phd thesis submission form

/images/cornell/logo35pt_cornell_white.svg" alt="phd thesis submission form"> Cornell University --> Graduate School

Submitting your thesis/dissertation.

Submission of the final thesis/dissertation must be within 60 days of the final exam. Students who miss the 60 day submission deadline are ineligible to register in future terms.

The Graduate School uses ProQuest to administer the electronic thesis/dissertation (ETD) submission and committee approval process that results in publication in ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (PQDT) database and Cornell’s Library Repository, eCommons. Before initiating the electronic process, students are required to complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates (for doctoral students only). A SED Certification of Completion is provided to the student when the survey has been completed. Once the survey is completed, the final ETD can then be submitted to the Graduate School using the ProQuest system. The SED Certification of Completion is required for submission to ProQuest.

ProQuest Submission Steps

In order to complete the submission process, you will need to have the following:

• A single PDF file of your thesis or dissertation
• Your abstract
• Supplemental material
• SED Certification of Completion 

Step 1: Begin Submission Process

Master’s students go to  Cornell Master’s ProQuest site, doctoral students go to  Cornell Doctoral ProQuest site. Click on the “sign up and get started today” button and follow instructions to begin the submission process.

Submission Process: Submission steps are outlined on the left menu. You will see the items checked off as you progress through the submission steps. You must click “Save & Continue” at the bottom of each page, even pages on which you do not enter any information. Using the left menu, you can return to any page and make changes until the point of final submission.

Step 2: Publishing Options

Traditional Publishing:  “Traditional Publishing” is automatically selected and is included in the Cornell Thesis and Dissertation filing fees.

Delayed Release:  ProQuest provides six months, and one and two year embargoes. The Graduate School recommends you discuss the publishing options with your advisor. If your advisor is unavailable or has no opinion, the conservative approach is to choose a two-year embargo.

Step 3: Read and Agree to ProQuest and University Distribution License

Both ProQuest and Cornell University distribution licenses will be presented for your acceptance.

Step 4: Enter Thesis/Dissertation Information

In addition to the mandatory information, such as title and abstract, you will have the opportunity to select up to three categories (subject areas) and six key words that describe your ETD. This information will make it easier for others to find your work when searching the web.

Step 5: Upload PDF and Supplemental Files

Upload PDF: Whether you use the PDF conversion tool provided by ProQuest or you convert your document to PDF yourself, review your PDF to ensure your formatting remains as you intended after conversion.

Supplementary Materials: If supplementary materials – such as audio, video, and spreadsheets – are an integral part of your ETD, you can submit them as supplementary files during the online submission process.

Step 6: Upload Required Documents

The SED Certification of Completion if you are a Ph.D. candidate is required for submission to ProQuest.

Step 7: Register for Copyright

You can complete this process through ProQuest for a fee, or you complete the process independently through the U.S. Copyright Office.

Step 8: Order Copies

If you would like to purchase additional copies of your thesis/dissertation for yourself, your field, or your committee members, you may order bound copies through ProQuest (Order Copies page). The required bound archival copy for the library is automatically ordered for you and included in the Cornell thesis and dissertation filing fees.

Select the “Decline – do not order” option if you don’t wish to order additional copies.

Bound copies can also be ordered through Cornell Print Services .

Step 9: Review and Submit

Once the thesis editor has reviewed the formatting of your thesis/dissertation, you will receive an email to let you know whether any corrections are required. You will then have five days to make the changes and upload the revised PDF. You will not be certified for graduation until the formatting of your ETD has been fully approved by the Graduate School. You will receive a confirmation email of final acceptance.

Step 10: Submitting Revised PDF (if needed)

You will receive an email describing the formatting changes needed with instructions and a link for resubmission.

• MyU : For Students, Faculty, and Staff

One Stop Student Services, Twin Cities

Academic calendar Contact

• Academic calendar
• Drop/add deadlines
• Registration times
• Financial aid timeline
• Final exam times
• Search for classes
• Register for a class
• Register at multiple UMN campuses
• Class permission
• Class time conflict
• Course prerequisites
• Dual career
• Drop a class
• Swap or future swap classes
• Change grade basis
• Registration rules
• Senior citizen education program
• Lib ed requirements overview
• Graduation Planner tool
• Graduation steps
• Change major, minor, or college
• Degree completion steps
• Add or remove a graduate minor
• Month you intend to graduate
• Thesis or dissertation submission
• Doctoral oral exam scheduling
• Examination committees
• Change degree award date
• Special registration categories
• Full-time credits
• Transcripts
• Verify enrollment
• Notarization and apostille
• Grading policies
• Transfer credit
• Switch UMN campuses
• Return to the U
• Leave of absence
• Military leave
• Exit counseling
• Academic probation and suspension
• Exception to policy petition
• Cost of attendance
• Reciprocity programs
• Course fees
• What and when to pay
• Payment plan
• Late payment consequences
• Parent and guest access
• Direct deposit
• Loan repayment
• Eligibility for financial aid
• Financial aid steps
• Summer financial aid
• Appeals and financial aid revisions
• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Study abroad and off-campus learning
• Pay back financial aid
• Scholarships
• Loans overview
• Grants and waivers
• Work-study and student employment
• Fellowships and assistantships
• Student emergency funds
• Apply for education benefits
• GI Bill® overview
• In-state tuition
• Federal tuition assistance
• State tuition benefits
• Veteran Education Assistance ⤻
• Surviving Spouse and Dependent Education Benefit ⤻
• Financial aid and education benefits
• Covid-19 resources
• Financial wellness counseling
• Budgeting and spending
• Loans and repayment
• Banking basics
• Identity theft
• Presentations
• Update personal information
• Pronouns and gender identity
• Preferred name
• Apostille and notarization
• Student records privacy and access
• The thesis is in its final version. Once submitted, revisions cannot be made to your thesis unless you are instructed by Graduate Student Services and Progress (GSSP) to do so. More information on formatting requirements can be found below.
• The full text is in one file.
• The full text is in Adobe PDF format.
• The complete file size is no more than 1,000 MB
• A user account is created at ProQuest ETD Administrator (different than your UMN username and password).
• Once you have fulfilled the requirements, submit your thesis at ProQuest ETD Administrator . 
• In addition, fill out and submit the Thesis/Dissertation Approval and Deposit Agreement .

You must follow the University of Minnesota formatting and submission guidelines . The guidelines found in your department or in the University Library to format your thesis may not meet current formatting guidelines. The Graduate School website includes additional writing resources for graduate students that may support you while writing your dissertation or thesis. GSSP cannot provide technical support.

Formatting your thesis or dissertation

+ the full text of the thesis.

Requirements: The full text must be in Adobe PDF format and must be one file. "Full text" refers to all introductory pages, the body of the manuscript, bibliography, and appendices.

Requirements: Every page of the thesis, including all appendices, notes, and the bibliography, must have top, left, right, and bottom margins of 1 inch (2.6 cm).

Additional recommendations: If intending to print your manuscript, a left margin of 1.5 inches (3.9 cm) is recommended.

+ Pagination

Requirements: You are responsible for correctly numbering and organizing sections in your thesis. Page numbers cannot be placed on the left-hand side (portrait orientation) or the top margin (landscape orientation) of the thesis.

• The title and copyright page must not be numbered or counted. Page numbering for the rest of the introductory material is required and is expressed in lowercase Roman numerals, beginning with page “i”.
• The main text, illustrations, bibliography, and appendices are considered the body of the manuscript.
• Every page in the body of the text, through the bibliography and appendices, must be numbered in Arabic numerals starting with page 1.

+ Tables and figures

Requirements: Color may be used in tables, charts, or graphs. However, references to color may not be made, as reproductions may be in black and white. Identification of lines and figures on graphs and charts must be made clear by the use of line symbols rather than variation in color. Captions may be single-spaced.

Additional recommendations: A list of figures is recommended if you include figures, and a list of tables is recommended if tables are included in the dissertation. Students should follow the standard within their field of study. If included, each list must contain the page number of where each figure or table can be found in the thesis. The list of figures or list of tables must be represented in the table of contents if included in the thesis.

+ Bibliography

Requirements: The bibliography may be single-spaced and should appear either at the end of each chapter, or before the appendix . Students should follow the standard within their field of study. If a cumulative bibliography is used, the bibliography must be represented in the table of contents.

It is recommended that students include an abstract following the standard within their field of study. 

Requirements: If included, the abstract may appear as a comprehensive section in the introductory materials or as a section in each chapter.   

Request to delay the release of your thesis/dissertation

You may need to delay the release of a thesis or dissertation to the public. During this holding period, GSSP will not release the thesis/dissertation to the public. Any copies of the thesis/dissertation purchased through ProQuest will be fulfilled after the hold expires. ProQuest has assembled a  guide to help you decide if you need to hold your thesis/dissertation .

