Independent guides · English and German

Research, done properly. From the first search to the final talk.

Clear, practical guides for students and researchers: how to search the literature, which tools are worth using, how to write and cite, where to publish and how to present. No ghostwriting, no shortcuts that put your degree at risk.

Start with the literature Compare research tools

01 Search Literature search: a step-by-step method that works
02 Write Thesis structure: chapters, order and what goes where
03 Publish How to publish a research paper: step-by-step guide
04 Present Academic poster: how to design a scientific poster

Seven sections, one research process

Ordered the way a project actually runs, from reading to presenting. Every guide is written in English and German.

If you are already thinking about the next degree while writing your bachelor's thesis, it helps to plan your master's programme (in German) early and keep application deadlines and admission grades in view.

01 4 pages

Literature search and review

How to search databases systematically, write a literature review, find a research gap and turn it into a research question that holds up.
02 5 pages

Research tools compared

Reference managers, AI research assistants, plagiarism checkers and writing assistants compared on features, price, data protection and what your university allows.
03 5 pages

Academic writing

Research methodology, research proposals, citation styles, thesis structure and the practical last step of printing and binding, explained clearly.
04 4 pages

Publishing your research

How to choose a journal, prepare and submit a paper, what open access really costs, how peer review works and how to recognise predatory journals.
05 2 pages

Presenting your research

How to design a scientific poster that people stop for, submit an abstract to a conference and give a talk that fits the time slot.
06 3 pages

Research careers

How to apply for a PhD, how scholarships and research grants work, and what researchers need to know about patents before they publish.
07 1 page

Deep tech explained

Research-heavy technologies explained for non-specialists, starting with emerging memory: MRAM, ReRAM and phase-change memory.

Where most readers start

01

Literature search: a step-by-step method that works

A practical method for a systematic literature search: define concepts, pick databases, build search strings, screen results and document every step.
02

Research gap: how to find one and justify it

What a research gap is, the main types, where to look for one in the literature and how to check that your gap is real, relevant and doable.
03

How to cite in APA, IEEE and Harvard: a clear comparison

How to cite in APA, IEEE and Harvard: in-text citations, reference list patterns, key differences, which fields use which style and how to stay consistent.
04

Research proposal: structure, steps and common mistakes

How to write a research proposal for a thesis, PhD application or grant: the standard structure, what each section must show, a timeline and common mistakes.
05

Predatory journals: how to spot them before you submit

How to spot predatory journals and conferences: the typical warning signs, a checklist using DOAJ, COPE and ISSN, and what to do if you have already submitted.
06

PhD application: how to apply for a doctorate step by step

How a PhD application works: finding advertised positions or a supervisor, the documents you need, the research proposal and preparing for the interview.

Tools compared

Software that helps rather than gets in the way

Reference managers, AI research assistants and plagiarism checkers, compared on features, export, data protection and what examination rules usually allow.

All tool comparisons

Reference managers compared: Zotero, Citavi, Mendeley, EndNote

Zotero, Citavi, Mendeley and EndNote compared on price, platforms, Word integration, collaboration, export and data protection, with a clear pick per situation.
AI tools for research: Elicit, Scite, Consensus compared

What AI research tools such as Elicit, Scite and Consensus can and cannot do, how to use them responsibly and what your examination rules may require.
Plagiarism checkers compared: what students should know

How plagiarism checkers work, what Scribbr, Grammarly and QuillBot offer, why results differ from your university's system and how to use a check sensibly.

Tools and providers

This is where we list research and writing tools we have checked against their documentation and terms. Nothing goes here before that check is done.

Partner links are marked as such.

Auf Deutsch

Alle Ratgeber gibt es auch auf Deutsch, mit Literaturrecherche, Exposé, Zitierstilen und Promotion.

Zum deutschen Bereich

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