Can I write my thesis in a company in Belgium?

Yes, if your school approves it. The topic must be validated by your supervisor, who remains responsible for academic supervision and assessment.

What's the difference between thesis, TFE, and masterproef?

They are different names for the final dissertation: « mémoire » at university and in master's programmes, « TFE » often at university colleges in French-speaking Belgium, « bachelorproef » or « masterproef » in Flanders.

Can the company demand confidentiality?

It can request it. Arrange it from the start (agreement, anonymised data, confidential version) and check what your school allows.

How do I find a thesis topic on COLLABme?

Create your profile with your field of study and your level: the matching topics appear in the listings. You click « Choose this topic », then have it approved by a supervisor at your school.

Finding a thesis topic in a company: method and tips

Updated on November 5, 2026

A thesis or final project carried out with a company means a concrete topic, real data and often your first step into the professional world. But finding the right topic at the right level and getting your school to accept it takes time. This guide explains how to do it, and how COLLABme makes the topics companies propose visible.

Table of contents

Why do your thesis with a company?

A real problem: your work answers a question that an organisation is genuinely asking.
Access to the field: data, interviews, tests—things a purely theoretical topic doesn't always allow.
A network: the company sees how you work; some theses lead to an internship or first job.
For the company: an outside perspective, rigorous and overseen by a teacher, on a topic they don't have time to explore.

When to start?

In most Belgian institutions, the topic is chosen at the start of the academic year, often between September and November, for submission in spring or summer. Some programmes ask for a topic by the end of the previous year. Mark these dates in your regulations: they set your entire research timeline.

Finding a topic: three paths

Topics proposed by companies: some publish ready-made topics, with the field, level (bachelor's or master's) and period. This is the fastest route.
Your own topic, proposed to a company: start with a sector that interests you and a specific question, then contact two or three relevant companies with a short, well-reasoned request.
Your internship: if your internship takes place in a company, a question encountered on-site can become your topic, provided your supervisor approves it.

Have your topic validated by your supervisor

A topic interesting to a company is not necessarily a good thesis topic. Your supervisor will check that it has a clear research question, a method achievable within the given timeframe, and a level suited to your studies.

Present it to them early, with one page: the context, the question, your intended method, the data you'll have access to, and the company's role. A supervisor on the company side can be assigned, but your school evaluates the work.

Confidentiality and data: clarify from the start

Many companies ask that certain information remain confidential. This is possible, but must be organised before you begin: confidentiality agreement, anonymised data, confidential version of your thesis if your school allows it. If you handle personal data (interviews, surveys), comply with GDPR and your school's ethical rules.

Propose your topic to a company: the message that gets a response

If you're starting with your own idea, your first message should let the company say yes in five minutes. Keep it short and concrete:

Your course, your level (bachelor's or master's) and your thesis timeline.
The question you want to address, in one sentence, and why it matters to this company.
What you'd need: a few interviews, access to anonymised data, a contact person.
What the company gains: a summary of your results, presented to their team.

Attach your CV and suggest a fifteen-minute call. If you don't hear back after ten days, a brief follow-up is normal.

How thesis topics work on COLLABme

On COLLABme, a company, school, or teacher can publish a thesis topic: the field of study, the level (bachelor's or master's), the academic year or period, and the number of positions.

You see the topics that match your field and level, and you click « Choose this topic ». The company then accepts your choice or not.
A topic open to all schools must then be validated by a supervisor from your school.
A teacher can offer to co-supervise a topic. The topic is then reserved for students at their school, unless the company opens it to other schools.
When all positions are filled, the topic is marked as taken and disappears from search results.

Companies: by publishing a thesis topic, you receive applications from students working in your field, and teachers can offer to supervise.

This guide is for information only. Thesis rules (topic choice, supervisor, confidentiality, timeline) are set by each institution: check them in your faculty or programme regulations.