Tips for navigating the maze of PhD thesis submission - a blogpost by ESR12 Léxane Fournier

I recently submitted my thesis, and while completing a PhD thesis is a significant milestone, the submission process can be quite overwhelming due to various administrative requirements. To help fellow PhD students navigate this often-overlooked aspect of their journey, here are some practical tips:

1. Understand Requirements: Familiarize yourself with your university's guidelines for thesis formatting and submission. Each institution has specific rules you need to follow, including downloadable templates.

2. Plan Your Story: Embed your research in a coherent narrative. Draft a plan and identify any gaps, especially in the results section, to determine which remaining experiments need to be completed.

3. Start Early with Administrative Tasks: Begin collecting the necessary documents and signatures well in advance of your submission deadline. Keep in mind that people may be sick, on holiday, or busy with other commitments. In Germany, I had to submit additional documents such as certified copies of my diplomas and letters to the dean and the university —none of which could be digitalized. This required extra printing time!

4. Organize Your Documents: Save all thesis-related materials on a drive, including drafts, feedback, and administrative forms, to avoid last-minute scrambling.

5. Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to reach out to your committee, peers, or administrative staff if you have questions or need clarification about the submission process. They are familiar with the requirements and can provide valuable insights.
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Good luck to all PhD candidates! 

​My ~150 pages of cumulative thesis along with 50+ printed documents required for the submission

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