After many years of planning, researching, and writing your thesis, you might be eager to submit it.
However, it is vital you don’t rush the logistical details, no matter how boring they might seem, as it could affect your grade and highlight a lack of care and effort to a professor.
There are various technical and legal rules you must follow to pass a PhD or a master’s and set yourself up for professional success.
Don’t allow careless mistakes to hold you back academically. Here are four factors you would be wise to consider before submitting a thesis.
The Thesis Formatting Guide
Most universities will have their own thesis formatting guide that you must adhere to when submitting a thesis.
For instance, an institution will likely require you to leave plenty of left margin space to professionally bind a thesis.
You also must carefully order the:
- Cover page
- Declaration of Authorship
- Acknowledgements
- Abstract
If you’re submitting the final version of your thesis, you may need to request that a department head or supervisor physically or digitally sign it.
Originality Checks
Deliberate or accidental plagiarism isn’t acceptable in a thesis. Many automated systems can detect if you have copied another’s work, or even your own.
Undertake a preliminary report of your thesis, if an institution allows, to identify if your thesis might be flagged for plagiarism.
While a high score is common in the Methodology section, it must have a low score in the discussion section to avoid cheating accusations.
It is important to bear in mind that a system like Turnitin could flag plagiarism of your own work. Always cite yourself when referencing parts of your previous essays to adhere to a department’s strict policies.
The Printing Requirements
Don’t allow printing mistakes to impact your grade. A professor is unlikely to be impressed if you submit a stack of papers for them to review, and they will expect a professionally printed book to review your argument or research paper.
A considerable amount of time and hard work will have gone into writing your thesis, which is why you shouldn’t fall at the final hurdle.
Professional thesis printing will ensure you submit a well-crafted book on high-quality paper, with consistent color quality and that’s professionally bound to your university’s requirements.
A Final Page Check
Most students are required to save their thesis as a PDF/A, as it will secure the font and formatting. It will prevent a shifting layout when a professor opens the digital version.
However, before submitting it digitally or printing the document, it is advisable to review the final pages to ensure they have remained intact after converting the file into a PDF/A. It is common for the process to cut off the final page or to add a blank page at the bottom.
A final review of the document will ensure all the pages are in place and no extras have appeared. It’s a quick and simple step that could help you achieve the grade you deserve.
