SELECTING A THESIS TOPIC - before the start of the diploma semester
Second-cycle students have the opportunity to choose their own master's thesis topic - the detailed scope of the work should be discussed and determined in consultation with the thesis supervisor each time - the topic is submitted via an application in USOS APD - by 10.09.2025.
Thesis topic:
- should reflect a specific research and design problem - in particular, the possibility of combining the research part with the proposed design solution should be emphasized,
- should concern current issues in the field of architectural, urban or conservation design,
- may be a response to a specific architectural competition, but its formulation should take into account the requirements of the master's thesis.
In USOS APD:
- Precisely specify the title of the thesis, indicating the research problem and the location of the project.
- In the section entitled "Description of the thesis", provide the purpose of the work for the research part and design, documentation and starting materials that the graduate will use, in the case of a competition - the name and type of competition with an indication of compliance with the requirements for a master's thesis and the expected result: written part (scope) and graphic part (scope).
Abridged schedule of the diploma semester:
before the start of the diploma semester, no later than 10.09.2025, the diploma thesis topic must be submitted in the USOS APD system:
The application is submitted by the Supervisor, in consultation with the student, he/she fills in the data concerning the thesis, then the Student signs the application (electronically in the system)
by the end of September, the relevant Faculty Committee accepts the thesis topic card.
by 31 January, the thesis must be uploaded to the USOS APD system - the deadline for submission of the thesis is the moment when the thesis is accepted in the system by the Supervisor (after reviewing the result of the JSA anti-plagiarism examination) - NOTE - the time for the examination must be taken into account - from 24 to 48 hours (with high workload).
Organization of the Master's diploma session, AY 2025/26
Information on the composition of the Committee and the date of the defense will be sent by e-mail no later than two days before the planned defense.
The Master's diploma exam will be oral and will take place during the defense of the diploma. Questions are asked based on the exam issues published on the WA PP website.
In RA 2025-26, in accordance with the decision of the WA PP Faculty Council, a physical model of the diploma project (working model) is delivered by the Student directly to the defense of the diploma. Models made by professional companies are not allowed. The scale and scope of the model to be agreed with the thesis supervisor.
Photos of the model should be included in the written work and uploaded as graphic attachments to the USOS APD system.
UPLOADING THE DIPLOMA THESIS:
Before uploading the diploma thesis, the Graduate should have:
- passed all subjects,
- closed all semesters.
The thesis supervisor in the USOS APD system allows the student to upload the thesis files. The graduate uploads the written work in PDF format as a "thesis" file and graphic attachments as "other" files. The written part is automatically transferred to the JSA system (uniform anti-plagiarism system).
The system checks the work and sends a report to the thesis supervisor. Waiting time 12-48h, depending on the servers' occupancy.
NOTE: The graduate should take into account the system's operating time - hence the safe deadline for uploading the finished work is about 2-3 days before the final deadline for submitting the work.
The graduate also uploads graphic attachments to the system (boards, model photos, statements). The lack of graphic attachments prevents the defense of the thesis.
The supervisor informs the graduate of the result. If it is necessary to correct the uploaded files, the supervisor allows the student to do so in the USOS APD system (new set of files).
NOTE: Approval of the work by the supervisor is considered as submission of the work and closes the possibility of exchanging files or uploading additional graphic attachments.
Graphic attachments:
- diploma boards - vertical format 100x70, each board in a separate file,
- photos of the model,
- statement of consent to participate in competitions.
SUBMITTING A DIPLOMA THESIS:
The moment of submission of the diploma thesis is considered to be the approval of the diploma thesis in the system by the Supervisor.
Before approving the thesis, the Supervisor should make sure that the Graduate has uploaded the final versions of graphic attachments.
Approval of the thesis in the system by the Supervisor closes the possibility of making any changes to the files and graphic attachments. During the defense of the diploma thesis, the Committee and the Graduate use files downloaded from the system.
The Graduate submits an application to the Dean's Office for the issuance of a diploma and provides additional information for the supplement in Polish and English (if there are any, together with attachments confirming the above information). In the case of team work, Graduates submit a declaration indicating the authorship of individual parts of the written thesis and the participation of co-authors in the diploma project.
DEFENCE OF THE THESIS (duration approx. 1 hour):
Open part
The defense of the diploma thesis is public, guests may be invited - an exception may be the pandemic situation and imposed restrictions.
The defense cannot be recorded in any way by persons present in the room.
- Opening of the defense by the Chairman of the Committee on behalf of the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.
- Presentation of the thesis: The graduate has 10-15 minutes to present his/her thesis.
The graduate prints out the diploma boards and brings them to the Faculty on the designated day (schedule).
On the day of defense, the boards are moved to a designated room where the diploma exam takes place. The graduate brings a mock-up of the project.
During the presentation of the project, the graduate may use printed boards or present a multimedia presentation. It is not possible to add elements not included earlier or correct fragments of the diploma thesis and project. The scope of the work uploaded to the system is subject to the assessment of the Committee, the members of the Committee familiarize themselves with the digital versions of the boards and the written work before the defense. The reviewer enters an opinion based on them into the system.
A physical model of the designed building or complex is presented to the Commission at the end of this part.
- Thesis review: The reviewer reads the prepared review, after listening to the entire review the Graduate answers the Reviewer's questions.
- Discussion: The Chairman of the Commission starts a discussion on the diploma thesis. All persons present in the room can speak in the discussion.
Closed part
(only the Graduate and the Members of the Commission remain in the room):
- Diploma exam: The Commission asks the Graduate 3 questions. To pass the exam, the Graduate must receive a positive grade for at least two of them.
- The Graduate leaves the room, the Members of the Commission determine the grades for the defense, the diploma thesis and the exam questions.
Open part
- Announcement of results: The Graduate and guests return to the room, and the Chairman of the Commission announces the defense result.
- A Graduate whose thesis has been graded 5.0 is obliged to leave the printed boards at the University. The boards can be collected after one year.
TEAMWORK:
In the case of team work, when submitting documents to the Dean's Office, Graduates additionally bring a written statement in which they indicate the authorship of individual parts of the written work and the participation of co-authors in the diploma project.
The defense of the team work begins with the presentation of a part common to all authors, during which the authorship of individual parts of the work must be indicated. Then, each author presents the part of the work for which he is responsible. The reviewer presents a separate review for each part and enters them into the system accordingly. Each of the authors answers the reviewer's questions directed to his part of the work, the authors answer questions regarding the common part together.
Exam questions - each person answers their set of questions separately (only the person being examined + the Commission remains in the room during the answers).
The exam time in the case of a team diploma work is extended accordingly.