At one time, you may request a hold that is:

If needed, you may also submit an extension to your first hold request. You can hold your thesis/dissertation for up to 4 years total. This is in accordance with the University of Minnesota Board of Regents’ policy regarding the withholding of research results. You are responsible for extending the hold request before the expiration date if necessary.

When your hold or your extension expires, your thesis/dissertation will be released for circulation to ProQuest, University Libraries, and the University Digital Conservancy (part of University Libraries). We will not contact you when the hold or extension expires. We are unable to honor any hold requests that we receive after the thesis/dissertation has been released.

If you have questions or would like to release the hold on your thesis/dissertation before the expiration date, please  contact GSSP .

Submit a hold request

• Your major, degree, and graduation month and year
• The title of your thesis/dissertation
• The reason and a brief explanation of your hold request
• The length of time for the hold request
• Your advisor’s/co-advisor’s UMN email
• The form will be routed to your advisor(s) for approval.
• The hold period begins immediately after the official degree conferral date (last working day of graduation month).
• You’ll receive an email confirmation when the form is processed.
• Keep a record of the expiration date of your hold.

Submit an extension

• Your student ID number and UMN email
• Length of your previous hold request
• Length of time you wish to extend the hold (total hold cannot exceed 4 years)
• A brief explanation for the extension request
• Keep a record of the expiration date of your extension.
• Liberal education requirements
• Education requirements prior to fall 2010
• Designated theme courses
• Diversified core courses
• Writing requirement
• Types of loans
• Compare loans
• Minnesota GI Bill
• GI Bill® payments

Graduate Division

Promoting Graduate Education

Dissertation and Thesis Submission

Some of the procedures below may have changed due to the covid-19 pandemic. please see our p andemic policy  updates page for more information., contact us for assistance.

Graduate Academic Affairs 8am-Noon and 1pm-5pm, Monday - Friday. Contact Us

We can be reached by phone at (951) 827-3315.  Messages are retrieved often throughout the business day.

PhD Dissertation and Master's Thesis Filing Checklist

The order below is meant to be a suggestion for  best practice.  You may find that the order of completion differs in your own case, particularly steps 5-11.  Feel free to contact us if you have additional questions about any of the items listed.

Master's students  must file an Application for Candidacy for Master's Degree  no later than the first day of the quarter  in which they plan to graduate.  The Application for Candidacy for Master's Degree  is accessed through R'Grad  and must be in the Graduate Dean's queue by the posted deadline  to be considered.

It is expected that PhD students will have completed the oral qualifying exam and advanced to candidacy prior to filing the dissertation. 

PhD and Master's students must also submit a separate graduation application through  R'Web  by Monday of week 4 of the quarter they plan to graduate. See the  Graduation Procedures  page for specific deadlines and instructions.

Reviewing the format guide is the first step in preparing your manuscript for submission.  It explains all aspects of the submission and graduation requirements.  Please read it carefully and review the sample pages.  Ensure that your preliminary pages match the samples.  You may find the format guide on the  Filing Resources page. Microsoft Word and LaTex templates are also available to assist you.    

For additional formatting help and information, including templates and samples, visit  Filing Resources .

If your manuscript contains previously published information, you may need to acquire approval to reprint it. 

For additional information about copyright and fair use in your dissertation, visit  Copyright Resources .

The Graduate Academic Affairs office holds workshops each quarter to help students understand the requirements. The workshops are typically held in week 5 but be sure to check your R'Mail for announcements. Attending a format workshop is highly recommended. The workshop video and slides can be found on the  Filing Resources  page. 

The last day to file your manuscript is typically the last business day of the quarter.  Deadlines for the current year are posted in a chart on the Graduation Procedures page.  To meet the deadline, the final version of the dissertation/thesis and all additional paperwork, including the completed Signature Approval Page and Final Defense Form (both submitted via R'Grad ), must be in the Graduate Dean queue by 12:00pm (noon) on the posted deadline .

The Signature Approval Page and Final Defense form links can be found on the Petitions and Forms page of this web site for both Master's and PhD students. 

Every student planning to file and graduate must submit a dissertation/thesis for format review  at least two weeks  prior to the  final filing deadline . The format review is uploaded via the  ProQuest ETD website .  Please complete all the required screens and SUBMIT your document online.  For additional information visit the  ProQuest ETD FAQ page .  Graduate Academic Affairs staff will review your submission to identify any formatting issues and will communicate with you via email regarding necessary changes to the document.  You may be asked to upload your document multiple times.  You will be notified once the formatting has been approved and no further changes are needed.  This is an important step to ensure your document is ready by the  posted deadline .  

Please do not be concerned that submitting this rough draft to ProQuest will result in it being published.  You will have the opportunity to submit a final version.  The Graduate Division Academic Affairs staff will submit the approved final version to ProQuest once you have completed all graduation procedures. 

ProQuest offers students the opportunity to order bound copies of the dissertation at the time of the format review submission.  Please note that this is an optional service and that there are other ways to order printed copies of the dissertation such as UCR's Creative Services or your neighborhood print/copy shop.  If you do order copies through ProQuest, please be aware that it will take several months for the copies to be prepared and shipped to you.  ProQuest will not begin processing your order until the documents are uploaded from UCR which may take 6-8 weeks from the end of the quarter in which you graduate.

Many of your questions may be answered by visiting the  ProQuest ETD FAQ page .

If your program requires a final defense, you must submit proof of its completion via R'Grad . To meet the deadline the Final Defense Form (submitted via R'Grad ) must be in the Graduate Dean queue by 12:00pm (noon) on the posted deadline . If your final defense has been waived, the Final Defense petition is still required. Your committee will simply select "Waived" as their final defense decision. The approval of your Final Defense is separate from the Signature Approval Page (see step 7) in your dissertation. Both must be submitted via R'Grad  and must be in the Graduate Dean queue by 12:00pm (noon) on the posted deadline . 

The Signature Approval Page is a critical part of your final document.  On this page, your committee gives their final approval of the written dissertation/thesis document.  Please make sure to allow enough time to obtain all the signatures prior to 12:00pm (noon) on the final filing deadline.  All committee members  must  digitally sign on the R'Grad   signature approval page.   Signature approval pages will not be accepted by any other method.  Be aware of your committee members' schedules and make plans to accommodate this requirement! 

To meet the deadline, the Signature Approval Page must be in the Graduate Dean queue in R'Grad  by 12:00pm (noon) on the posted deadline .   

The Signature Approval Page that you include in your digital dissertation in ProQuest will not include signatures.

A Signature Page template for inclusion in your document may be found on the  Filing Resources  page.

In addition to the Final Defense form and Signature Approval Page, PhD students are expected to submit two exit surveys.  Both surveys are completed online. You do not have to submit anything extra to us to show completion. Master's students will submit the Final Defense form (if a defense is required) and the Signature Approval Page. To meet the deadline, the Final Defense Form and Signature approval page must be in the Graduate Dean queue (via R'Grad ) by 12:00pm (noon) on the  posted deadline .

A complete list and links to the paperwork can be found on our  Filing Resources page.

After uploading your dissertation/thesis for a format review to the  ProQuest ETD website , you will receive an email from the Graduate Academic Affairs office. The email will include a review of the requirements for graduation and final submission. You should receive the email within 24 hours of submitting your document.  If you do not receive this email, please check your junk email folder or contact Graduate Academic Affairs.  

Complete any changes requested in the format review and by your committee.  When the document is complete, return to the  ProQuest ETD website  to submit the final version of your dissertation/thesis.  When logging back in, choose the "revise" option. Once you submit the final version, you will not be permitted to make additional changes to the document, so take all precautions! 

Please be aware of all  filing deadlines  to be sure that you file your dissertation/thesis document, the Signature Approval Page, and the Final Defense Form in plenty of time to meet the deadline for the quarter in which you expect to receive your degree.  Deadlines are  strictly  enforced. 

To meet the deadline, the final version of the dissertation/thesis and all additional paperwork, including the completed Signature Approval Page and Final Defense Form (both submitted via R'Grad ), must be in the Graduate Dean queue by 12:00pm (noon) on the posted deadline .

For information about what happens to your document after submission, visit our   ProQuest ETD FAQ page.

Your diploma will be mailed to your permanent address in R'Web approximately 2 months after your degree conferral date.  Any questions about the diploma should be directed to [email protected] .  You may also visit the Registrar's web site for more information. Transcripts - both official and unofficial - with your degree conferral noted - will be ready approximately 4 weeks after your degree conferral date.  Official transcripts may be ordered through R'Web .  Unofficial transcripts may be accessed from your Student Profile in R'Web .

