Thesis & Dissertation Binding : FAQ's

Before You Contact us.
Make sure all of your pages are printed correctly, that each copy is complete and in the right order. Please ensure that you have a copy of, and understand the University’s binding requirements.

Do I need to make an appointment with you to get my dissertation bound?

Yes it is vital that you make an appointment as we work on a first come first served basis and once our shedule is full we will not take on any more work. By booking an appointment we agree to meet your deadline and will not jepodise that commitment by taking on more work than we can physically finish in the time allowed. If for any reason you are unable to make an agreed appointment please let us know so your slot can be filled by someone else or we can move your appointment to a more convenient time.

Which University's do you bind books for?
Although the majority of our work comes from Bournemouth University the techniques and high quality of our work meets the critriea and requirements for all other University's and the British Library.

Can you print my thesis or dissertation?
We do not print your documents 'on site' but can organise the print for you if it is not possible for you to do this yourself, please contact us for details. We are also happy to recommend a number of local printers if you require, please follow the links below.

Coastline Printers (Bournemouth)

CMP UK Ltd (Poole)

Ashley Press (Parkstone Poole)

If you need us to organise the print, you will need to supply your document as a PDF file. We recommend that you ask for a quote before choosing a printing company as prices can drastically vary, be warned, some printers will increase their prices during the dissertation period.

What Paper should I use to print my document for binding?
For Soft binding & Hard back Channel binding, 80gsm works best but we can also bind all weights up to 100gsm.
For Case or Thesis Binding there is no restriction on paper weight or numbers of pages but a good quality
100gsm works best.

What margins are required for binding?
We prefer and the University recommends a 4.0cm margin on the spine or binding edge and 1.5 to 2cm on the other three edges. Our minimum requirement is 2.5cm on the bind edge. Please ensure that foldout maps and diagrams have reasonable margins and that page numbers, headers and footers are positioned no less than 1cm away from the outer edge.

If printing double sided please ensure you mirror your margins.

What if I want to include photographs?
One or two pages of photos are ok but it is better to colour print on to thin A4 photo paper or have the picturesprinted on to a good quality white paper, the same as your text.

Can I include large maps or graphs?
Yes, but you have to think about how they will open when bound and allow plenty of margin. Try not to include maps that are larger than the finished volume. You may decide to put the map in a pocket at the back of the volume. Please contact us we will be happy to advise.

Please tell us if foldouts are included with in your text.

What about CD's etc.?
These items can be included using pocket in the front or the back of the book or they can be boxed as a separate item. Please contact us we will be happy to advise.

Does size matter?
We can bind anything up to 7cm thick but remember that thick and heavy volumes are difficult to read and do not last as long. We recommend that your books should be no more than 5cm thick. Please note we do not charge extra for thick documents. Also as we are a traditional book binders we are not restricted to the standard A4 or A5 sizes and can bind books of almost any size although this will incure a small extra charge, please contact us for further details.

Can I post my document to you for binding?
Yes,we receive about 20% of our work this way: address it to P J Wellman, 19 Ebor Road , Parkstone, Poole , Dorset. BH12 2JS. Please include a the compleated order form or a covering letter detailing what you want along with a contact phone number. Please allow an extra couple of days for delivery by post.

Remember that we do not take responsibility for damage in transit, poor packing and items lost in the post.

For an additional charge we can also return the bound volumes to you by recorded delivery or deliver them to your contact at the University.

What forms of payment do you accept?

You can pay for your dissertation by cash or cheque (in person on collection) or by BACS (internet bank transfer) if you are not able to pick up your finished books in person. We are currently not able to process debit or credit card payments.

Please feel free to contact us on 07999543552 or email us on sales@pjwellman.co.uk if you need any further help or assistance or to make an appointment.