Key points at a glance
- A declaration of originality confirms that you produced the thesis independently under the applicable rules.
- Terminology differs: your university may call it a declaration of independent work or statutory declaration.
- Use the official wording and disclose sources, tools and assistance honestly.
- Review the declaration again in the exact PDF you submit or print.
Purpose of a declaration of originality
The declaration is a formal statement about how the thesis was produced. It normally confirms independent work, correct citation of external material and compliance with the examination regulations. It supports academic integrity but does not replace any other required form.
The title and legal status vary between institutions. Use the term and wording from your own programme rather than assuming that a template from another university applies.
Use the required wording and placement
Check the latest study or examination regulations and any downloadable faculty template. The declaration may be placed after the appendices, at the end of the thesis or in a specified front-matter position.
Do not move the page, alter required sentences or add a second variant without asking the examination office. Keep the document title and your name consistent with the cover page.
Confirm independent work and disclosed assistance
Review quotations, paraphrases, figures, datasets, translations and software. If your university has rules for generative AI or other tools, disclose their use in the form and locations required by those rules.
A declaration is credible only when the thesis itself is traceable. Keep your research notes and the final submitted file so that you can identify the version covered by the statement.
Signature and final PDF review
Confirm whether a handwritten signature, digital signature or typed name is accepted. Sign only after the thesis title, content and appendices are final. Then open the exported PDF and check the declaration page, sequence, spelling and signature area.
If the print shop receives a different file from the one you signed, the statement may no longer describe the submitted work. Use one controlled final PDF for upload and printing.
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
- The current official declaration template was located.
- The wording, title and name match the final thesis.
- Sources, figures, tools and assistance are disclosed correctly.
- The required signature format is present.
- The page is in the required location and sequence.
- The exact final PDF was checked before submission and printing.
Common mistakes
- Downloading a template from another university without checking local rules.
- Signing a draft and then changing the thesis without reviewing the declaration.
- Treating the declaration as a substitute for citations or plagiarism checks.
- Submitting an unsigned or incorrectly placed page.
- Printing a different PDF from the one covered by the signed statement.
Prepare the signed thesis for printing
After the declaration, sources and final PDF have been checked, choose the printing and binding option for your submission.
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Frequently asked questions
Are declaration of originality and statutory declaration the same?
They can describe similar requirements, but the official wording and legal consequences depend on your institution. Follow your programme’s terminology.
Can I use a downloaded sample?
Use a sample only as a starting point. Replace it with the current template or wording issued by your faculty.
What happens if I correct the thesis after signing?
Ask your examination office whether a new signature or declaration is required. The signed statement should correspond to the submitted version.
Should the declaration appear in the table of contents?
Some templates include it and others do not. Match the instructions for your programme instead of applying a general rule.