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Format, bind and submit your thesis: Fine Art, Design, Architecture and Town Planning

This guidance explains the correct format for thesis and presentation submissions for students of Fine Art, Design, Architecture and Town Planning, including the practice-led PhD examinations.

This information is for research students submitting a thesis for assessment in Fine Art, Design, Architecture and Town Planning.

You may submit in A3 and/or double sided format without seeking specific permission to do so. 

You may either register to undertake research leading to a thesis submitted in accordance with the normal provisions, or you may register for studio-based research or other visual display. This must be original work which exemplifies and locates the ideas which are developed in conjunction with the written part of the thesis. However presented this must be accompanied by an adequate and approved form of retainable documentation.

Practice-led PhD Examination for Students in Fine Art

The practice-led PhD examination will include a presentation of practical work, the submission of a written report of 15,000 to 40,000 words accompanied by CD/DVD, or USB memory stick, of visual documentation of the practical work, and a viva voce examination. The written report can be hard-bound or soft-bound. Hard-bound theses must have the pages sown in (not punched) and soft-bound theses should have the pages glued in. Theses submitted in any other form of binding, including ring binding, will not be accepted.

For the final viva examination, you will normally be required to present your research thesis at UCL. This may take the form of an installation, exhibition, performance or other form approved by the supervisors. A discussion of both the presentation and written report will form the basis of the PhD viva. The permanent record of the thesis, which may include an archival box of visual material, should be available at the viva.

After the PhD award you are required to submit your work for permanent storage in the Library. The thesis may consist of a written report plus CD/DVD bound into the cover. When submitting practical work, the permanent record of the thesis may also take the form of an archival box. 

The archival box must:

  • fit within either a standard large library crate (H29 x 32 x 50 cm) or the special large carrying cases (86 x 64 x 6 cm)
  • fit onto shelving (H64 x D54 cm)
  • weigh no more than 10kg
  • include the written report
  • include the visual material

The box can be made from any archival material or decorated in any way, but the exterior must be robust enough to cope with transit.

The box may contain the written report plus, for example, video and photographic records, musical scores, audio works, publications, diagrams and drawings and other elements approved by your supervisors. 

The box should contain a list of contents securely fastened to its cover. It need not conform to UCL’s standard thesis colouring (blue with gold lettering) but must provide your name, year and degree level clearly on the outside.

All elements in the box must be scanned and made available for the library e-thesis facility and comply with copyright legislation.

Find out more about the e-thesis facility