The article discusses the concept of originality in academic research in engineering. The main goal was to define originality in master's and doctoral theses in engineering. The researchers conducted an online survey among engineering peers to gather evidence and expert opinions. The key finding was that there is a difference of opinion on what constitutes originality in research, leading to varying assessments of theses. The study aimed to reach a consensus on the definition of originality in engineering research to ensure that new and valuable contributions are made to the field.