graduation documents"
  • You will receive the officially signed graduation documents via e-mail