Key points at a glance
- Distinguish who created the graphic from who produced its underlying content.
- Identify reproduction and adaptation clearly.
- A citation does not replace checking whether the intended use is permitted.
Identify where the figure comes from
A figure’s design, data and underlying model may come from different sources. Start by asking whether you developed the graphic yourself, visualised someone else’s data, reproduced an existing image or changed a published figure.
“Author’s own illustration” is only adequate if it does not conceal another person’s contribution. A chart you draw from published measurements still needs a data source. Redrawing a model does not make the underlying model your own intellectual work.
Connect the caption and source information
Give the figure a number and a precise title. Add provenance in the caption or an associated note, following your university’s referencing style. Put the complete bibliographic entry in the required location, often the reference list.
Original pattern: “Figure 3: Stages of the analysis. Author’s illustration based on [actual source].” An altered reproduction may require wording such as “adapted from”. These patterns are not complete citations: insert the real source details and apply your required style.
Check adaptations and permitted use
Record changes such as omitted elements, translated labels or a modified layout. Then check whether the original meaning survives. Removing an axis label or legend can change interpretation even when your intention is simply to improve readability.
For Creative Commons material, the organisation recommends attribution covering title, creator, source and licence, together with an indication of changes. Permissions depend on the particular licence and version. Check the original source; appearing in an image search does not establish permission to reuse an image.
Check attribution in the finished document
Open the final PDF and confirm that each source note is readable and clearly attached to the correct figure. Compare figure numbers, text references and the list of figures. A correct list cannot compensate for missing attribution beside the image.
Keep the original source location and relevant reuse information with your project records. If the thesis will later be publicly available, check that intended use too. Your university’s responsible support service can help with unresolved rights questions.
Final submission context
Formal details can feel like a separate writing task, but they matter just as much for a printed submission. Anything missing, misplaced or inconsistently formatted in the document will also appear in the bound copy.
Use this guide together with your cover page, table of contents, page numbers, source notes and appendices. Prepare the final PDF for printing and binding only after the complete file has been checked.
Practical check before PDF export
- Do headings, chapter structure and page numbers match?
- Are sources, figures and tables included completely?
- Are required elements such as declarations, appendices or the cover page included where required?
- Did you open and check the final PDF after exporting it?
Checklist
- Check graphic authorship and data provenance separately.
- Identify reproduction or adaptation.
- Make the full reference findable.
- Check the licence against the intended use.
- Inspect caption and source-note readability in the PDF.
Common mistakes
- Labelling a chart as your own while omitting its external data source.
- Citing an image search instead of the original source.
- Assuming a citation automatically grants reuse permission.
Print and bind your finished thesis
Once you have checked the content and final PDF, configure the printed copies to match your submission requirements.
Configure printing and bindingRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
Does every original figure need an external source?
A completely original illustration of your own material does not need an invented external reference. However, contributions from external data, models or ideas must remain traceable.
Is “adapted from” enough?
Not by itself. Identify the actual source according to your referencing style and explain the nature of the adaptation where needed.
Should sources appear in the list of figures?
Follow your formal requirements. What matters is clear attribution and a findable complete reference. The list of figures primarily helps readers navigate the document.