If you wish to participate in the commencement ceremony (offered in June each year), you must verify your eligibility and submit your intent to participate.  Information for graduate students regarding Commencement and the requirements for participation can be found on the  Commencement Information  page. The main  UCR Commencement  page has information about the schedule of ceremonies, tickets, and much more.

Important Links

• Search UNH.edu
• Search UNH Graduate School

Commonly Searched Items:

• Academic Calendar
• Programs Of Study
• Faculty & Staff Resources
• Graduate Catalog
• Accelerated Master's Program
• Dual Degree & Special Programs
• UNH Manchester
• Non-Degree Graduate Programs
• Forms & Policies
• Graduate School Academic Calendar
• Enrollment Deposits
• Tuition & Financial Aid
• International Applicants
• Test Scores
• Bridge Programs
• Wildcat Alumni
• Current Happenings
• Career, Professional & Community Development Resources
• International Travel Policy
• Graduation Resources
• Graduate Student Senate
• Leave of Absence
• Thesis and Dissertation Resources
• Fellowships & Awards
• Graduate Research Conference
• 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition
• RCR Training
• Research Area Experts
• Northeast Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (NEAGEP)
• Welcome from the Dean
• Staff Directory
• Faculty Listing

Summer Thesis Submission Deadline: Monday, August 19

• Thesis Formatting Manual
• Final Submission Form
• ProQuest Submission Site

Formatting Requirements

• Submission Process

Thesis and Dissertation Credit

Thesis track master's students and all PhD students are required to submit their final thesis or dissertation to the Graduate School after the work has been successfully defended and deemed complete by the committee.  All students must complete  the submission process by the deadlines posted on the academic calendar for the desired semester of graduation. 

Details on the submission and formatting process can be found below.   The Graduate School has not prescribed a particular style to be followed in writing a thesis/dissertation. The style chosen must be appropriate to the student’s field of study. However, the Graduate School has adopted standards for form and organization. These standards are outlined in the formatting manual linked on this page.  

Formatting and Submission Resources

• Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Manual
• ProQuest Submission FAQ
• UNH Connors Writing Center
• Automatic Table of Contents
• Page Numbering
• Landscape Pages

Other Resources

• Intent to Graduate
• UNH Commencement
• UNH Scholars Repository

The Graduate School offers a free formatting review to all students submitting a thesis or dissertation.  This review is not required, but is strongly suggested.  To obtain a review, please email your thesis/dissertation, either in PDF or with a sharing link, to [email protected] with 'Thesis Review' as the subject line. Reviews may take up to a week depending on the time of year. 

Students should become familiar with the formatting requirements that are outlined in the thesis manual .  The formatting specifications are based on universal formatting required by many colleges and universities around the country.  These requirements are also mandated by the publisher to ensure that all thesis and dissertations have a consistent format.

Students should not rely solely on previously bound copies of theses for answers on formatting issues. While bound copies may provide ideas for possible procedures, format requirements may have changed. If you have a question, please contact the Graduate School. 

The Graduate School does not create or host any formatting templates (Overleaf, LaTeX, etc.).  Any templates that may exist were created by prior students.  Students are advised caution when using previously created templates as formatting requirements may have changed. 

Final Submission

The final approved thesis/dissertation must be submitted to the Graduate School through ProQuest via the UNH ETD Administrator website by the appropriate deadline as published in the Graduate School calendar. Publishing options include traditional publishing (free) as well as open access publishing (additional cost).  The benefits of each can be found on the ProQuest website.  Students can opt to embargo their thesis (hold publication) if needed, which will delay publishing for a specified period of time.  Bound copies are available for purchase through ProQuest at the time of submission. Students should check with their department to determine if a bound copy is required. All fees are to be paid by the student at the time of submission.

Students are advised not to wait until the last minute to submit their work. Submissions must be received by the published deadline for your intended graduation term unless the Graduate School has granted an extension. The specific deadline for submission for each graduation date is published on the UNH Academic Calendar as well as on our calendar page .

*Under no circumstances will a submission be accepted after the graduation date has passed.

The final version of the thesis must be submitted electronically to the Graduate School via the secure UNH ProQuest ETD Administrator website: http://www.etdadmin.com/unh . Submissions should be made only after a student has successfully passed the defense and has made all the necessary corrections required by their committee. In addition to the ProQuest submission, students will also need to submit the Thesis Submission Form as well as a copy of their signed signature page to the Graduate School Dean's Office .  

ProQuest Thesis/Dissertation submission: Submit the completed and approved thesis/dissertation through ProQuest.  You will be able to choose from two publishing options and will be able to purchase bound copies if desired.

Signature Page: The signature page is created by the student and should be based on the sample template that we provide in the thesis formatting manual.  This page should be signed by all committee members as confirmation that the thesis/dissertation has been approved.  As we understand that not all faculty may be local or able to sign in person, digital or otherwise electronic signatures are permitted.  A hard copy signature page is not required.  The final page should be submitted to the Graduate School as  PDF file. 

Final Submission Form: This form/checklist, found linked at the top of this page, is to be filled out and submitted by the student as confirmation that all steps in the process have been completed.

The submission form and signature page can be submitted as PDF files to [email protected] (preferred).  Pages can also be submitted in person or mailed to the Graduate School Dean's Office in Thompson Hall.

These materials can be submitted in any order.  Once all materials have been received the Graduate School will review the submission.  If there are changes needed, the student will be notified and will be able to make the necessary changes and resubmit.

Students can choose between Traditional Publishing (no cost) or Open Access Publishing.  More information about the publishing options can be found on the ProQuest website at the time of submission.   All publishing fees are the responsibility of the student. 

Thesis/dissertation submissions will be sent for publishing after all degrees are awarded.  Publishing normally takes 8-10 weeks.  Once published, the thesis/dissertations will be made available online through ProQuest as well as through the UNH Library Scholar's Repository.  

Note: If the student opted for an embargo, then release will not be completed until the embargo expires.  In the case of an infinite embargo, the submission will never be made available. 

Students can request bound copies at the time of submission.  The Graduate School does not require students to purchase copies to complete the submission process.  However, some departments may still require/request copies.  Students can select any format for personal bound copies, however, for university use the 8 1/2 x 11 hardcover is recommended.  Payment for any bound copies is the responsibility of the student. 

After publication, bound copies will be printed and mailed to the address the student provided at the time of submission. Students can also order additional bound copies at any time through the ProQuest portal once publication is completed. 

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

A thesis requires the completion of between 6-10 thesis credits.  Some departments have more specific requirements.  Students who enrolled for more than 10 credits will need to work with the Graduate School to withdraw the excess credits.  

Once the thesis is approved and submitted the department will submit a request to award the CR grade for thesis completion.  The Graduate School monitors thesis grades closely, but it is not unusual for thesis grades to remain incomplete until immediately before the degree is awarded. 

PhD students are required to register for Doctoral Research (999) each semester until their degree is awarded.  Once the dissertation is submitted and approved the department will submit a request to award the CR grade for the dissertation.  Please note that only the most recent registration of 999 will be given a CR.  All other registrations will have a IA grade. 

UNH Graduate School

• UNH Manchester Programs
• Grad Assistant Orientation
• New England Regional Tuition
• Travel Grant Request Form
• Writing & Research
• Professional Development
• Community & Student Organizations
• Health & Well-being
• External Events and Resources
• NEAGEP Student Opportunities
• Diversity Resources

• Sustainability
• Embrace New Hampshire
• University News
• The Future of UNH
• Campus Locations
• Calendars & Events
• Directories
• Facts & Figures
• Academic Advising
• Colleges & Schools
• Degrees & Programs
• Undeclared Students
• Course Search
• Study Abroad
• Career Services
• How to Apply
• Visit Campus
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Net Price Calculator
• Graduate Admissions
• UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law
• Housing & Residential Life
• Clubs & Organizations
• New Student Programs
• Student Support
• Fitness & Recreation
• Student Union
• Health & Wellness
• Student Life Leadership
• Sport Clubs
• UNH Wildcats
• Intramural Sports
• Campus Recreation
• Centers & Institutes
• Undergraduate Research
• Research Office
• Graduate Research
• FindScholars@UNH
• Business Partnerships with UNH
• Professional Development & Continuing Education
• Research and Technology at UNH
• Request Information
• Current Students
• Faculty & Staff
• Alumni & Friends

• The Graduate School >
• Succeed at UB >
• Completing Your Degree >

Electronic Thesis & Dissertation (ETD) Guidelines

As a requirement for graduation, master’s students who complete a thesis and all PhD and EdD students must electronically submit their thesis/dissertation to the Graduate School via the ETD Administrator site . Master’s theses and doctoral dissertations are stored electronically and accessible in perpetuity through the UB Institutional Repository (UBIR) and ProQuest's dissertations and theses database .

