Key points at a glance
- Confirm university rules and supervision before committing.
- Turn a business request into a bounded research question.
- Document data access, confidentiality and approval steps.
Separate the business request from the study
A partner may ask you to “fix onboarding.” A feasible study might ask which information gaps new employees report in their first four weeks. Recommendations can follow the findings; they are not a substitute for a method and evidence. Check that the question remains answerable if access changes.
Agree on roles and rights
Identify the academic examiner, the company contact and who can review factual details. Ask the appropriate offices to check confidentiality, intellectual property, publication and deletion terms. Avoid agreeing to a company veto over the academic submission or a review period that extends beyond the university deadline.
Make data provenance auditable
Plan participant consent, secure storage and access permissions before collecting anything. State how interviewees or records were selected and what influence the partner had. Internal slides and dashboards need a clear source description and limitations, especially when examiners cannot see the raw material.
Confirm the submission version
Ask whether redaction, a confidentiality notice or separate copies are permitted. Know exactly which PDF goes to the university and whether the company may receive one. Leave time to check the final document after any approved redactions.
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
- Academic supervisor and scope confirmed.
- Data access and rights documented.
- Consent and storage arrangements approved.
- Submission version and dates agreed.
Common mistakes
- Submitting a consultancy report without a research question.
- Promising a company approval right over assessment.
- Sharing sensitive raw data with unapproved people.
Prepare the finished thesis for submission
Once the content and university requirements are checked, review your PDF and the available printing and binding options.
Review printing optionsRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
Can the company choose my topic?
It can propose a problem, but the final question must meet your programme’s requirements.
Do I need a confidentiality notice?
Only if needed and permitted locally; agree on wording early.
Who grades the thesis?
Assessment follows university rules, even when a company supports the project.