Print your dissertation
The University Library supports you in the process of completing your doctoral dissertation. We assist with creating a timeline for printing, offer support for the Word template, guide you through the registration in DiVA and the uploading in the Production tool.
The printing process
After booking your defence with the Student Services you will receive a personal timeline from Dissertation support. This timeline includes all key deadlines to ensure your dissertation is printed on time. These dates are deadlines; you can start as early as you wish.
30 days before your nailing day, the library will contact you with information about the printing process. You can also schedule a meeting with us if needed.
Register in DiVA (at least 17 working days before the nailing day)
Before you start with the test prints, register your dissertation in DiVA (Digital Scientific Archive). The dissertation will be publicly available in DiVA two days before your nailing day.
Start test printing (at least 15 working days before the nailing day)
Create the print file for your dissertation by uploading your dissertation files into the Production tool available in Stockholm University's tool for Visual Identity. Once the library approves your production, order your test print through the Production tool. When the test print is ready, pick it up at the printing office. It is common to order several test prints. Ensure your last test print is ordered no later than 9 days before your nailing day. We recommend staying in Stockholm during the entire printing process to pick up your test prints from the printing office.
Order the final print (at least 8 working days before the nailing day)
Approve and order the final print, which will be your completed dissertation. The final print is identical to your last print. No changes can be made between the last test print and the final print. You must order the final print in person at the printing office.
Design your dissertation
The cover of dissertations at Stockholm University follows a specific template. You have considerable freedom in designing the insert, with no central rules from SU. Some departments have local guidelines.
Cover design
The cover is created in the Production tool when you upload your dissertation files. Any images for the cover should also be uploaded there. You can choose to have an image on the front and a photo of yourself on the back. Ensure you have the right to use the images. You can also include a back cover text. If you don't have your own image for the front cover, you can use one of Stockholm University's graphic elements available in the Production tool.
Front cover image specifications:
- High-resolution (at least 300 ppi), in JPEG or TIFF format.
Image sizes for full-width front image:
- S5: 168 x 130 mm, with 3 mm bleed to the right and bottom.
- A4: 213 x 165 mm, with 3 mm bleed to the right and bottom.
Back cover specifications:
- Back cover text: 1100-1250 characters (S5) or 1100-1450 characters (A4), including spaces.
- Author's photo: high-resolution, at least 300 ppi, 23 x 28 mm.
- Author's text: 150 characters, including spaces.
Stockholm University dissertation Word templates
You can, if you want to, use the Stockholm University’s dissertation Word template. There is no requirement to use the template.
The majority of the dissertations at Stockholm University are printed in the S5 format and the Word template is customized to this format. The template is a regular Word document and consists of only a few pages, the table of contents and a first chapter heading. The advantage of using the template is that you get an automatically updated table of contents, automatic page numbering and you do not have to think about the layout. You do not need to install the Word template.
If you would rather do the layout yourself, you are welcome to do so. In that case, make your own template in S5 format or in A4. If you write in A4, make sure the pages look good in about 80% of A4. A4 pages are shrunk to S5 if you select S5 in the Production tool.
Stockholm University’s departments have different rules regarding the use of the Word template. Check with your department to find out which elements apply.
Contact Template support at the library for help with the templates for PhD students and researchers.
Contact Template support: mallsupportsub@su.se
Register your dissertation in DiVA
According to the President of the university's decision, your defence must be announced in DiVA (Digital Scientific Archive) on your nailing day, three weeks before the defence. When the dissertation is published in DiVA, it is officially nailed. The dissertation will also become visible in LIBRIS.
Register your dissertation in DiVA to prepare for the official nailing day. You have fulfilled the requirements for the nailing day once the dissertation is registered in DiVA and you have received your nailing page. Some departments may have additional requirements. Check with your department for any additional steps.
Log in to DiVA
Log in to DiVA's registration form with your university account. Fill in the bibliographic details, abstract, and keywords for your dissertation. The abstract may contain a maximum of 3500 characters, including spaces. For a longer abstract, include it within the dissertation itself.
If you have written a compilation dissertation, ensure your articles that are part of the dissertation are registered in DiVA. This applies to both published articles and unpublished manuscripts. Add any articles that are not yet registered.