Deadlines and Required Documents

	Aug. 31, 2024	Feb. 1, 2025	June 1, 2025
	Aug. 9, 2024	Jan. 10, 2025	May 16, 2025

In addition to your master’s thesis/doctoral dissertation, submit the following:

• Doctoral degree recipients surveys  (two surveys required for PhD students only).
• Embargo form (if requesting delayed release).

Visit the ETD Administrator website to begin.

Required Format for Electronic Thesis & Dissertation

Your thesis/dissertation must adhere to the formatting guidelines detailed below.   Using the ETD Template (although not required) is an easy way to ensure your document is formatted correctly.

Choosing a Style Manual

When beginning to construct your thesis or dissertation, the very first step is to choose the style appropriate to your specific discipline. If you are unsure what style is appropriate, confer with your advisor and/or department. Be sure to follow the chosen style consistently throughout the document. Listed below are websites of a few widely recognized style manuals:

• American Psychological Association
• Modern Language Association
• University of Chicago, Chicago Manual of Style

Creating an Accessible Document

The University at Buffalo is committed to ensuring equal access to information that is presented online as per UB's Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility Policy . As part of this commitment, university web content must be accessible to everyone, including individuals with physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments, with or without the use of assistive technology.

Refer to Microsoft's Accessibility Guide and the UB's ETD Template to help create an accessible document that includes:

• Alternative text for all visuals, including pictures, graphics and charts.
• Meaningful hyperlinked text.
• Logical semantic (heading) structure.
• Logical table structure with proper table headings.

Formatting the Document

The ETD Template can be used to help format your document. Keep in mind the following:

• Font Size:  Select fonts between 10 and 12 characters per inch. Smaller or larger fonts are generally too hard to read and should be avoided. Use the same font style and print size throughout the document.
• Pagination:  The title page is to be  unnumbered,  but should be counted as “page 1”. With the exception of the title page, all of the pages in your document should be numbered, including the principal text, all tables, diagrams, maps, etc. Roman numerals (I, II, III) should be used on the preliminary pages and Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) are used on the pages that follow the abstract.
• Page Numbering Placement:  Generally the page number is placed in the upper right, lower right or bottom center of the page. Regardless of where you place the page numbers, be sure they are consistent throughout the document.
• Spacing:  Use double-spacing consistently throughout the document, except for long quotations, footnotes and endnotes, which are typically single-spaced. Check your selected style manual for further details on spacing.
• Blank Pages:  There should be no blank pages in your PDF. If you wish to leave a blank page, it must be labeled as follows: “This Page Intentionally Left Blank”.

The Title Page

The  ETD Template can be used to help format your (required) title page. Keep in mind the following:

• Do not number the title page. While it is technically Roman numeral i, the number is not displayed on the page itself. 
• The title page must follow the format in the ETD Template.
• Be sure to use your department's official name and your full legal name.
• The title on your manuscript must match the approved title on your M-form.
• When possible, incorporate word substitutes for formulae and symbols.

Page Order and Page Numbering

The ETD Template can be used to help format your document. Your document should adhere the following prescribed order.

• Title page (required).
• Copyright page (required).  The copyright page is required but you are not mandated to file or pay for a copyright. The date of your defense should be listed on the title page and a copyright page follows the title page in the following format. In the center lower third of the page, just above the bottom margin, type the following (*the Roman numeral ii is to be centered at the bottom of the page).

                        Copyright                   Center your name             Center the conferral year                  All Rights Reserved

                              (ii)*

        For reference, a visual of the Copyright page can be found on page ii of the ETD template.

• Dedication and/or acknowledgments pages (optional).  If you decide to have an acknowledgment section, be sure not to omit any members of your committee. While this section is optional, if included, it should be numbered with Roman numerals.
• Table of contents (required).  The table of contents (TOC) page(s) should also be numbered with Roman numerals. Include the dedication/acknowledgment, abstract and any lists within the TOC. Do not include the title page, the copyright page or the TOC page(s). While a TOC is required, it may follow any format acceptable to your advisor and committee as long as it includes all main divisions and subdivisions within your text and the format is consistent.
• Lists of tables, figures, illustrations, charts and graphs (optional).  Follow the format used for your TOC. Use a separate page for each type of list. Be sure to number with the appropriate Roman numerals.
• Abstract (required).  The abstract page should be numbered with the appropriate Roman numeral. An abstract of your thesis or dissertation is required. It should be a succinct and concise narrative description of your work. Briefly state your topic or problem, describe the procedures and methods you used and summarize your findings or conclusions. Do not use tables, graphs or figures in your abstract.
• Chapters or main divisions of the document (required).  The text should be double-spaced and each page must be numbered consecutively beginning with the number 1. As you turn the content of your research into a professional document, be sure to use a writing style appropriate to your subject and discipline. The document also needs to consistently follow acceptable standards of punctuation, spelling and format. See the "Choose a Style Manual" of this guide for a listing of familiar style manuals. Check with your advisor and department for their recommendation. Be sure chapter titles and subheadings follow your style manual. It is best to include tables or other illustrative materials as necessary in the main body of the document when they are essential to the text.
• Subheadings.  For clarity and flow, it is best not to begin any subheadings or other divisions on separate pages unless the preceding page is filled. If the subheading falls at the very end of a page, move it to the next page unless at least two lines of text can follow the subheading on that page. Be sure to keep subheadings consistent in position and style throughout the document.
• Footnotes/Endnotes.  Place footnotes, if used, at the bottom of the appropriate page, at the end of each chapter or at the end of the document. Refer to the style manual you have chosen. Notes are usually single-spaced. If you group your notes at the end of each chapter, begin them on the first page following the text of that chapter. Also begin the first page in each note section with the heading “Endnotes to Chapter___” or “Notes to Chapter___.”
• Appendix (if applicable).  Appendices are used when you wish to add materials (such as charts, graphs, surveys, etc.) not essential to the text. The appendix is generally placed before the bibliography or references section, and after the last page of the last chapter of text. These pages also need to be numbered. Remember to include a list of appendices in your preliminary pages if you have more than one appendix.
• Bibliography or references (required).  The bibliography or list of references should be single-spaced for each entry and then double-spaced between entries. Group all entries in strict alphabetical order or in another way that seems appropriate to your research and helpful to your readers. Be sure to use the format that is consistent with the format style approved by your advisor and committee. These pages must be numbered as well.

Final Check:  Review your document carefully to be sure it is correctly formatted, that all spelling and grammar is correct, and that the document is totally free of errors. Check that there are no blank pages, omitted paragraphs or missing sections. Be sure the preliminary pages of your document are in the proper order and the pagination is correct.

Converting the Document to a PDF

Electronic submission of your thesis or dissertation in PDF format is mandatory. When you are ready to submit your PDF document, go to the ETD Administrator website .

Write your document as you normally would any other research paper while keeping in mind the following tips on how to format your thesis or dissertation in a PDF-friendly manner, to ensure that your later conversion from MS Word, LaTeX, etc., will go smoothly. Refer to the  ProQuest Support Center  for more tips and helpful hints.

• Spacing and pagination:  Use tabs instead of a series of spaces to align text. Insert page breaks instead of a series of paragraphs to start a new page. Use section breaks to change the format between pages in the document. Use your preferred software for creating tables of contents and cross-references to ensure that pagination is consistent even if the generation of the PDF file causes the pages to shift slightly. 
• Fonts:  We recommend using standard fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial. If using unusual fonts, be sure to use embeddable Type 1 or TrueType fonts. 
• Graphics:  JPEG, TIFF, PNG or other appropriate file formats can be added. When possible, it is best to use a high resolution such as 600 dpi. Avoid using graphic editors that are part of a word processor. 
• Equations:  Microsoft Word users should not use Word's Equation Editor. Instead, use italic Times Roman font and Symbol font, along with superscripts and subscripts to create equations.
• Orientation:  Portrait, rather than landscape, orientation is preferred. Utilize standard 8 ½” x 11” page size. Avoid including multiple book pages on one single PDF page, as this will diminish appearance and printing quality.
• Supplemental files (optional):  Supplemental files (images, data, etc.) that are an integral part of the thesis or dissertation, but not part of the full-text should be uploaded along with your PDF during the submission process. Supplemental files should be titled according to the following naming convention: Supplemental_File_Title (i.e., no spaces or punctuation marks in the file name. You may use dashes or underscores).

Need more help?

