How to request an ISBN for your thesis?

The time has finally come, your thesis is completed and (almost) ready to be printed. It’s an achievement you can certainly be proud of! One important and exciting step you can now take is designing your thesis.

An essential aspect of the design is creating the cover. This includes the front cover, back cover, and spine. One crucial element should not be missing: the ISBN number! But what exactly is it, and how do you request an ISBN for your thesis? We will tell you in this blog.

At Proefschriften.nl, we ensure that your ISBN number is registered within two working days.
Request your ISBN here!

What is an ISB-number

Both the books you buy in a store and your study books are equipped with a barcode. This barcode serves not only to facilitate the checkout process but also to identify each book. The 13-digit number below the barcode is the ISB-number.

ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number and simplifies transactions between booksellers. Every book, including every thesis, has an unique ISBN that makes it easily discoverable by bookstores, readers, and libraries.

An ISBN is always composed of fixed elements:

EAN code: This unique numerical combination is used to identify products in Europe. For books, it is currently 978 or 979.
Country of publication: The following two digits indicate the language area to which the book or thesis belongs. For the Netherlands, this is 90.
Publisher: The number sequence following the language area indicates the publisher.
Title identification: The next series of up to four digits identifies the title.
Check digit: The ISB-number concludes with a check digit. It is calculated and added to prevent errors in the ISBN.

Why request an ISBN for your thesis?

Legally, an ISBN is not mandatory, but we strongly recommend requesting one for your thesis. This code makes it easier to find, distribute and sell your thesis.

It’s important to note that requesting an ISBN for your thesis is compulsory if you intend to sell it. Bookstores and other online channels cannot register and sell your thesis without an ISBN.

Tip: If you’re still unsure about requesting an ISBN for your thesis, we recommend doing it anyway. By doing so, the ISBN and barcode will be directly printed on the book, preventing the need for separate stickers later on.

How to request an ISBN for your thesis?

You can request an ISBN from a printer or designer. However, we advise against doing it yourself because it can often be more expensive. When you request an ISBN from Proefschriften.nl, you only need to fill out this form. We will take care of the rest and send you an ISBN within 2 working days. So you don’t have to worry about anything.

It’s important to know the publication date of your thesis when making the request. We also need to know the NUR code, which indicates the subject of your thesis. Want to find out the NUR code for your thesis easily? You can find it at boek.nl/nur.

What does an ISBN cost?

The cost of an ISBN can vary depending on where you request it and can differ from one publisher to another.

If you prefer to request an ISBN yourself, you can do so at the Bureau ISBN. One ISBN may cost a bit more here, but you also have the option to purchase a series. If you need multiple ISBNs, this option will be more cost-effective.

At Proefschriften.nl, we can request an ISBN for you for €25. These costs are one-time and cheaper than if you were to request an ISBN yourself. Currently, the cost of self-requesting an ISBN at Bureau ISBN is €109.15 (excluding VAT).

Fully supported in creating your thesis

Requesting an ISBN number for your thesis is not the only thing we can do for you at Proefschriften.nl. We are also happy to assist you with formatting, design, and printing your thesis. Together, we will ensure a fantastic version of it. Contact us or ask your questions on our website to Magnificus!

At Proefschriften.nl, we ensure that your ISBN number is registered within two working days.
Request your ISBN here!