Key points at a glance
- Your university sets the number of required copies.
- An optional copy need not always use the same finish.
- Confirm quantity and delivery address before checkout.
Separate required copies from optional ones
Start by checking how many printed copies the examination office requires, whether supervisors need their own and whether digital submission is also compulsory. A number quoted in a general article is not reliable for your faculty.
Make a second list for optional copies: one for yourself, family or a later presentation. This prevents you from confusing submission requirements with keepsakes and paying for unnecessary finishing on every copy.
Choose bindings by recipient
If the university requires matching official copies, follow that rule. For a personal copy, you may prefer another binding or cover. Check whether the ordering process supports different configurations in one basket; otherwise compare separate orders.
For example, two copies go to the examination office and a third stays with you. The first two must meet the stated requirements. A hardcover for the personal copy is an optional preference, not a reason to change the official versions.
Calculate the full print volume
Each additional copy multiplies the print run. A long appendix or colour illustrations therefore affect the total more strongly than they do for a single book. Enter the correct quantity in the basket and assess any volume price only where it is actually shown.
Use one approved PDF version for all copies that should contain identical text. Mixing file versions across orders is especially confusing close to submission.
Plan recipients and handover
Record who receives each copy and how it will get there. Delivery to your home still leaves time for handing the thesis in. If you consider direct delivery to a university, confirm that the office accepts parcels and that someone can receive them.
Before payment, inspect the quantity, binding, PDF version and delivery address. Keep your own handover list until the submission is complete; the print order does not organize the final transfer for you.
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
- Checked the required copy count in writing.
- Counted optional copies separately.
- Selected binding by recipient.
- Reviewed total cost at the right quantity.
- Planned delivery and handover.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a universal number of required copies.
- Using different PDF versions for identical copies.
- Planning arrival but not the subsequent submission.
Check printing and binding for your thesis
Upload your checked PDF, compare the available formats, and review the price, preview and delivery options before ordering.
Check the configuratorRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
How many copies of my thesis do I need?
Your university or department sets the binding requirement and copy count. Plan personal copies separately.
Must every copy have the same binding?
Follow the rule for official copies. Personal copies may be different if the order process allows your chosen configuration.
Is a personal copy worth ordering?
That is a personal budget choice. It can be useful as a physical keepsake or working copy.