Dissertation submission checklist

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Updated September 6, 2026 · 7 minute read

1. Check the academic requirements first

Use your department handbook and supervisor’s instructions as the final authority. Confirm the due date and time zone, word-count rules, required declaration, file format, naming convention, permitted appendices, and whether your institution has a specific similarity-report process.

2. Review the argument and evidence

• Does every chapter support the research question?
• Are conclusions tied to the evidence presented?
• Are tables, figures, and appendices labelled and referenced in the text?
• Have you clearly distinguished your analysis from the work of other authors?

3. Audit citations and references

Check that every in-text citation appears in the reference list and every listed source is actually cited where required. Verify author names, dates, page numbers for quotations, URLs, and the required citation style. Pay special attention to material copied from your own earlier assignments: your institution may have rules on self-citation and reuse.

4. Review similarity matches thoughtfully

If you obtain a report, start with significant matches and read them in context. Confirm that quotations are marked, paraphrases are genuinely written in your own structure, and sources are correctly credited. Do not make last-minute mechanical changes just to alter a percentage. Make only revisions that improve accuracy, clarity, or academic integrity.

5. Prepare the final file

Accept all tracked changes, remove comments and hidden text, proofread headings and page numbering, and open the exported PDF or document on another device. Keep a secure backup of the final submitted version, your source notes, and any confirmation email.