Deadlines for thesis submission


Each RSM Master programme has specific deadlines for submitting the thesis proposal, final thesis and thesis re-sit. These deadlines will be communicated by your thesis coordinator.


Requesting a postponement of the final thesis (re-sit) deadline


If you want to request a postponement of the thesis proposal deadline, you don't need to contact the Examination Board. Instead, you only need approval from your coach, co-reader and thesis coordinator. 


A postponement of the final thesis deadline and/or thesis re-sit deadline is only possible in the following exceptional situations:


1. An ambitious or extensive thesis


An extension may be granted by your MSc-programme's Academic Director and/or Thesis Coordinator if your research is particularly ambitious or extensive. Approval may be granted on the following grounds: 

  • You are an excellent student who has undertaken a research project of which the importance transcends a conventional MSc thesis;
  • This research project is too ambitious or extensive to be completed within the normal deadlines;
  • Your coach and co-reader need to agree upon the necessity and desirability for an extension, referring to your talents, the context in which this research takes place and the significance of the endeavour either for RSM or for the research field as a whole. 


2. Special circumstances


You may also request for a postponement of the final thesis (re-sit) deadline in case you have been met with detrimental circumstances beyond your control which have affected your study progress in the thesis trajectory. 


In order to submit a request, you must follow the following steps:


1. Contact the student advisers to discuss your personal circumstances and the affect that these circumstances have on your study progress. You must also provide the student advisers with official documents as proof of your personal circumstances.  


2. Submit your request in Osiris Case in Osiris Student, and clearly indicate the proposed new deadline(s) in your request. You will also need to upload the approval of both your coach and co-reader with the new deadline(s), confirming that: 

  • you have worked hard during the spring trajectory and have been on time with deliverables (if possible, given the circumstances);
  • the extension in order to finish the thesis is no longer than approximately one month;
  • the coach and co-reader are willing and have the opportunity to supervise you for the duration of the postponement. 


Decision process

Timely and well-documented requests will be decided upon as soon as possible, preferably within two weeks, and ultimately within four weeks.


Graduation timeline and re-enrolment
In order to graduate within the current Academic Year both your thesis defense and grading must be completed on 31 August at the very latest. On 31 August the TOP record must show 'Thesis Done'. 
If this is not possible, and the new deadlines take place in the new Academic Year, you will need to re-enroll in the Master's programme for the new Academic Year before 31 August.