You do not need to upload the final file of the dissertation in DiVA yourself. After ordering the final print, Dissertation Support will upload the file for you. For compilation dissertations, only the comprehensive summary will be published as full text in DiVA.
Once you have submitted your registration, you will no longer have access to the DiVA record. Contact Dissertation support if you need to make changes.
The nailing page
Once the library has checked the information you submitted in DiVA, we will send your nailing page as a PDF. If you need to make any changes to the nailing page, email Dissertation Support for assistance. Upload the nailing page in the Production Tool.
Test prints and final print of the dissertation
You can start test printing your dissertation even if it is not completely finished. It is important to order at least one test print to check how the printed version will look, ensuring all graphic elements and images look as intended. Multiple test prints are common.
Assemble the dissertation by uploading your files to the Production tool. The dissertation is printed by the university's procured printing company, Universitetsservice US-AB.
Since you must pick up your test prints and approve the final print in person at the printing office, please stay in Stockholm during the printing period.
The Production tool
Upload your dissertation files in the Production tool. The front and back cover, title pages, and colophon are automatically created in the tool.
Stockholm University's Production Tool
Watch the video with detailed instructions on using the Production tool.
Request approval directly in the Production tool once you have uploaded your files. Dissertation support will review your production and notify you upon approval.
Order a test print
After Dissertation support approves your production, order the test print via the Production tool. Place your order before 4 PM to pick up the test print the next working day. You will receive a message from the printing office when the test print is ready. Pick up the test print at the printing office, Universitetsservice US-AB. The test print consists of loose sheets with the cover folded around them.
Each new proof print requires a new approval request in the Production tool.
Submit your final test print at least 9 working days before your nailing day. After this date, the dissertation cannot be changed. Any errors can be addressed in an errata sheet. Request approval in the Production tool before 2 PM to be able to place an order before the print shop closes at 4 PM.
Order the final print
Once you are satisfied with a test print, order the final print, and all copies of the dissertation will be printed. You must complete the final print order in person at the printing office. The final print order must be placed no later than 8 days before your nailing day.
Cost of printing the dissertation
The first test print is free of charge, after that each test print costs 250 SEK.
Cost for black and white pages: 0.22 SEK/page
Cost for coloured pages: 0.90 SEK/page
Cover and binding: 16 SEK/copy.
Prepress: 250 SEK/order.
Delivery to your department: 125 SEK (cost may be higher for other addresses).
Delivery to the university library, the President of the university, and your faculty: 250 SEK
How many copies of the dissertation should be printed?
You may decide together with your supervisor and department how many copies of your dissertation you want to print. The books are delivered to your department unless you have arranged otherwise with the printing company.
You must also provide three copies of the dissertation to the university library, one copy to the President of the university, and one copy to your faculty (two copies for the Faculty of Humanities).
The printing company will deliver mandatory copies to the National Library of Sweden and six other university libraries in Sweden. You do not need to send these yourself. These seven mandatory copies are taken from your print run.
Publish your dissertation Open Access
To maximize accessibility, your dissertation is published as full text in DiVA.
According to the President of the university's decision, the dissertation must be published as open access and this is why the full text (the same version as the printed dissertation) is uploaded to DiVA. For compilation dissertations, only the comprehensive summary is published. For monographs, the entire dissertation is published.
Regulations for third-cycle education and summative assessment
The library will upload your dissertation in DiVA.
Publish your dissertation print-on-demand
To further distribute your dissertation, you can publish it as print-on-demand via the procured company Publit. This service is free for doctoral students and allows your dissertation to be purchased from all Swedish bookstores. The copy is printed upon purchase. You will also receive a link to an online store where your dissertation can be purchased. We will also list the dissertation in the university library's online store.
Due to copyright, print-on-demand is primarily for monograph dissertations. However, if you hold the copyright for the articles in your compilation dissertation, it can also be published as print-on-demand.
Dissertation published by a publisher
If you are publishing your dissertation with another publisher, you do not need to follow Stockholm University cover template. However, you must register your dissertation in DiVA and get a nailing page to be distributed with your dissertation. It must be stated on the cover or imprint page that the book is a dissertation at Stockholm University.
At least two working days before the nailing day, the President of the university and your faculty need one copy each of the dissertation. The library requires four copies. You can send these via internal mail or ask the publisher to send them. The copies for the library can also be delivered to our information desk at the Frescati Library.