The ETD Preparation Workshop explains how to properly format your ETD, how to use the ETD Template, tips for creating an accessible document and more.

I submitted my ETD, what's next?

The Graduate School reviews submissions in the order they are received. You'll receive a decision email from [email protected] within one to two weeks.

Decisions  include "accepted" (which requires no additional action by you) or "minor revisions required" (which requires you to complete the outlined revisions). As long as you have submitted your ETD by the published deadline, you have met the deadline.

Approved ETDs are viewable on ProQuest and in the UBIR approximately 10 to 12 weeks after degree conferral (unless an embargo was approved).

Additional Resources

Etd public access and embargo policies.

Per UB's  Public Access of Theses and Dissertations policy , after your degree is awarded, your thesis or dissertation will be delivered to and available in perpetuity through the  UB Institutional Repository (UBIR)  and to ProQuest, where your document will be microfilmed, indexed and stored in  ProQuest’s dissertations and theses database , the world’s largest recognized repository of graduate student research. When you submit your thesis or dissertation as a requirement for conferral of your degree, you are granting a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free perpetual license to the University at Buffalo, as set forth in the Public Access Agreement, which you will sign during the ETD submission process.

If you wish to delay the release of your thesis or dissertation because it contains proprietary data or has patents pending, you must submit an  Request for Embargo (Delayed Release) of Thesis or Dissertation  to the Graduate School at the time of your ETD submission. Please review the Graduate School's  Embargo (Delayed Release) of Thesis and Dissertation policy  for more information.

Fees Associated With the ETD Submission Process

There is no fee for ETD submission and cataloging through the UBIR.

Traditional publishing through ProQuest is free. If you select the ProQuest Open Access publishing option and/or request that ProQuest file copyright on your behalf, there will be associated fees. Open access publishing is $95, copyright filing is $75. Payments will be made via credit card directly to ProQuest during the online ETD submission process.

ProQuest Publishing Options

For publishing with ProQuest, you may choose traditional publishing or open access publishing.

• Traditional publishing  gives ProQuest the right to sell copies of your published thesis and to provide you (the author) with royalties from such sales.
• Open access publishing  provides the broadest means of free and complete access of the thesis or dissertation to students and scholars worldwide. For a comparison of these options, see the  ProQuest Publishing Options Guide .

Copyrighting:  You can choose whether or not to copyright your thesis or dissertation. Copyrighting protects your rights as the author. These rights include the ability to make copies of the work, to distribute them, to make derivative works or to perform or display the work. By copyrighting your thesis or dissertation, you can control the rights to it or may authorize others (i.e., a publisher) to exercise those rights. The copyright will be in effect for your lifetime plus an additional 50 years. You should consult with your advisor and discuss this issue before making your decision.

ProQuest can act as your agent with the Library of Congress Copyright office when your thesis or dissertation is submitted. This is done only if you specifically request such services from ProQuest when you submit your ETD. Please note that it is only mandatory to digitize your thesis or dissertation, while copyrighting is optional. Alternatively, you may apply for copyright registration by filing directly through the  U.S. Copyright Office .

Since theses and dissertations involve considerable effort on the part of the major professor (and sometimes other faculty members) as well as the student, you should make arrangements for publication and/or copyrighting only after consulting with your major professor and committee members.

If you have questions about the ETD submission process or the ETD template, please contact us by phone at 716-645-2939 or by email at [email protected] .

Graduate Education

Office of graduate and postdoctoral education, theses & dissertations.

Review the thesis deadlines, including deadlines for the initial format check and required forms.

Thesis Manual

Read over the Thesis and Dissertation Manual for an overview of document and format guidelines and more.

View the checklist of required documents for thesis submission.

Access needed forms for the thesis and dissertation process.

Format your thesis or dissertation using our thesis format templates.

Resources to Help You Through the Process

Whether you need to make an appointment or need guidance about copyright rules, the following resources are available to support you:

Spring 2024 Thesis Info Session Resources

• Watch the Thesis Information Session presentation
• Access the Thesis Information Session presentation slide deck

Virtual Thesis & Dissertation Appointments

The Graduate Education Thesis and Dissertation coordinator is offering virtual appointments for questions related to:

• Thesis/dissertation process
• Format checking feedback
• Graduation policies and procedures
• Read about copyright information
• Attend Library classes and events
• Learn about citation tools
• Connect with subject expert librarians
• Access Library theses and dissertation resources

Conducting & Communicating Research

• Including Previously-Published Work in Dissertation
• Effective and Responsible Use of AI in Research  (updated July 10, 2024)
• Ethical and Responsible Use of AI in Research Projects Presentation
• Connect with the Naugle CommLab

Pathways to Graduation

Have questions about graduation? Not sure where to begin? The Office of Graduate Education has developed Pathways to Graduation , a self-guided Canvas course which helps to equip graduate students with the tools to succeed and experience a smooth, stress-free road to graduation.

Many policies related to this process are listed in Georgia Tech’s Policy Library. For international students, there are Office of International Education policies on enrollment and optional practical training that you’ll want to become familiar with.

Graduate Thesis Faculty Submission Form

Effective for the summer 2023 term, the policy on advisement of graduate students has been updated in the Catalog . Tenure-track faculty are members of the Graduate Thesis Faculty by default. All other Georgia Tech faculty must be approved by the program and submitted to the Office of Graduate Education. Departments must submit those names, once approved, via our submission form below.

Electronic Submission and Disseminating Your Work

Tech requires all theses and dissertations to be submitted electronically. Once it is approved by your committee, here’s what happens next:

• Visit the Electronic Thesis and Dissertations (ETD) Submission System . Please follow the instructions, and upload your approved thesis or dissertation as a PDF.
• Graduate Education will check your uploaded PDF and will notify you if there are any corrections. You must make the corrections, and resubmit the corrected file.
• If Graduate Education has all the required pre-thesis and thesis-related (or dissertation) documents, we will approve your thesis/dissertation and notify the Office of the Registrar that you are eligible to graduate.
• You and your committee members will receive an approval notice via Vireo/ETD. Approximately a month after you graduate, your thesis/dissertation will be released for electronic circulation.
• You can request that your thesis/dissertation be withheld from release for one year for intellectual property reasons. The Graduate Thesis Office ( [email protected] ) must receive a written request from your advisor approving your request at the same time as you submit your other thesis documents. The Request for Withholding form is available via DocuSign.

When you’re ready to share your work with the public, check out the Georgia Tech Digital Repository  on disseminating your thesis or dissertation.

Upcoming Defenses

To view the full listing of upcoming defenses, see MS and Ph.D. Defenses .

MS Defense by Maddy Biqian Wu

Phd proposal by tawfik m. hussein, phd proposal by krista jackson, phd proposal by dong gun oh, phd defense by andy ko.

Check our frequently asked questions (FAQ) to see if your question has already been answered. Else, contact [email protected] .

Accessibility Information

Download Microsoft Products   >      Download Adobe Reader   >

-->

|

Every form/application to be submitted is to be duly filled in and signed by the student and is to be forwarded by concerned Faculty Adviser/ Supervisor/Co-Supervisor/RPC/Convener, DPGC (Head, of the Department). These forms should be submitted in the Department office only. The Department office will make necessary arrangements to send the duly filled and signed form to Academic office.

All forms are also accessable on Post Student Ldap login. For Important dates/academic activites the student must refer to Academic Calendar available on the Institute website: http://www.iitb.ac.in/newacadhome/toacadcalender.jsp. Kindly visit the academic homepage regularly for latest updates and circulars http://www.iitb.ac.in/newacadhome/circular.jsp

List For Phd Forms

  (To be submitted at the time of verification of Certificates) -->
  (To be submitted at the time of verification of Certificates) --> -->
  (To be submitted at the time of joining the programme alongwith the Joining Report) -->
  (To be submitted at the time of joining the programme alongwith the Joining Report) --> --> --> -->
   (To be submitted after completion of 5 years from the date of Confirmation of Registration) --> --> --> -->
   (To be submitted after completion of Ph.D. requirements) -->
   (Only for Ph.D. scholars who wish to take degree prior to the annual Convocation and whose defence has already been held by December) --> --> --> --> --> --> -->
  (To be submitted for extension of submission of synopsis & thesis if required) --> --> --> --> --> --> --> -->
  ( Project Staff / Institute Staff Seeking Admission to M.Tech/Ph.D.Programme at the of joining the programme) --> -->

