Submitting your dissertation for examination

The steps you need to carry out for submitting your dissertation plus LaTeX templates.

*Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic all PGR students should submit their thesis electronically until further notice. For information on this process please click here .

Dissertation binding

You are required to submit at least 2 soft-bound copies of your dissertation to the College Office; however, if you have been or are currently a member of staff at the University you may be required to submit 3 soft-bound copies for examination.  You should discuss this with your Supervisor.

Each copy of your dissertation must contain the following:

• Signed declaration page
• Abstract of dissertation
• Electronic copy of dissertation (including abstract and dissertation) - please ensure the electronic copies are suitably attached to each dissertation.

The University has printing and binding services on the King's Buildings Campus (James Clerk Maxwell Building) and in the Central area (Infirmary Street).  For further information on locations to have your dissertation bound, see the 'Thesis Binding Information link below.  Please note, it is recommended that you print your dissertation single-sided so that examiners have space to make comments on the dissertation.  Your dissertation must conform to the College of Science and Engineering Thesis Format and Binding Guidelines.  The 'Temporary Binding' paragraph in the document relates to the requirements for a soft-bound dissertation.

Thesis binding Information

Thesis format and binding guidelines

Submitting your dissertation

You are required to submit on or before the Maximum End Date of your programme  (also known as your dissertation submission deadline).  Your Maximum End Date can be found on your MyEd Portal.

In very rare circumstances, if you think you will need longer to complete your dissertation contact your supervisor and the Informatics Graduate School (IGS) immediately.  They will organise the request for an extension to your deadline.  An extension must be approved by the Deputy Head of the IGS and the College of Science and Engineering College Office.  Students will be charged a Continuation Fee for extensions; extension fees are calculated per month.  Please note, you may also need an extension to your Visa; you should contact Edinburgh Global for information.  Extensions to your funding may or may not be possible; you should contact your Supervisor and Institute Portfolio Manager.

MyEd

Continuation fee

Edinburgh Global

You must submit two soft-bound copies of your dissertation (as described above) (three copies if a second external examiner has been appointed) to the College Office (Murchison House, north-west corner of the King's Buildings campus - via gate 1).

College contact details

If the nomination of examiners process has finished, the College Office will be able to send your dissertation to your examiners within 5 working days.  If the examiners have not been appointed yet, there may be some delay in sending your dissertation to the examiners.  Please read the Examination Process and Graduation pages for more information.

Examination Process

Graduation

Examiners will normally be expected to read and examine your dissertation within two-three months of receiving it; but candidates should allow for examiners' other commitments.

Plagiarism

The University takes plagiarism very seriously and is committed to ensuring that so far as possible it is detected and dealt with appropriately.

Plagiarism is the act of including in one’s work the work of another person without providing adequate acknowledgement of having done so, either deliberately or unintentionally. At whatever stage of a student’s course, whether discovered before or after graduation, plagiarism will be investigated and dealt with.

• Acknowledged all the sources they have used whether they be books, journal articles, any other printed material, or the internet (note that the references to sources on the internet should be as detailed as those for journal citations, including author, title, full url/web address, and the date you accessed that url)
• Used normal academic conventions such as quotations or indentations to identify direct quotations from others' work
• Acknowledged the sources if they have summarised or paraphrased someone's work
• Acknowledged any help they have received in writing their thesis, or gathering data for it, whether this be in an acknowledgement list or at the appropriate points in the thesis. This might include assistance with techniques, external collaborations, provision of substantial materials etc.
• Acknowledged their colleagues where information used in their thesis has been gathered in conjunction with other workers (such as team-working in laboratories).
• Students must consult with their supervisors on any issues relating to acknowledging the ideas or work of other people, and ask their supervisors to be mindful of their plagiarism concerns when they are reading thesis drafts.

      We strongly recommend you read the following Guidance document: Plagiarism guidance

Useful links

Postgraduate Assessment Regulations for Research Degrees

Code of Practice for Supervisors and Research Students

Plagiarism prevention and detection - Information Services