APA7 Thesis Template For Overleaf

This repository is designed around one student workflow: upload the prepared Overleaf package, open one file, and start writing.

Students should use the release asset thesis_template.zip, not the raw repository checkout.

thesis_template.zip is intentionally not kept in the repository file tree (Code tab). Download it from the latest release:

https://github.com/MRI-Lab-Graz/master-thesis-overleaf/releases/latest

For Students

Use exactly one main file:

• thesis_eng.tex for English
• thesis_ger.tex for German

Edit only these locations:

• your chosen thesis_*.tex file
• bibliography.bib
• your own files inside figures/

Ignore these locations:

• template/
• maintainer/
• dev/
• Makefile
• bachelor_*.tex

Quick Start

1. Download thesis_template.zip from the GitHub Release assets.
   • Direct link: https://github.com/MRI-Lab-Graz/master-thesis-overleaf/releases/latest
2. In Overleaf, create a new project by uploading that zip.
3. Open thesis_eng.tex or thesis_ger.tex.
4. Replace the % (CHANGE ME) fields at the top.
5. Click Recompile.

Daily Use

• Write by replacing the example sections with your own text.
• Add citations to bibliography.bib and cite with \cite{Key}.
• Upload images to figures/ and include them with \includegraphics{figures/your-file.ext}.
• Recompile once after text changes and twice after bibliography changes.

Troubleshooting

• Missing citations usually mean you need another compile pass, or Overleaf must be set to LaTeX (pdfLaTeX) + Biber.
• Missing images usually mean the filename or path in figures/ does not match exactly.
• The warning microtype: Unable to apply patch 'footnote' is harmless.
• Red errors matter; most yellow warnings do not.

Repository Scope

This repository contains a few maintainer-side and historical files that are intentionally excluded from the student ZIP.

• thesis_eng.tex and thesis_ger.tex are the supported public templates.
• bachelor_eng.tex and bachelor_ger.tex are legacy examples, not part of the public student flow.
• The Overleaf release ZIP is generated by scripts/make_overleaf_zip.sh.

For Maintainers

Local validation requires TeX Live or MacTeX with pdflatex, biber, latexmk, and make on PATH.

• make build-en builds the English thesis PDF.
• make build-de builds the German thesis PDF.
• make build-all builds both thesis PDFs.
• make clean removes auxiliary files.
• make zip creates thesis_template.zip.
• make zip-check creates thesis_template.zip and verifies that it contains only the public student files.

GitHub Actions builds both public thesis entry points.

• Push and pull request runs upload temporary workflow artifacts.
• Published GitHub Releases receive permanent assets: thesis_template.zip, thesis_eng.pdf, and thesis_ger.pdf.
• The release-assets workflow can also be run manually for a tag, but existing release assets are intentionally not overwritten.
• To publish a fresh student ZIP after template changes, create and publish a new release tag.

License

Repository source files are released under the MIT License. Institutional logos and bundled third-party materials may be subject to their own terms.

Contact

Maintainer: karl.koschutnig@uni-graz.at