The main goal of this project is to enhance mutual understanding of the educational systems by defining the goals of the final thesis in teacher education in the different settings of the partner institutes. Official documents, teachers' and students' perceptions were used. Assessment criteria and assessment practice were explored at the hand of interviews and questionnaires. The findings show similarities among the institutes though the importance of the assessment criteria may differ. Finally the process of writing a thesis was looked at from different perspectives : actors, hours for supervising, main focus of the supervisor and the relationship between supervisor and student. The main findings refer to a lack of resources, poor writing abilities, the role of the supervisor and the dimension of (in)dependence.