21 October 2026

Thesis Submission Checklist

Work top to bottom. Part 1 stops a thesis failing; Part 2 is where the marks are; Parts 3 to 6 are the things people discover too late.

Part 1: Before anything else

• Conclusion answers the question the introduction asks
• Every conclusion is supported by the method actually used
• Limitations stated explicitly as a paragraph, not an apology
• Ethics approval obtained and referenced
• Consent forms collected and in the appendix
• Participants, organisations and quotations anonymised consistently
• Data handling complies with GDPR and institutional rules
• Every quotation marked, every paraphrase cited
• AI assistance rewritten in own words and declared where required
• Own similarity check run, with time left to investigate flags
• Word count within range and all required chapters present
• Declaration of authorship signed
• Correct file format and number of copies
• Exact deadline time and submission platform confirmed

Part 2: Where the marks are

• Topic sentences in sequence form a chain of reasoning, not a list
• Strongest published counterargument answered in the text
• Literature review ends at a specific gap the research question addresses
• Methodology justified against the obvious alternative, not just described
• Discussion interprets results rather than restating them
• No paragraph asserts several things and cites nothing
• Abstract: question, method, actual finding, contribution (written last, read cold)

Part 3: Sources and citations

• Every source exists and says what you say it says
• AI-assisted references verified against the actual source
• Every in-text citation has an entry, every entry appears in the text
• One citation style throughout, following the department's own guide
• Page numbers on all direct quotations
• Quotations checked word for word against the source
• All URLs and DOIs resolve
• No entry is two references run together
• Bibliography sorted correctly, including prefixes and umlauts

Part 4: Structure and formalities

• Cover page complete: title, name, student number, programme, supervisor, date
• Table of contents regenerated after the final edit
• Lists of figures, tables and abbreviations complete and matching
• Every figure and table numbered, captioned, sourced, referred to in text
• Chapter order follows the standard progression in your field
• Every appendix referenced from the main text
• Margins, line spacing, font and page numbering match the style sheet
• Headers, footers and page numbering start where the guide says

Part 5: Language

• Spelling and grammar checked, including silent autocorrect changes
• One spelling variant throughout, and the one your institution expects
• Key terms defined at first use and used consistently throughout
• Tense usage consistent, particularly in the methodology
• Inclusive language per institutional guidance
• Introduction, conclusion and abstract read aloud

Part 6: The file and the handover

• Exported to PDF and read in the PDF, not the word processor
• Figures, tables and special characters survived the conversion
• Fonts embedded; PDF/A if the library requires it
• File named exactly as the guidelines specify
• Stored in two places that are not your laptop
• Printing and binding booked in advance
• Final draft sent to supervisor with agreed lead time to reply
• Submitted a day early

Four-week schedule

• Week 4: content. Reverse outline, argument gaps, introduction–conclusion alignment, ethics paperwork. No formatting.
• Week 3: evidence. References, bibliography, under-supported claims, counterargument, similarity check, book the binding.
• Week 2: formalities. Figures, tables, appendices, cover page, contents, style sheet, abstract.
• Week 1: language and admin. Proofread, read on paper, PDF check, print and bind, submit.

If you only have one week

• Days 1–2. Part 1 only. Book the binding today.
• Day 3. References: AI-assisted entries first, then mismatches.
• Day 4. Abstract, cover page, contents, figures, appendices.
• Day 5. Proofread introduction, conclusion, abstract. Export and check the PDF.
• Day 6. Submit.

From PaperCheck. Full guide: Will My Thesis Pass? The Submission-Readiness Checklist

Natthida Baramee (JJ)

/ AI & Product Engineer

BEng in Electrical Engineering