Thesis Proposals

Do you want to write your thesis at EWB-SWE? We welcome many students every year who have applied for our various thesis projects. On this page we present a selection of thesis projects. At the moment we offer thesis proposals for our projects in Tanzania and Nepal.

Proposal for a Master Thesis

Master Programme Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering 2025/26

Proposal 1: Designing a Sustainable Agriculture and Irrigation System to Achieve Food Self-Sufficiency at Tumaini Open School

Background:
Tumaini Open School in Tabora, Tanzania, currently provides meals for 65 people daily and expects this number to double in the coming year, (with an end goal of serving 450 people daily). With the increase in annual food costs, establishing a sustainable farming system could drastically reduce expenses and even create a surplus for market sales. However, an inadequate access to water and ineffective agricultural practices pose major challenges.

Research Aim:
To develop a comprehensive plan for a sustainable agricultural system, including crop selection, irrigation design, and a business model that supports the school’s food self-sufficiency and financial independence.

Objectives:

Identify high-yield, climate-resilient crops suitable for Tabora’s soil and rainfall conditions, focusing on maize, beans, rice, and vegetables.
Evaluate modern agricultural techniques such as crop rotation, organic composting and agroforestry.
Design a water-efficient irrigation system using greywater and rainwater harvesting with drip irrigation to minimize waste. Approximate water demands.
Integrate organic waste (e.g. food scraps, manure) into a circular farming system through composting.
Assess land productivity and project yield potentials on the current 3 acres and future expansions. Can a surplus of crops be harvested?
Develop a business plan that includes input/output estimates, potential savings, revenue from marketable surplus, and payback period for infrastructure investments.

Methodology:
Field assessments, interviews with school staff, local farmers, and other partners, cost-benefit analysis, yield modeling, and irrigation mapping. GIS tools may be used to plan optimal land use and irrigation layouts. Crop data will be aligned with FAO recommendations for smallholder farms in East Africa.

Rainwater harvesting at A SCHOOL BUIlding

Expected Outcomes:
A replicable, low-input farming system and irrigation plan tailored to Tumaini’s environment and needs. The business model will show how sustainable agriculture could fully or partially finance the school’s food demand and operational costs within 3–5 years. The proposal will also guide donor engagement for funding implementation.

Special prerequisites:
The master thesis will require that you visit Tanzania for three months in order to conduct field work. Funding for your field studies can be applied for via the link below:

Specific timeframe (start date-end date, if needed)
Starting from the beginning of 2026 until the end of the academic year.

Supervisors:
From Engineers without borders: Ding He and/or Eduardo Ruiz

Please read and download the full proposal here

Proposal for a Master Thesis

Master Programme Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering 2025/26

Proposal 4: Sustainable Greywater Treatment and Reuse Systems for Irrigation and Construction at Tumaini Open School

Background:
Tumaini Open School discharges most greywater (from laundry, showers, dishwashing) untreated into the surrounding environment. With no formal sewer connection and limited water access, greywater reuse presents a valuable opportunity for non-potable uses, especially irrigation during dry seasons.

Research Aim:
To evaluate and propose feasible, low-cost greywater treatment systems suitable for Tumaini’s needs, enabling safe reuse while minimizing environmental contamination.

Objectives:

Identify the most practical greywater sources for treatment.
Design and compare two treatment solutions:

Filtration barrels with gravel, sand, and activated charcoal.
Elevated plant filtration beds mimicking constructed wetlands.

Evaluate environmental impacts, space requirements, and maintenance needs.
Assess reuse suitability based on water quality, (including microbial growth and pH testing).
Ensure adaptability to local construction materials and labour.

Methodology:
On-site assessments, water sampling and quality modeling (hypothetical or with partner labs), literature reviews on decentralized treatment systems, and stakeholder consultations for acceptance and usability.

Expected Outcomes:
A blueprint for implementing small-scale greywater treatment at the school, along with cost estimates, layout plans, and recommendations for safe reuse. The study will support long-term sustainability and water resilience while reducing pollution risks.

Special prerequisites
The master thesis will require that you visit Tanzania for three months in order to conduct field work. Funding for your field studies can be applied for via the link below:

Specific timeframe (start date-end date, if needed)
Starting from the beginning of 2026 until the end of the academic year.

