How to Write the Introduction Section in Your Bachelor’s Thesis

The Practical Guide for Students

The introduction section to your bachelor’s thesis is the key to a strong start. It introduces your topic, explains the aim and structure of your thesis, and sparks interest.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to write the introduction to your bachelor’s thesis – with tips on structure, the research question, and successful examples of introductions.

What a good introduction needs to accomplish

A good introduction has one clear goal: It should provide a convincing argument for why your research question is important and relevant.

It serves several functions:

  • It introduces the research question and the approach: What are you doing, and how?
  • It provides orientation: What is the topic, and why is it significant?
  • It shows the current state of research: What do we already know?
  • It identifies the research gap: What is still missing?

When you connect these elements coherently, you create an introduction that is logically structured and makes the central thread of your thesis visible from the outset.

Have you read this yet?
Find out about the most common pitfalls when writing your introduction and how to avoid them in our article “5 Common Mistakes in the Introduction to Your Bachelor’s Thesis“

How to build your introduction section step by step

Now you know why the introduction to your thesis is so crucial and what a classic structure looks like.

Now for the practical part: step by step, I’ll show you how to write the introduction to your bachelor’s thesis—with clear wording, practical examples, and a structure that works.

Let’s get started!

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Step 1: Narrow down your research topic

Many students start with a topic that is too broad. No wonder—after all, we are often interested in major social issues.

But: For an academic paper, you need a clearly defined field of study. In addition, a strong introduction often cites concrete figures or developments.

Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Which aspect of the topic interests you most?
  • Are there any current figures, trends, or problems related to it?
  • Who is affected by it—and why is this important?
  • Example: Climate neutrality:
    If you want to write about climate neutrality in cities, a possible opening would be:

    More and more European cities are pursuing the goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030. In Vienna, for example, more than 30 new measures had already been adopted by 2022 to reduce CO₂ emissions from urban transport.

Step 2: Summarize the state of research

Now the aim is to show what is already known about your research topic. You don’t have to conduct a complete literature review here, but you should mention a few key studies or findings.

What’s important is: Focus on what is directly related to your research question.

  • Example: Climate neutrality:
    Previous studies show that urban transport policy has a significant impact on the CO₂ footprint. Measures such as car-free zones, speed limits, and expanding public transport are considered key levers for reducing emissions.

Step 3: Formulate the research gap

This is often the crux: You have to show what has not yet been sufficiently researched. This is your research gap (gap), and it is the strongest argument for your bachelor’s thesis.

What matters is: Formulate the gap clearly. Many people make the mistake of trying to open up entire fields of research. Instead, try to identify a small, precise research gap that you can actually address.

  • Example: climate neutrality:
    So far, there are hardly any studies examining which combination of measures is particularly effective in large European cities. The long-term effects on commuting behavior and infrastructure have also received little research attention to date.

Step 4: Derive the research question(s)

The research gap you have identified automatically leads to your research question.

In the third paragraph of your introduction, you place it and show which aspects you want to investigate and how you can at least partially close the gap.

A good research question is precise, context-specific, empirically testable, and answerable.

  • Example: Climate neutrality:
    Which measures in Vienna’s transport policy, from experts’ perspective, contribute most strongly to reducing CO₂ emissions?

Step 5: Give an overview

The final paragraph of the introduction to your thesis is about how you proceed.

You don’t need to explain every method in detail just yet, but you should outline a rough roadmap. Here, you tell the reader what to expect and why your approach makes sense.

  • Example: climate neutrality:
    For this study, we will first examine which measures have been implemented in selected European cities. We will then analyze their impact on CO₂ emissions before examining the long-term effects on commuting behavior and urban infrastructure.

Example of how to structure your introduction

A clear structure helps you keep the thread while writing. Here’s a simple template that you can adopt almost word for word—whether it’s a term paper, bachelor’s thesis, or master’s thesis.

introduction section
  • Paragraph 1
    Briefly introduce the topic + explain its relevance
    Example: Climate neutrality is a central goal for many cities, including Vienna…
  • Paragraph 2
    What is already known in the research?
    Example: Studies show that transport measures have an impact on CO₂…
  • Our tip
    Recent figures or studies are always a good way to start your introduction.
  • Paragraph 3
    What is still missing? (Gap)
    Example: There are hardly any qualitative studies on experts’ subjective assessments…
  • Paragraph 4
    Research question + brief approach
    Example: Interviews with experts should clarify which measures are considered particularly effective.

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Conclusion: Less is more

In the introduction, clarity matters more than complexity. So:

Engage your readers—with a topic that matters.
Show what research has already established—and what remains open.
Pose a precise, answerable research question.
And explain clearly how you intend to answer it.

If you keep these points in mind, you will not only write a good introduction but also lay the foundation for a convincing, clearly structured thesis.