Name of the Form
A- COMPULSORY FORMS
(To be submitted at the time of joining the programme)
(To be submitted at the time of joining the programme alongwith the Joining Report.)
( Project Staff / Institute Staff Seeking Admission to M.Tech/Ph.D.Programme at the of joining the programme)
(To be submitted after completion of required course work/qualifiers)
(To be submitted in every semester (if not registered online) till submission of Thesis)
-->   (To be submitted annually (in August/January as the case may be) till presentation of Pre-synopsis)
(To be submitted after completion of 6 years from the date of Confirmation of Registration)
(To be submitted on presentation of Pre-Synopsis Seminar)
(To be submitted alongwith Synopsis and Thesis)
(To be submitted after the Defence alongwith final (TWO Bound) Copies of Thesis)
B- APPLICATION / REQUEST FORMAT
(To be submitted by the students for Laptop loan
(To be submitted by the students for dropping the course after the course adjustment date)
(To be submitted for change of admission category)
(To be submitted for change of supervisor(s)/external supervisor)
(To be submitted for issue of NOC certificate for visa purpose and grant of advance)
(To be submitted for extension of APS, if required (atleast 15 days before the due date of APS Presentation))
(To be submitted only if the thesis title requires change, after the Pre-synopsis is completed.).
(To be submitted for temporary withdrawal from the Ph.D. programme (Eligibility: completion of minimum 2 years from the date of Confirmation    of Ph.D. Registration).
(This is for obtaining Partial Financial support for Completion of Synopsis & Thesis)
(To be submitted by the students if he joins Industry after submiting presynopsis but before submission of Synopsis/Thesis)
(To be submitted for any application/request , except the above)
(Undertaking from research scholars to be submitted for TA/RAship arrears)

Format Requirements for Your Dissertation or Thesis

Main navigation.

The final dissertation or thesis manuscript must have a ready-for-publication appearance and standard features.

The Office of the University Registrar does not endorse or verify the accuracy of any dissertation or thesis formatting templates that may be available to you.

It is your student responsibility to make sure that the formatting meets these requirements. Introductory material, text, and appendices must all be clearly and consistently prepared and must meet all of the specifications outlined below.

Once you upload and submit your dissertation or thesis in Axess, and it has been approved by the university, the submission is considered final and no further changes are permitted.

The digital file of the dissertation or thesis, which is sent to Stanford Libraries for cataloging, must meet certain technical requirements to ensure that it can be easily accessed by readers now and into the future. 

Follow the specifications outlined below.

Style and Format

Word and text divisions, style guides, content and layout, special instructions for d.m.a. students, order and content, page orientation, embedded links, supplementary material and publishing, supplementary material, scholarly reference, published papers and multiple authorship, use of copyrighted material, copyrighting your dissertation, file security and file name, stanford university thesis & dissertation publication license.

Pages should be standard U.S. letter size (8.5 x 11 inches).

In order to ensure the future ability to render the document, standard fonts must be used. 

For the main text body, type size should be 10, 11, or 12 point. Smaller font sizes may be used in tables, captions, etc. 

The font color must be black. 

Font Families

Acceptable font styles include:

• Times New Roman (preferred)
• Courier, Courier Bold, Courier Oblique, Courier Bold-Oblique;
• Helvetica, Helvetica Bold, Helvetica Oblique, Helvetica Bold-Oblique;
• Times, Times Bold, Times Italic, Times Bold-Italic;
• Computer Modern (or Computer Modern Roman).

Note: Do not use script or ornamental fonts. Do not use proprietary fonts.

If you use mathematical or other scientific notation in your dissertation or thesis using a font other than Symbol, you must embed the font into the PDF that is submitted to the university. 

Inner margins (left edge if single-sided; right edge for even-numbered pages, and left edge for odd-numbered pages if double-sided) must be 1.5 inches. All other margins must be one inch.

Pagination, headers, and/or footers may be placed within the margin, but no closer than one-half inch from the edge of the page.

For double-sided copies, 1.5 inches must be maintained as the inner margin. Margin requirements should apply to the entire document, including the title page.

The main body text of the manuscript should be one-and-a-half or double-spaced lines, except where conventional usage calls for single spacing, such as footnotes, indented quotations, tables, appendices, etc.

Words should be divided correctly at the end of a line and may not be divided from one page to the next. Use a standard dictionary to determine word division. 

Avoid short lines that end a paragraph at the top of a page, and any heading or subheading at the bottom of a page that is not followed by text.

The dissertation and thesis must be in English. 

Language Exceptions for Dissertations Only

Approval for writing the dissertation in another language is normally granted only in cases where the other language or literature in that language is also the subject of the discipline. 

Exceptions are granted by the school dean upon submission of a written request from the chair of your major department. Approval is routinely granted for dissertations in the Division of Literature, Cultures, and Languages within department specifications.

Prior to submitting in Axess, you must send a copy of the approval letter (or email message chain) from the department dean to [email protected]    

Dissertations written in another language must include an extended summary in English (usually 15 to 20 pages in length). In this case, you should upload your English summary as a supplemental file, during Step 4 of the online submission process.

Select a standard style approved by your department or dissertation advisor and use it consistently. 

Some reliable style guides are:

• K.A. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, 
• Theses and Dissertations (University of Chicago Press), and 
• the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Modern Language Association).

If you are a student in the Doctor of Musical Arts program, you may submit musical scores formatted at 11 x 17 inches in size. 

If you are submitting a performance as your dissertation, submit the audio file in WAV format as a supplemental file. 

Note: The maximum file size accepted for submission is 100 MB. If a performance recording exceeds the maximum file size, break the file into multiple files and submit the parts individually as supplemental files.

Your dissertation or thesis must contain the following sections. All sections must be included in a single digital file for upload.

• Title Page — The format must be followed exactly. View these title page examples for Ph.D. Dissertation and this title page sample for an Engineer Thesis . Use uppercase letters. The title of the dissertation or thesis should be a meaningful description of the content of the manuscript. Use word substitutes for formulas, symbols, superscripts, subscripts, Greek letters, etc. The month and year must be the actual month and year in which you submit your dissertation or thesis electronically to the university. (Note: A student who submits in Autumn quarter is conferred his/her degree in the following calendar year.)
• Copyright Page — The dissertation or thesis PDF uploaded in Axess should not contain a copyright page. The copyright page will be created automatically by the online submission system and inserted into the file stored by Stanford Libraries.
• Signature Page — The dissertation or thesis PDF uploaded in Axess should also not contain a signature page. The submission process has moved away from ink-signatures, so a digital facsimile of the signature page will be created automatically by the online submission system and inserted into the dissertation or thesis in its final format stored by Stanford Libraries.
• Abstract — An abstract may be included in the preliminary section of the dissertation or thesis. The abstract in the body of the dissertation or thesis follows the style used for the rest of the manuscript and should be placed following the signature page. There is no maximum permissible length for the abstract in the dissertation or thesis.    Dissertation authors must enter an abstract using the online submission form for uploading the digital dissertation or thesis file to the library. This abstract, which will be indexed for online searching, must be formatted in plain text (no HTML or special formatting). It should be a pithy and succinct version of the abstract included in the dissertation or thesis itself.
• Preface, an Acknowledgment, or a Dedication.   This is optional.
• Table of Contents – Include page references.
• List of Tables –  Include titles and page references. This list is optional.
• List of Illustrations – Include titles and page references. This list is optional
• Introduction/Main body – Include suitable, consistent headings for the larger divisions and more important sub-divisions.
• Appendices.   This is optional.
• Bibliography or List of References.

Except for the title page, which counts as 'i' but is not physically numbered, each page of the manuscript, including all blank pages, pages between chapters, pages with text, photographs, tables, figures, maps, or computer code must be assigned a number. 

Consistent placement of pagination, at least one-half inch from the paper’s edge, should be used throughout the manuscript.

Follow these pagination instructions exactly:

• For the preliminary pages, use small Roman numerals (e.g., iv, v, vi).
• The title page is not physically numbered, but counts as page i.
• Keep in mind that a copyright page ii and augmented signature page iii (based off your student record) will automatically be inserted to your manuscript during submission.  This means you must ensure to remove pages ii and iii from your dissertation or thesis.
• Failing to remove pages ii and iii is most common formatting mistake: you must remove your copyright page ii and signature page iii from the pdf file before you submit your dissertation or thesis, and begin pagination on your abstract with page number "iv". If the document is formatted for double-sided printing with each section starting on the right page, then pagination will begin on a blank page (page"iv") and the Abstract should be numbered as page "v", and so forth.
• For the remainder of the manuscript, starting with the Introduction or Chapter 1 of the Main Body, use continuous Arabic pagination only (1, 2, 3, etc) for text, illustrations, images, appendices, and the bibliography. Remember to start with Arabic numbered page 1, as this is not a continuation of the Roman numeral numbering from the preliminary pages.
• The placement of page numbers should be consistent throughout the document.

