Key points at a glance
- Check doctoral rules and rights first.
- Unify chapters and papers.
- Inspect the proof and copy count.
Read faculty rules before layout
Cumulative dissertations vary by faculty. Confirm which papers, contribution statements, summaries and deposit copies are required. A university example explicitly notes discipline-specific regulations; do not copy another programme’s required number of copies.
Check reuse rights for each paper
Example: One article is publisher-formatted, while another exists only as an accepted manuscript. Check separately which version may be reproduced and distributed in the dissertation. Keep permissions and ask the library or publisher when unclear; a DOI is not permission to reprint.
Build one coherent print PDF
Combine cover, framing text, papers and required appendices in the specified order. Check page size, orientation, readability and inner margin in every inserted paper. A publisher PDF with a different format may bind with cramped margins or tiny text.
Verify finish and quantity
Inspect every page and the print preview. Select hardcover, softcover or another available binding only if the doctoral office accepts it. Check actual options in the configurator and allow enough time for copies and delivery.
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
- Read faculty rules.
- Cleared paper rights.
- Checked PDF page formats.
- Confirmed copy count.
Common mistakes
- Applying another faculty’s rules.
- Reprinting publisher PDFs without rights.
- Missing mixed page sizes.
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
May I include published papers?
Check rights for the exact version and intended distribution.
Which binding is required?
Follow doctoral rules, then compare available options.
Should I make one PDF?
A reviewed combined PDF helps the print order; the university may require separate files too.