Bachelor Thesis Human Resources

The aim of a Bachelor's thesis is to work independently on a scientific subject in the field of Human Resource Management or Family Businesses.

There are two application and assignment cycles per year (see below under Procedure). Bachelor thesis topics that you can apply for are published here on April 23 and October 23 (see below under Topics). 

Your own topic suggestions are welcome.

One of two options is possible for the type of Bachelor's thesis:

  • A comprehensive and complete systematic literature review on a specific HR-related topic or in the field of family businesses.
  • A detailed presentation and explanation of a research question in the field of human resources or family businesses in order to write a conceptual thesis.

Contact

IOP information sheet on written work Department of Human Resources (PDF, 348KB) Information Sheet working with artificial intelligence - version 1 (PDF, 317KB) Declaration of Academic Integrity artificial intelligence (PDF, 72KB)

Procedure

If you want to write your Bachelor's thesis at the IOP, there are two dates every year on which you can apply for an offered subject or with your own subject.

  1. Publication of the available subjects
    • 1st date: 23.04.
    • 2nd date: 23.10.
  2. Registration for Bachelor Thesis (student)
    • Registration:
    • 1st period: 25.04. (12:00) - 02.05. (12:00)
    • 2nd period: 25.10. (12:00) - 02.11. (12:00)
    • By email to pauline.kaeser@unibe.ch
      Content: Name, matriculation number, contact details, transcript of records, at least 3 prioritized topics or a short proposal (see Topics)
      Please note that applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered
  3. Feedback (IOP-P)
    • 1st date: 11.05.
    • 2nd date: 11.11.
    • By e-mail to student
      Content: Confirmation or rejection of supervision, assignment of the supervisor.
  4. Choice of first meeting (student)
    • Registration period:
    • 1st date: 12.05. - 19.05.
    • 2nd date: 12.11. - 19.11.
    • By e-mail to supervisor
      Content: Name, matriculation number, contact details, desired dates (see period for initial meetings under point 6)
    • Please note: If you register late for the initial meeting, your supervision confirmation will expire. By registering for the initial interview, you accept a mandatory place for your supervision. Withdrawal after acceptance will result in failure of the thesis and a grading of 1.
  5. Feedback (IOP-P)
    • 1st date: no later than 22.05.
    • 2nd date: no later than 22.11.
    • By e-mail to the student
      Content: Arranging an appoinment
  6. Kick-off meeting (student, supervisor)
    • Possible time periods:
    • Period 1: 22.05. - 20.10.
    • Period 2: 22.11. - 20.04.
    • Place: Supervisor’s office
      Content: Clarification of the topic
  7. Submission of proposal (student)
    • When: 3 weeks after the kick-off meeting (see point 6)
    • By email to the supervisor
      Content: Proposal according to “IOP” information sheet on written work Department of Human Resource Management (see legal regulations)
  8. Discussion of proposal (student, supervisor)
    • When: 1 week after submission of proposal (see point 7)
      Place: supervisor’s office
      Content: feedback, discussion, revision requests, if applicable
  9. Submission of revised proposal (student), if applicable (student)
    • When: 2 weeks after discussion of proposal (see point 8)
    • By email to the supervisor
      Content: revised proposal in accordance with discussion
  10. Approval and start of completion time (by the supervisor)
    • When: 1 week after submission of revised proposal (see point 9)
      By email to the student
      Content: Approval and any comments on revised proposal
  11. Optional interim meeting (student, supervisor)
    • Date: can be selected as required within the ten-week completion period
      Place: supervisor’s office
      Content: freely selectable
  12. Submission of Bachelor Thesis
    • When: 10 weeks after approval and start of completion period (see point 10)
      Content: A bound copy AND pdf
      Via email to the supervisor as well as submission to the supervisor’s office/secretariat (IOP)
      Please note: the thesis is regarded as failed if the submission deadline is not met
  13. Notification of the grades to the dean’s office (supervisor)
    • When: at the latest three months following the submission of the Bachelor thesis (see point 12)
  14. Optional feedback meeting (student, supervisor)
    • When: in consultation with the supervisor
      Place: supervisor’s office

Topics

You also have the opportunity to propose your own topic. In this case, please submit a short proposal (2 pages) with a description of your topic, your motivation and at least 5 relevant sources with your application.

One of two options can be considered as the core content of the Bachelor's thesis:

  1. Preparation of a scientifically sophisticated, comprehensive and complete systematic literature review on a topic in the field of human resources or family businesses.
  2. the conceptual discussion and detailed presentation of a scientifically sophisticated research question from the fields of human resources or family businesses.