university of manchester phd thesis library

Center for Digital Scholarship

University-Wide Requirements for the Ph.D. Dissertation

Dissertations must comply with the specifications set by the Library, by the author's department, and by the University. Departments, divisions, and schools may have requirements in addition to those described in this booklet. Students are responsible for informing themselves of these additional requirements.

The Dissertation Office provides information on the University’s dissertation policies. We help doctoral students understand dissertation formatting and submission requirements, and we assist with the submission process. Students are welcome to contact us with questions.

Contact the Dissertation Office

Web: phd.lib.uchicago.edu Email: [email protected] Phone: 773-702-7404 Visit: Suite 104D, Center for Digital Scholarship, Regenstein Library

Routine Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Actual hours vary to accommodate meetings, workshops, and training. The office is often closed during the interim between quarters.

Dissertation Requirements

Doctoral dissertations are original contributions to scholarship. As a condition for receipt of the doctorate, all students are required to submit their dissertations to Knowledge@UChicago, the University’s open access repository. If a dissertation includes copyrighted material beyond fair use, the author must obtain permission from the holder of the copyright.

The public sharing of original dissertation research is a principle to which the University is deeply committed, and dissertations should be made available to the scholarly community at the University of Chicago and elsewhere in a timely manner. If dissertation authors are concerned that making their research publicly available might endanger research subjects or themselves, jeopardize a pending patent, complicate publication of a revised dissertation, or otherwise be unadvisable, they may, in consultation with faculty in their field (and as appropriate, research collaborators), restrict access to their dissertation for a limited period of time according to the guidelines outlined by the Dissertation Office. If a dissertation author needs to renew an embargo at the end of its term or initiate an embargo after graduation, the author must contact the Dissertation Office with the embargo request. Embargo renewals may be approved only in rare instances, and in general no more than one renewal will be allowed.

All dissertations must follow the formatting and submission requirements stated in the University-Wide Requirements for the Ph.D. Dissertation , available from the Dissertation Office on the first floor of the Joseph Regenstein Library in the Center for Digital Scholarship.

University-Wide Requirements

Academic Policies

Princeton University Library

Deborah Schlein

Deborah Schlein joined Princeton University Library as the Near Eastern Studies Librarian in 2020. She received her PhD in 2019 from Princeton's Near Eastern Studies department, where she wrote her dissertation on the history of Graeco-Arabic medicine in Mughal and colonial India, focusing on the production and use of Arabic and Persian medical manuscripts. Prior to joining Princeton University Library, Deborah was a Provost's Postdoctoral Librarian Fellow at New York University. She is a senior fellow in the Andrew Mellon Society of Fellows in Critical Bibliography at the University of Virginia’s Rare Book School. Deborah works closely with faculty, visiting scholars and students in the Near Eastern Studies Department & Program, the Sharmin and Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies, the Institute for the Transregional Study of the Contemporary Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, and others working on the Near East and related areas.

Theses: Home

• Manchester Theses
• Worldwide theses

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If you’ve tried our online resources and workshops and need more help, you can get expert help via our online help pages , attending a drop-in session, giving us a call or arranging a consultation.

Introduction

Thesis and dissertation are terms used to describe a longer piece of written work involving personal research usually done as part of a university degree. 

In the UK, the term  thesis  describes the written part of the submission for a research degree at masters or PhD level. The term  dissertation  generally refers to an extended piece of writing based on extended reading and some independent research at undergraduate or masters level. However, they are reversed in the US, where  dissertation  is usually used to describe a piece of extended writing for a PhD. You will see references to both theses and dissertations in the resources in this guide.

As original research is reported in theses, they are a rich source of information about research in your field.  They can help you to:

• discover current research
• assess research topics
• obtain more references to books and articles

My Learning Essentials: Online support for your dissertation

Dissertations: choosing your topic

This resource will take you through the key elements of the early stages of your dissertation such as writing your research question and the objectives for achieving it.

Dissertations: planning

This resource will highlight some of the key stages in planning to write your dissertation. It will also highlight some useful tools to help you along the way.