For text, illustrations, charts, graphs, etc., printed in landscape form, the orientation should be facing away from the bound edge of the paper.

Images (color, grayscale, and monochrome) included in the dissertation or thesis should be clearly discernible both on screen and when printed. The dimensions should not exceed the size of the standard letter-size page (8.5” x 11”).

Image resolution should be 150 dots per inch (dpi), though resolutions as low as 72 dpi (and no lower) are acceptable. 

The format of images embedded in the PDF should be JPEG or EPS (the format JPEG2000 is also acceptable when it is supported in future versions of the PDF format). GIF and PNG are not preferred image file formats.

Large images, including maps and charts or other graphics that require high resolution, should not be included in the main dissertation or thesis file. Instead, they can be submitted separately as supplemental files and formatted in other formats as appropriate. 

Multimedia, such as audio, video, animation, etc., must not be embedded in the body of the dissertation or thesis. These media types add size and complexity to the digital file, introducing obstacles to users of the dissertation or thesis who wish to download and read (and “play back”) the content, and making it more difficult to preserve over time.

If you wish to include multimedia with your submission, upload the media separately as a stand-alone file in an appropriate media format. See Supplementary Material section below.

It is acceptable to include “live” (i.e., clickable) web URLs that link to online resources within the dissertation or thesis file. Spell out each URL in its entirety (e.g., http://www.stanford.edu ) rather than embedding the link in text (e.g., Stanford homepage ). By spelling out the URL, you improve a reader’s ability to understand and access the link reference.

Supplementary material may be submitted electronically with the dissertation or thesis. This material includes any supporting content that is useful for understanding the dissertation or thesis, but is not essential to the argument. It also covers core content in a form that can not be adequately represented or embedded in the PDF format, such as an audio recording of a musical performance.

Supplementary materials are submitted separately than the dissertation or thesis file, and are referred to as supplemental files.

A maximum of twenty supplemental files can be submitted. There are no restrictions on the file formats. The maximum file size is 1 GB.

You are encouraged to be judicious about the volume and quality of the supplemental files, and to employ file formats that are widely used by researchers generally, if not also by scholars of the discipline.

The following table outlines recommended file formats for different content types. By following these recommendations, the author is helping to ensure ongoing access to the material.

Content Type	Recommended Formats (preferred formats appear in italics)
Text
Data Sets	Plain ASCII text with accompanying code books (as PDF or plain ASCII text) Statistical software files: DTA, SAS, SAV, POR
Image
Audio	AIFF, MIDI, SND, MP3, QTA Note-based digital music composition files: XMA, SMF, RMID
Video	QuickTime, AVI, WMV
Animation	Flash, SVG

After uploading each supplemental file, it is important to enter a short description or label (maximum 120 characters for file name and the description). This label will be displayed to readers in a list of the contents for the entire submission.

If copyrighted material is part of the supplementary material, permission to reuse and distribute the content must be obtained from the owner of the copyright. Stanford Libraries requires copies of permission letters (in PDF format) to be uploaded electronically when submitting the files, and assumes no liability for copyright violations. View this sample permission letter .

System restrictions allow for a maximum of 10 individually uploaded permission files. If you have more than 10 permission files we recommend combining all permission letters into a single PDF file for upload.

In choosing an annotation or reference system, you should be guided by the practice of your discipline and the recommendations of your departments. In addition to the general style guides listed in the Style section above, there are specific style guides for some fields. When a reference system has been selected, it should be used consistently throughout the dissertation or thesis. The placement of footnotes is at your discretion with reading committee approval.

An important aspect of modern scholarship is the proper attribution of authorship for joint or group research. If the manuscript includes joint or group research, you must clearly identify your contribution to the enterprise in an introduction.

The inclusion of published papers in a dissertation or thesis is the prerogative of the major department. Where published papers or ready-for-publication papers are included, the following criteria must be met:

• There must be an introduction that integrates the general theme of the research and the relationship between the chapters. The introduction may also include a review of the literature relevant to the dissertation or thesis topic that does not appear in the chapters.
• Multiple authorship of a published paper should be addressed by clearly designating, in an introduction, the role that the dissertation or thesis author had in the research and production of the published paper. The student must have a major contribution to the research and writing of papers included in the dissertation or thesis.
• There must be adequate referencing of where individual papers have been published.
• Written permission must be obtained for all copyrighted materials. Letters of permission must be uploaded electronically in PDF form when submitting the dissertation or thesis. 
• The published material must be reformatted to meet the university's format requirements (e.g., appropriate margins and pagination) of the dissertation. The Office of the University Registrar will approve a dissertation or thesis if there are no deviations from the normal specifications that would prevent proper dissemination and utilization of the dissertation or thesis. If the published material does not correspond to these standards, it will be necessary for you to reformat that portion of the dissertation or thesis.
• Multiple authorship has implications with respect to copyright and public release of the material. Be sure to discuss copyright clearance and embargo options with your co-authors and your advisor well in advance of preparing your thesis for submission.

If copyrighted material belonging to others is used in your dissertation or thesis or is part of your supplementary materials, you must give full credit to the author and publisher of the work in all cases, and obtain permission from the copyright owner for reuse of the material unless you have determined that your use of the work is clearly fair use under US copyright law (17 USC §107). 

The statute sets out four factors that must be considered when assessing Fair Use:

• the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purpose;
• the nature of the copyrighted work;
• the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
• the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The Association of American University Presses requires permission for any quotations that are reproduced as complete units (poems, letters, short stories, essays, journal articles, complete chapters or sections of books, maps, charts, graphs, tables, drawings, or other illustrative materials). You can find this guideline and other detailed information on Fair Use at http://fairuse.stanford.edu . 

If you are in doubt, it is safest to obtain permission. Permission to use copyrighted material must be obtained from the owner of the copyright. Stanford Libraries requires copies of permission letters (in PDF format) to be uploaded electronically when submitting the dissertation or thesis, and assumes no liability for copyright violations. For reference, view this sample permission letter .

Copyright protection is automatically in effect from the time the work is in fixed form. A proper copyright statement consisting of the copyright symbol, the author’s name, year of degree conferral, and the phrase “All Rights Reserved” will be added automatically to the dissertation or thesis in its final form.

Registration of copyright is not required, but it establishes a public record of your copyright claim and enables copyright owners to litigate against infringement. You need not register your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office at the outset, although registration must be made before the copyright may be enforced by litigation in case of infringement. 

Early registration does have certain advantages: it establishes a public record of your copyright claim, and if registration has been made prior to the infringement of your work, or within three months after its publication, qualifies you to be awarded statutory damages and attorney fees in addition to the actual damages and profits available to you as the copyright owner (should you ever have to sue because of infringement).

For more information about copyright, see the Stanford Libraries' resource on Copyright Considerations .

For further information on Registration of Copyright, see https://www.copyright.gov/registration/ .

Do not require a password to make changes to your submitted PDF file, or apply other encryption or security measures. Password-protected files will be rejected.

The file name and description will be printed on a page added to your dissertation or thesis, so choose a file name accordingly.

Important note: File names may only consist of alphanumeric characters, hyphen, underscore, at sign, space, ampersand, and comma – before the ending period and file extension.  Specifically,

• A file name cannot start with a space, period (nor contain a period), underscore, or hyphen.
• Files names must be 120 characters or less.

Here is an example of a filename that is allowed, including all of the possible characters:

• A Study of Social Media with a Focus on @Twitter Accounts, Leland Student_30AUG2023.pdf

In submitting a thesis or dissertation to Stanford, the author grants The Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford) the non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable right to reproduce, distribute, display and transmit author's thesis or dissertation, including any supplemental materials (the Work), in whole or in part in such print and electronic formats as may be in existence now or developed in the future, to sub-license others to do the same, and to preserve and protect the Work, subject to any third-party release or display restrictions specified by Author on submission of the Work to Stanford.

Author further represents and warrants that Author is the copyright holder of the Work, and has obtained all necessary rights to permit Stanford to reproduce and distribute third-party materials contained in any part of the Work, including use of third-party images, text, or music, as well as all necessary licenses relating to any non-public, third-party software necessary to access, display, and run or print the Work. Author is solely responsible and will indemnify Stanford for any third party claims related to the Work as submitted for publication.

Author warrants that the Work does not contain information protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), confidentiality agreements, or contain Stanford Prohibited, Restricted or Confidential data described on the University IT website , or other data of a private nature.

Stanford is under no obligation to use, display or host the work in any way and may elect not to use the work for any reason including copyright or other legal concerns, financial resources, or programmatic need.