Supervisors (name, email)
From Engineers without borders: Alicia Bizet, alicia.bizet@ewb-swe.org

Please read and download the full proposal here

Rainwater harvesting and water tank systems used for irrigation in Tanzania. Photos by: Emma Green Blomroos and Emil Tengmer.

Proposal for a Master or a Bachelor Thesis

Thesis Proposals for Build up Nepal

Background

EWB is partner of Build up Nepal (BUN), that was established following the 2015 earthquake in Kathmandu. BUN focuses on promoting compressed bricks made from a mixture of stone dust, cement and water or soil, cement, and water. These bricks are produced using a mixer, or doing manual mixing, and then compressed using a machine provided by BUN. Since its inception, BUN has supported over 300 small companies, contributing to the construction of more than 10,000 houses across Nepal. Their efforts have significantly reduced carbon emissions by 100,000 tonnes and created over 2,000 full-time jobs, with women making up a quarter of the workforce. Interlocking bricks, designed like LEGO blocks, are BUN's main product. These bricks, with their accompanying reinforcement solution are not only easy to assemble but are also earthquake-resistant, making them particularly suitable for construction in earthquake-prone regions like Nepal.

Thesis proposal - Soil sieving equipment

About the position
The project will focus on developing sieving equipment for soil. Previously the base material has mostly been crushed rock but since the small manufacturing businesses are of local nature it is essential that locally available material can be used. The soil has to be sieved to remove bigger particles in order for the casting process to function. Probably there will have to be some kind of shake table involved to accomplish this.

Conditions:
The scope can be adapted to be either a Master or a Bachelor thesis with one or two students.
Start: From autumn 2025.
Location: This work should preferably be done in Kathmandu at BUN.

Questions?
We are reviewing applications continuously. Go to the application page for more information.

To the application page

Thesis proposal – Investigating and Mitigating Shrinkage Crack Formation in Interlocking Brick Houses

About the position
The issue of cracks appearing in houses built with interlocking bricks is a significant concern, especially since it tends to be more pronounced compared to houses built with fired red bricks. Experts have identified these cracks as shrinkage related. To effectively address this problem, the project will focus on understanding the underlying causes, such as material properties and environmental factors, and developing strategies to eliminate or minimize crack formation. Also, the project may include further developing methods for effective monitoring and control of cracks to ensure long-term durability and quality of the structures. Additionally, it could propose ways of mitigating the risk for cracks developing.

Questions?
We are reviewing applications continuously. Go to the application page for more information.

To the application page

Thesis proposal – Optimising the Mix of Interlocking Bricks

About the position
In 2024, an exam work by Linn Bogren revealed that increasing the water content in the brick mix could significantly enhance strength due to improved workability. A specific change from 6% to 10% water content demonstrated a doubling of strength. In response, BUN has decided to set a new target mix of 8% water with 7% cement, down from the previous 10% cement. BUN has also begun retraining enterprises on this new method, which will be followed by continuous monitoring to ensure consistency. The key question is whether more water can be added to the mix while considering potential risks such as bricks breaking during production, alterations in surface texture and changes in other performance parameters. The compressive strength must be maintained at the target level with minimal variation. The ultimate objective is to reduce cement content further without compromising brick quality, primarily measured by compressive strength.

Conditions:
The scope can be adapted to be either a Master or a Bachelor thesis with one or two students.
Start: From autumn 2025.
Location: The work can be done in Nepal or in Sweden with preference for work in Kathmandu at BUN.

Questions?
We are reviewing applications continuously. Go to the application page for more information.

To the application page

Thesis proposal – Partial Replacement of Cement in Interlocking Bricks

About the position
Cement is the main driver of cost and emissions in the interlocking bricks promoted by BUN. The primary objective of this work is to partially substitute cement with alternative binders or supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as brick dust and Rice Husk Ash (RHA), which are readily available in Nepal. Cooperation with a private laboratory for grinding brick dust using a ball mill and initial testing has commenced. Testing will be conducted in BUN’s workshop, equipped for compressive strength testing. The scope of work includes determining the extent of cement substitution that maintains effective performance, assessing variability in quality and evaluating the economic viability of these substitutions based on available data. This effort aims to achieve cost reduction while ensuring quality control and performance of the interlocking bricks.

Questions?
We are reviewing applications continuously. Go to the application page for more information.

To the Application page