Such a broad topic. You should at least hint at some of your interests. Ideally, do something related to your true interests in software engineering. 6 months

Such a broad topic. You should at least hint at some of your interests. Ideally, do something related to your true interests in software engineering. 6 months is not a long time. You definitely want a deliverable code product, even if just a minimum-viable implementation. If you are having trouble remembering, go back through your bookmarks/upvoted HN posts (if this a throwaway)/read laters. Suggestions: Take what ImTalking said and apply it. Find an industry that could benefit from software improvements/modeling/automation. Find the pain points. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11444451 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11444451 Combine data visualization with something of interest to the HN community that could go "viral" on HN once you publish it. Write an interesting niche chat bot (this is a really emerging field). Perhaps with machine learning. Write something that your future employers might use as a hireability signal Start a blog. Post it on HN. Document your process of researching and writing the thesis. Show us what it is like to be researching something in depth. I think many at HN (even those who openly eschew the idea of going back to school - or even going to college in the first place) would find it interesting.