AGH University of Krakow
Mining, energy, computer science
How a thesis is typically structured
Most theses follow a structure that reviewers recognize instantly: a title page and abstract that state what the research is and why it matters, an introduction that frames the problem, a literature review that shows where the gap sits, a methodology chapter that explains how the research was actually carried out, results and discussion sections that separate what was found from what it means, and a conclusion that ties the argument back to the original question. References and appendices close out the document. Thesis committees at most technical and engineering-focused institutions expect this shape by default — not because it's a rigid formula, but because it's the clearest way to walk a reader from "here's the problem" to "here's what we now know."
Citation and referencing norms
Citation style is usually decided by discipline more than by any single rule: APA is common across the social sciences, education and much of business writing; IEEE is standard in most engineering and computer-science programs; Vancouver-style numbered referencing dominates medicine and the health sciences; and Harvard or MLA referencing shows up frequently in humanities and Commonwealth-influenced programs.
Conventions vary by program even within one country, so treat any general pattern as a starting point rather than a rule.
None of this is a substitute for what your own program actually specifies — treat it as background, and confirm the required style in your handbook or with your supervisor before you commit to one.
General thesis-writing tips
A handful of habits tend to separate a manageable thesis project from a stressful one, regardless of subject or program:
- •Start early — even a rough outline weeks before you have to, beats a blank page the week you don't
- •Keep a running reference list from the first source you read, not a pile to sort out later
- •Write the methodology chapter while the decisions are still fresh, rather than reconstructing them from memory months later
- •Draft results and discussion as separate passes — report what you found first, interpret it second
- •Revise in structural passes before line-level passes — fix what each chapter argues before you polish how it's worded
How we support students at this institution
A common question is whether we already know what AGH University of Krakow expects. We don't, and we're upfront about that — we have no official relationship with AGH University of Krakow. What we do have is experience supporting students across technical and engineering-focused institutions, which means we know the right questions to ask: for your program's specific handbook, your citation and formatting requirements, and your supervisor's feedback so far. Those documents, not assumptions, are what shape the actual work.
What affects thesis complexity at this level
Complexity in a thesis rarely comes from length alone — it comes from what the methodology has to justify. Programs with a strong technical or scientific component typically require more defense of the analysis method itself (why this statistical test, why this dataset, why this experimental design), while programs with an applied or business orientation typically require more defense of the framing (why this case, why this context, why this recommendation follows from the evidence).
Based on what's typically studied here — Mining, energy, computer science — it's worth discussing with your supervisor early which of these two demands your specific thesis leans toward, since it changes how you should be spending your research time.
Formatting and submission norms
Two formatting details tend to get overlooked until near submission: pagination style (roman numerals for front matter, arabic for the main text, is a common but not universal convention) and submission format, since electronic-only submission, physical binding requirements, or both, differ by institution and sometimes by degree level within the same institution.
General norms like these are useful for planning ahead, but they aren't a substitute for your own program's official handbook, which is the only source that can tell you what's actually required for your specific submission.
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Last reviewed: 2026-09-01