Dissertations: Getting started with literature reviews

This resource will give you an introduction to literature reviews. It will also give you advice on what a good literature should include, and how to prepare for writing your literature review.

View all workshops and online resources in this area on the My Learning Essentials webpages

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• Last Updated: Oct 7, 2022 3:07 PM
• URL: https://subjects.library.manchester.ac.uk/theses

• MyManchester
• Faculty StaffNet

• Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy

Thesis submission

Submission and examination of your thesis is the culmination of years of hard work.

Ensuring that you plan for the submission of the thesis and understand the deadlines, requirements for presentation and key stages of the process will help to reduce the stress associated with thesis submission.

The following pages and documents offer a step-by-step guide to the thesis submission process.

Students whose course began before September 2022 may include a COVID Impact Statement in their thesis. For full guidance on the inclusion of a COVID-19 Thesis Impact Statement in the examination thesis please see Guidance on Inclusion of COVID-19 Impact Statements in Thesis Submissions

Please note that this guidance is for students in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, which includes the School of Biological Sciences, School of Medical Sciences and School of Health Sciences.

• Plagiarism and referencing
• Alternative format thesis submission
• Submission deadlines
• Notice forms and nomination of examiners
• Presentation regulations
• Electronic submission
• Viva/oral exam
• Examination flowchart (PDF, 195KB)
• Getting your result
• Essential information
• Alternative format

• language Search for " " in the Library Website Search the library website
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• The University of Manchester Library

eThesis submission: Journal format theses

A Journal format thesis allows you to incorporate sections that are in a format suitable for submission for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. If you wish to submit your thesis in journal format, you should discuss this with your supervisor, and declare your intention when you complete the Notice of Submission form. See also the University's Presentation of Theses policy for more information:

• Presentation of Theses Policy: http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=7420

If you are submitting a Journal format eThesis, you should select this format in step 2 of 5 of the eThesis submission form.

• Screenshots of the eThesis submission system: http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=32873

Preparing and submitting your journal format thesis

‘Self-archiving’ is where a researcher makes a piece of scholarly work available via a repository. The University’s Presentation of Theses policy requires that final Doctoral theses are ‘self-archived’ and made Open Access via the University’s systems within 12 months of submission, unless an exception to this policy is required.

The structure of a journal format thesis – being comprised of a number of research papers submitted to or published in academic journals – means that you as the author need to take extra care when preparing your thesis for submission, and selecting your preferred access level for your final thesis. For each publisher you’re working with, or plan to work with, you will need to establish what each allows and requires in terms of self-archiving of work, i.e.:

• If my publisher allows me to share my work via a repository, what version of my work can I share?
• When can I share my work via a repository?
• When will my papers be published?

This information will allow you to determine:

• The version of each paper to include in your eThesis file
• The access level option to select for your final thesis

Selecting an access level for your final thesis which reflects the strictest self-archiving policy of the publishers you’re working with will ensure that you’re not infringing any of your publishers’ self-archiving policies or breaking your copyright agreements.

Decision tree: Can I share my Journal format thesis Open Access? 

This interactive guide, accessed via Typeform , aims to help you understand the checks you need to make regarding the self-archiving policies of the publishers you’re working with, and to use this information to inform:

• The version of each article you include in your eThesis file
• The access level you select for your final eThesis

We recommend that you identify the strictest publisher policy that you need to deal with, and use this policy when completing this decision tree.

• Typeform - eThesis submission: journal format theses https://scholarlycomms1.typeform.com/to/bZAErZ

Journal format theses: downloadable guide

If you’d like more detailed information on considerations related to submission of your Journal format thesis, you can also download the eThesis submission: journal format thesis guide . This includes information on publisher self-archiving policies, and how these will inform the versions of papers you include in your thesis submission, and the access level you select for your final thesis.

• eThesis submission: journal format thesis guide 

You can also contact the eThesis Support Service  for more information and support.

