Theses

General Information

Theses in the Finance, Banking & Insurance area are assigned centrally. Please have a look at the information on the assignment procedure and the applicable guidelines for writing scientific papers. You may contact the responsible research assistant if your question is not answered on these pages.

Students enrolled in the program "Lehramt an beruflichen Schulen" who have been assigned to the chair do not need to take part in the central allocation procedure. Instead, please refer to the FAQs.

Primary Topics for Theses

Within the framework of the centralized procedure for the assignment of bachelor and master theses in the Finance, Banking & Insurance area, the Chair of Banking and Behavioral Finance offers theses in the following six primary topics. Practical cooperations are possible if agreed upon.

If you have questions regarding a specific topic, you may contact one of the chair's research assistants. You are welcome to bring up your own ideas or priorities for your theses. Otherwise, the chair offers specific subjects from the six primary topics. Furthermore, finance- and bank-related topics from the field of marketing, auditing, taxes, and controlling are conceivable.

1. Banking
   In this area, we are interested in the different business areas of banks and the associated tasks, challenges, and success factors. Important topics are, for example, the trade-off between fee-based and commission-based consulting, innovations in payment transactions, or dealing with non-banks as competitors in day-to-day business. 
    
2. Bank Regulation
   In this area, we are interested in the influence of regulation on the business activities of banks and other financial service providers. Important topics are, for example, the possible effects of regulatory requirements on day-to-day business on the one hand and international competitiveness on the other.
    
3. Behavioral (Corporate) Finance
   In this area, we are interested in individual behavior in financial decision making. The focus is on the effects of individual perceptions and preferences in private and corporate investment as well as financing decisions.
   
   
4. Economic Decisions Under Risk and Uncertainty
   In this area, we are interested in economic decisions that are made under risk and uncertainty. This also includes under which conditions individual decisions change. The theoretical discussion of models, their review in experiments or field studies as well as empirical investigations are relevant in this area.
   
   
5. Asset, Portfolio, and Risk Management
   In this area, we are interested in active and passive investment strategies within different asset classes. The focus is on applied portfolio management, taking into account possible risks and costs associated with a sustainable return on investment.
   
   
6. Wealth Creation and Pension Schemes
   In this area, we are interested in the savings and investment behavior of individuals. The focus is on the selection of suitable investment forms in different life stages as well as the hedging of one's assets. In addition, the role of the state is particularly interesting when it comes to incentivizing private investments and provisions.