5 mistakes when printing your bachelor’s thesis that can cost you your grade

Printing your bachelor’s or master’s thesis? Check out the 5 most common mistakes in binding and printing that you can easily avoid. A guide from Graften – a printing house with home delivery.

Months of writing, dozens of revisions, countless hours spent studying… and finally, the long-awaited finish. All that’s left is to print and submit your thesis. Sounds simple, right?

Yet this final step often surprises many students. We’ve gathered the 5 most common mistakes made when printing bachelor’s and master’s theses—so you don’t make them.

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1. Wrong cover color or binding type – not compliant with university requirements

Many universities have strict guidelines regarding the cover color of thesis papers. Some departments only accept classic dark colors, while others allow more freedom.

Before placing your order, always check your university regulations. At Graften, we offer 11 cover colors—from black and navy blue to more unique shades like lime or pink.

But color isn’t everything. An equally important and often overlooked detail is the type of binding—hardcover or softcover.

Hardcover binding looks more formal and is standard at many universities, especially for master’s and doctoral theses. It’s often required when the thesis is submitted to a university library.

Softcover binding is lighter, cheaper, and faster to produce. It may be accepted for bachelor’s or engineering theses—but not always.

Golden rule: check the requirements first, then place your order.

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2. Incorrect margins before printing

Your thesis looks perfect on screen, but after printing, some text is cut off or margins are uneven? A classic mistake.

Standard academic requirements:

• Inner margin: 3.5 cm
• Outer margin: 2.5 cm
• Top and bottom: 2.5 cm

Always check the print preview before sending your file.

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3. Wrong file format – layout shifts during printing

Word is not PDF.

.docx files may look different on various computers and printers, causing layout shifts or formatting issues.

Always submit your thesis as a PDF.

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4. Double-sided instead of single-sided printing (or vice versa)

Single-sided printing is rare and usually required only by specific universities.

Double-sided printing is more eco-friendly, elegant, and increasingly required.

A mistake here often means reprinting everything.

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5. Leaving printing to the last minute

This is the most common mistake.

Students often leave printing until the last day and panic when print shops are closed or overcrowded.

With Graften, you can order online and receive your thesis at your door or parcel locker.

Plan at least 2–3 business days in advance.

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Printing your thesis with Graften means convenience, reliability, and professional quality.

We print and bind:

• Bachelor’s theses
• Engineering theses
• Master’s theses
• Doctoral dissertations

👉 Order your thesis printing and binding online at Graften