• Library services
• Researcher services
• Prepare your eThesis
• Access to your final thesis
• Journal format theses
• Submitting your eThesis
• Sharing your thesis research data

• Docs »
• Dissertation Format
• View page source

Dissertation Format ¶

All students must produce a thesis, which describes in full detail the wider context of the research field including a literature review, the motivation for the research, the research which was carried out, an evaluation of the results, and a discussion of the contribution made to the field by the research and what should be done in the future. This needs to be submitted by three days before the end of the fourth year. For the relevant University policies, see ‘Policies’ Chapter.

There are two formats in which the thesis can be produced: traditional format and alternative format. Traditional format is probably what most people imagine a thesis is like, a very substantial report presented as a self-contained exposition. The alternative format thesis “... allows a postgraduate doctoral or MPhil student to incorporate sections that are in a format suitable for submission for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.” [1] . The alternative format thesis is often thought of as a collection of publications, with a short commentary associated with each one, tying the works into a unifying thread, or “thesis”.

Which you use is a decision you will need to make with your supervisor .

The advantages of the alternative format thesis are that if you already have several papers, you can more easily produce a thesis out of them. Also, if you have plans to write several papers, you can write your thesis in such a way that it will be easier to facilitate these plans, because writing the thesis will be build around writing papers. The papers can be submitted after the thesis.

The disadvantage of the alternative format is that it is less widely used in the UK, so many supervisors and examiners may be less comfortable with it.

A QandA on the alternative format thesis can be found here http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=15216 . Note that it says in Section 4,

“...it may not be until year 2 or 3 that you feel you are in a position to use the alternative format.”

but it says in Section 5 that a request must be made in writing by the end of year 2. Thus, if you are considering using alternative format, apply for it by the end of year 2 . You can revert to traditional format without asking permission formally.

Plagiarism ¶

All students should make sure they are familiar with what the university expects from its students. All students are also required to complete a plagiarism course.

In view of the serious consequences of plagiarism and academic malpractice, it is essential that all students familiarise themselves with the accepted format for referencing work in their discipline, and that they start using the accepted form as soon as possible.

Ignorance of the proper format, or ignorance of the definitions of plagiarism and academic malpractice used by the university, is not a valid defence against a possible claim of plagiarism or other instance of academic malpractice.

Writing Advice ¶

Whichever format you choose, you must give yourself sufficient time to produce the thesis. You must know yourself, and how quickly you are able to write. Six months is a minimum time for most people. Some may need nine.

Do not feel that you need to write it in order; start with the easiest parts first. Usually the technical sections on the research done by you are the easiest, because you know them well. The literature review may be next easiest. The introduction is usually the hardest to write, and many advise that it be written last.

The University of Manchester Library

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years, dive into details.

Select a country/territory to view shared publications and projects

Dana Barringham

Jennifer Blake

• Office of the President and Vice Chancellor (L5) - Academic Theme Lead (Student Success)

Person: UnknownHonType

Frederick Breese

Grant Collier

• Digital Special Collections & Services - Curator (University Heritage)

Person: Administrative

Elizabeth Gow

Research output.

• 118 Article
• 17 Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary
• 8 Conference contribution
• 8 Book/Film/Article review
• 7 Commissioned report
• 7 Review article
• 6 Anthology
• 6 Meeting Abstract
• 4 Master's Thesis
• 3 Other report
• 2 Commentary/debate
• 2 Other contribution
• 2 Doctoral Thesis
• 1 Scholarly edition
• 1 Editorial
• 1 Featured article
• 1 Digital or Visual Products
• 1 Exhibition

Research output per year

Enriqueta Rylands (1843-1908), founder of the John Rylands Library

Research output : Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

In-plane dielectric constant and conductivity of confined water

Research output : Preprint/Working paper › Preprint

O02 The effectiveness of adalimumab biosimilars and originator for the treatment of psoriasis: a cohort study from the British Association of Dermatologists Biologics and Immunomodulators Register (BADBIR)

Research output : Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review

• Psoriasis 100%
• Biosimilar 100%
• Cohort Analysis 100%
• Adalimumab 100%
• Immunomodulating Agent 100%

