Is it necessary to check the thesis for plagiarism before submission?
Learn university requirements, how plagiarism checks work, common misconceptions, and practical steps to ensure your thesis meets academic integrity standards.
Plagiarism in academic writing refers to presenting someone else’s work, ideas, or words as your own without proper acknowledgment. Universities treat plagiarism as a serious academic offense because it violates principles of honesty, originality, and scholarly integrity.
Plagiarism is not limited to copying text word-for-word. It can take several forms, many of which occur unintentionally, especially among graduate students and non-native English speakers.
Common types of plagiarism include:
Direct plagiarism: Copying sentences or paragraphs from a source without quotation or citation.
Paraphrasing plagiarism: Rewriting someone else’s ideas using similar structure or wording without proper reference.
Self-plagiarism: Reusing your own previously submitted or published work without disclosure.
Improper citation: Mentioning a source but failing to follow correct citation standards.
Patchwork plagiarism: Combining content from multiple sources with minimal original contribution.
In thesis writing, plagiarism often occurs unintentionally due to heavy reliance on literature reviews, unfamiliarity with citation styles, or difficulties paraphrasing academic content in English. Even when a student has no intention to cheat, plagiarism detection software will still flag similarities.
This is why plagiarism checking is not about distrust—it is a quality control step that helps ensure academic compliance before submission.
Most universities now require mandatory plagiarism checking before thesis submission. This requirement applies to undergraduate projects, Master’s theses, and PhD dissertations, although the strictness increases with academic level.
Universities typically require students to submit a plagiarism similarity report generated by tools such as:
Turnitin
iThenticate
SafeAssign
Urkund
The similarity report shows how much of the thesis content matches existing published or online material.
There is no universal similarity percentage accepted by all institutions, but common guidelines include:
Undergraduate: up to 20–25%
Master’s thesis: usually below 15–20%
PhD dissertation: often below 10–15%
More important than the total percentage is where the similarity occurs. Similarity in references, methodology descriptions, or standard definitions may be acceptable, while similarity in analysis, results, or discussion is usually not.
Failing to meet plagiarism requirements can result in:
Delay in thesis submission or defense
Mandatory rewriting and resubmission
Academic penalties or disciplinary action
Rejection of thesis for graduation
Damage to academic record
Because of these consequences, universities strongly encourage students to check and correct plagiarism before official submission, rather than relying on the final institutional check.
Checking your thesis for plagiarism is not just about uploading the file to software—it is a process that requires understanding and correction.
Always use reputable academic plagiarism detection tools. Free online tools are often unreliable and do not compare your work against academic databases.
Professional tools provide:
Detailed similarity breakdown
Source identification
Section-by-section similarity analysis
If you are unsure which tool your university uses, ask your supervisor or academic office.
A similarity report highlights matched text and provides a percentage score. Do not panic when you see highlighted sections.
Focus on:
Similarity in core chapters (analysis, discussion, conclusion)
Repeated phrases or sentence structures
Missing citations
Overly close paraphrasing
Not all similarity is plagiarism, but all flagged sections must be reviewed carefully.
Common methods to reduce plagiarism ethically include:
Proper paraphrasing: Rewrite ideas in your own academic voice while keeping the original meaning.
Correct citation: Ensure all borrowed ideas are properly cited using the required referencing style.
Quoting when necessary: Use quotation marks sparingly and appropriately.
Rewriting generic sections: Standard methodology text often needs customization.
Avoid simply replacing words with synonyms, as plagiarism tools detect structural similarity.
Many plagiarism issues occur due to weak paraphrasing skills. Professional academic editing improves clarity, structure, and originality, reducing similarity naturally.
This is especially helpful for:
International students
Non-native English speakers
Translated theses
Interdisciplinary research
After making corrections, always run a second plagiarism check to confirm improvement. Submitting a thesis without rechecking after revisions is a common and costly mistake.
No. Running a plagiarism check does not create plagiarism. However, uploading your thesis to public or unregulated databases may cause issues. Always use trusted academic tools or professional services.
Not necessarily. A thesis with 8% similarity can still be rejected if the similarity appears in critical sections. Quality matters more than numbers.
Yes, to an extent. References, standard equations, and common methodology descriptions often appear similar across theses. Universities usually focus on originality in analysis and discussion.
Most supervisors rely on software reports. However, experienced reviewers can easily recognize copied ideas or inconsistent writing styles.
No. Translating text from another language without citation is still plagiarism. Many plagiarism tools can detect translated content.
Yes—and this is why plagiarism checking is essential. Accidental plagiarism carries the same consequences as intentional plagiarism.
Checking your thesis for plagiarism before submission is not optional—it is an essential academic responsibility. Universities expect originality, ethical writing, and compliance with plagiarism policies at all levels of graduate study.
By understanding what plagiarism is, following university requirements, using reliable detection tools, and correcting issues properly, students can protect their academic integrity and avoid unnecessary delays or penalties.
A plagiarism-free thesis not only meets institutional standards but also reflects professionalism, credibility, and readiness for academic or research careers.
Proactive plagiarism checking ensures that your thesis is evaluated for its scientific contribution—not compromised by avoidable technical issues.
Ensure your thesis meets university plagiarism standards before submission.
At SITA Academy, we use iThenticate, the trusted plagiarism detection tool used by leading universities and journals worldwide.
Comprehensive plagiarism checking with iThenticate
Clear similarity report with detailed source analysis
Professional paraphrasing support after the report
Guidance to help you meet institutional similarity limits
Submit your thesis today and receive a reliable plagiarism report—plus expert support to resolve any similarity issues before final submission.
If you have any questions, inquiries, or would like to learn more about our services, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our dedicated team is ready to assist you.