OMERACT systemic lupus erythematosus domain survey

Research output : Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus 100%
• Lupus Erythematosus 5%

Our Lady at the Seder Table

• Christian culture 20%
• 5 Invited talk
• 2 Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc
• 1 Internal positions
• 1 Oral presentation

Activities per year

Student-Centred Review of Assessment and Feedback

Gillian Ulph (Invited speaker) & Eleanor Aspey (Invited speaker)

Activity : Talk or presentation › Oral presentation › Teaching

'Le Tre corone': Italian Collections at the John Rylands Library - projects and promotion, at Italian Studies Library Group (ISLG) study day 'Italian Collections in UK Libraries: Past, Present & Future', British Library, 17 June 2022.

Stephen Milner (Speaker) & Julianne Simpson (Speaker)

Activity : Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Research

Curator of African and Near Eastern Manuscripts

Jeremy Penner (Curator)

Activity : Internal positions, career professional development, other peer review and other › Internal positions › Teaching and Research

Manchester Digital Collections: Digital collections as a tool for research and teaching in the humanities

Guyda Armstrong (Speaker), Julianne Simpson (Speaker), Jane Gallagher (Speaker) & Charlotte Hoare (Speaker)

Digital Literacies and Open Practice: Guest webinar

Chris Millson (Speaker), Sam Aston (Speaker) & Jane Secker (Speaker)

Getting the news to you! The Library Update process

Earnshaw, L. (Creator) & Sunga, R. (Creator), University of Manchester Figshare, 15 Jun 2023

DOI : 10.48420/23522067.v1 , https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/poster/Getting_the_news_to_you_The_Library_Update_process/23522067/1

UKRI OA policy presentation transcript

Carlton, S. (Creator), University of Manchester Figshare, 3 Mar 2022

DOI : 10.48420/19294274.v1 , https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/online_resource/UKRI_OA_policy_presentation_transcript/19294274/1

Rights Retention and our revised Institutional Publications Policy

Carlton, S. (Creator), University of Manchester Figshare, 28 Feb 2023

DOI : 10.48420/22189927 , https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/presentation/Rights_Retention_and_our_revised_Institutional_Publications_Policy_/22189927

Did you see my email? Tips and tactics for engaging academics

Watson, J. (Creator) & Campbell, N. (Creator), University of Manchester Figshare, 30 Jun 2022

DOI : 10.48420/20073065 , https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/conference_contribution/Did_you_see_my_email_Tips_and_tactics_for_engaging_academics/20073065

eTextbooks on demand: experimenting with new methods of content provision

Foster, H. (Creator), University of Manchester Figshare, 20 Jul 2022

DOI : 10.48420/20073032 , https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/conference_contribution/eTextbooks_on_demand_experimenting_with_new_methods_of_content_provision/20073032

CILIP Library History Essay Award 2021 joint winner

Hodgson, John (Recipient), 1 Feb 2022

Prize : Prize (including medals and awards)

• Empire 100%
• Nineteenth Century 100%
• Collecting 100%
• John R 100%
• Commonwealth 100%

Frontiers in Endocrinology Article Processing Charges

Puri, Tanuj (Recipient), Sept 2023

Prize : Other distinction

• Boundaries 100%
• Endocrinology 100%

Medical Physics Article Processing Charges

Puri, Tanuj (Recipient), Dec 2022

Research Dissemination Funds

Puri, Tanuj (Recipient), 19 Feb 2023

• Research 100%

The University of Manchester Open Research Award 2024

Wright, Stuart (Recipient), 24 Apr 2024

Press/Media

From the valley of mexico to the rylands ii: the story of the fischer codex.

Zsofia Buda

1 Media contribution

Press/Media : Blogs and social media

From the Valley of Mexico to the Rylands: introducing Mexican MS 1

Lost and found the rediscovery of a missing avicenna manuscript, the wonderful world of passover haggadot, a fragile beauty.

Stefania Silvestri & Zsofia Buda

Edit (only Administrators)

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• Departments
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• Recruiting new staff