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught
• Postgraduate examinations
• Writing, submitting and examination
• PhD, EdD, MSc, MLitt
• Cambridge students
• New students overview
• Pre-arrival courses
• Student registration overview
• Information for New Students overview
• Step-by-step guide for new students
• Information for Continuing Students overview
• Step-by-step guide for continuing students
• Frequently Asked Questions overview
• Who needs to register
• When to register
• Received registration in error/not received registration email
• Problems creating an account
• Problems logging in
• Problems with screen display
• Personal details changed/incorrectly displayed
• Course details changed/incorrectly displayed
• Accessing email and other services
• Miscellaneous questions
• Contact Form
• First few weeks
• Manage your student information overview
• Student record overview
• Camsis overview
• Extended Self-Service (ESS)
• Logging into CamSIS
• What CamSIS can do for you
• Personal information overview
• Changing your name
• Changing Colleges
• Residing outside the University's precincts
• Applying for person(s) to join you in Cambridge
• Postgraduate students overview
• Code of Practice for Master's students
• Code of Practice for Research Students
• Postgraduate student information
• Requirements for research degrees
• Terms of study
• Your progress
• Rules and legal compliance overview
• Freedom of speech
• Public gatherings
• Disclosure and barring service overview
• Cambridge life overview
• Student unions
• Extra-curricular activities overview
• Registering societies
• Military, air, and sea training
• Food and accommodation
• Transport overview
• Bicycles and boats
• Your course overview
• Undergraduate study
• Postgraduate study overview
• Changes to your student status (postgraduates only) overview
• Applying for a change in your student status (postgraduates only)
• Changing your mode of study
• Withdrawing from the University
• Allowance/exemption of research terms
• Withdrawal from Study
• Reinstatement
• Changing your course registration
• Changing your department/faculty
• Changing your supervisor
• Exemption from the University composition fee
• Confirmation of Study: Academic Verification Letters
• Extending your submission date
• Medical intermission (postgraduates)
• Non-medical intermission (postgraduates)
• Returning from medical intermission
• Working away
• Working while you study
• Postgraduate by Research Exam Information
• Research passports
• Engagement and feedback
• Student elections
• Graduation and what next? overview
• Degree Ceremonies overview
• The ceremony
• Academical dress
• Photography
• Degree ceremony dates
• Eligibility
• The Cambridge MA
• Degree certificates and transcripts overview
• Academic Transcripts
• Degree Certificates
• After Graduation
• Verification of Cambridge degrees
• After your examination
• Exams overview
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught overview
• All students timetable
• Undergraduate exam information overview
• Postgraduate examinations overview
• Examination access arrangements overview
• Research programmes
• Taught programmes
• Writing, submitting and examination overview
• PhD, EdD, MSc, MLitt overview
• Research Best Practice
• Preparing to submit your thesis
• Submitting your thesis
• Word limits
• The oral examination (viva)
• After the viva (oral examination)
• After the examination overview
• Degree approval and conferment overview
• Final thesis submission
• Examination allowances for certain Postgraduate degrees (except PhD, MSc, MLitt and MPhil by thesis degrees)
• Requesting a review of the results of an examination (postgraduate qualifications)
• Higher degrees overview
• Higher doctorates
• Bachelor of divinity
• PhD under Special Regulations
• Faith-provision in University exams
• Publication of Results
• Exam Support
• Postgraduate by Research
• EAMC overview
• Annual Reports of the EAMC
• Dates of meetings
• Frequently asked questions
• Guidance notes and application forms
• Resources overview
• Build your skills overview
• What skills can I develop? overview
• Digital, technology use and technical skills
• Entrepreneurship & Enterprise
• Interpersonal, communication and social skills
• Leadership & Management
• Learning, thinking, and reasoning skills
• Planning and organisation skills
• Presentation, negotiation and influencing skills
• Self-management skills
• Writing, analytical and reporting skills
• Development activities overview
• Academic study
• Community and Volunteering
• Entrepreneurship
• Professional Development
• Physical Activity & Sport
• Societies & Committees
• Theatre & Arts
• Research students
• Fees and financial assistance overview
• Financial assistance overview
• General eligibility principles and guidance
• Cambridge Bursary Scheme funding overview
• What you could get
• Scottish students
• EU students
• Clinical medics and vets
• Independent students
• Extra scholarships and awards
• Crane Fund overview
• Postgraduate Wellbeing Advice
• Undergraduate Financial Assistance Fund
• Postgraduate Financial Assistance Fund
• Realise Financial Assistance Fund
• Loan Fund I
• External Support 
• Support from your Funding Sponsor
• Guidance for Academic Supervisors and College Tutors
• Fees overview
• Funding overview
• Mosley, Worts, and Frere Travel Funds
• Support for UKRI Studentship Holders
• Student loans overview
• US loans overview
• Application procedure
• Entrance and Exit Counselling
• Cost of attendance
• What type of loan and how much you can borrow
• Interest rates for federal student loans
• Proof of funding for visa purposes
• Disbursement
• Satisfactory academic progress policy
• In-School Deferment Forms
• Leave of absence
• Withdrawing and return to Title IV policy
• Rights and Responsibilities as a Borrower
• Managing Repayment
• Consumer information
• Submitting a thesis — information for PhD students
• Private loans
• Veteran affairs benefits
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Student support

Submitting your thesis for examination (PhD, EdD, MD, BusD, MLitt, MSc)

Format of the thesis, the thesis must:.

be written in British English, apart from quotations and recognised technical formulae

be in A4 portrait format

use one-and-a-half spaced type

include any photographs or other illustrations scanned into the text

be a single file saved in the electronic format and naming style specified by your Degree Committee

Examiners are not expected to edit work. They will deal with errors of fact and typographical errors that affect the meaning of your work, as well as larger structural issues. The extent to which the text has or has not been properly prepared may influence their recommendation concerning the award of the degree. You are therefore advised to check your thesis thoroughly prior to submission to ensure clear, formal British English has been used throughout and that there are minimal typing and/or spelling mistakes.

How and when to present the thesis for examination

You must submit an electronic copy of your thesis for examination, and any required accompanying documents, to your Degree Committee by your submission deadline (which can be found under 'Thesis Submission details' on the Academic tile in your CamSIS self-service). If you are not a self-funded student, the terms and conditions of your funding may require you to submit your thesis earlier than the date shown in CamSIS. If you are unsure what your funder-expected submission date is, you should contact your Funding Administrator. You are required to submit your thesis for examination by your deadline even if the date falls over a weekend or holiday period.

Your Degree Committee should provide you with guidance for electronic submission; please contact them directly if you require any assistance.

The thesis you submit to your Degree Committee will be the thesis forwarded to the examiners for examination. It is not possible to 'retract submission' or to send a revised copy directly to your examiners. Therefore you should carefully check the file(s) you upload when submitting your thesis.

Postgraduate students must keep a minimum number of terms of research before they can submit (for example, 9 for the full-time PhD) unless they have been granted an allowance or exemption of terms . The thesis may be submitted from the first day of the term in which this requirement is met, provided that full-time students have also met the minimum residence requirement (unless they have been granted an allowance of terms). If you attempt to submit too early and have not had an allowance or exemption of terms approved, your thesis submission will not be accepted. If you have an application for an allowance or exemption of terms under consideration in CamSIS at the time you submit your thesis, your thesis will be kept on hold until a decision on your application is made.

Requirements

You must include the following bound inside your thesis:

Please ensure the pages are in the correct order. This is very important - if these preliminary pages are in a different order in your final hardbound thesis to your thesis submitted for examination, this could cause problems and delay approval for your degree.

1. A title page displaying:

the full title of the thesis

your full legal name (as it appears on your passport, marriage certificate or deed poll)

your college

the date of submission (month and year)

a declaration stating: "This thesis is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy/Doctor of Education/Doctor of Business/Doctor of Medicine/Master of Science/Master of Letters (as appropriate)."

2. A declaration in the preface stating:

'This thesis is the result of my own work and includes nothing which is the outcome of work done in collaboration except as declared in the preface and specified in the text. It is not substantially the same as any work that has already been submitted, or, is being concurrently submitted, for any degree, diploma or other qualification at the University of Cambridge or any other University or similar institution except as declared in the preface and specified in the text. It does not exceed the prescribed word limit for the relevant Degree Committee.'

The declaration does not need to be signed . For more information on the word limits for the respective Degree Committees see Word Limits and Requirements of your Degree Committee )

3. An abstract/summary of your thesis

4. [if applicable] the list of additional materials that were approved for submission alongside the thesis

You must also submit the following documents (not included inside the thesis):

Required: One declaration form

Optional: Research Impact Statement If pandemic, war/conflict, or natural disaster have significantly impacted on your research, you are invited to submit a Research Impact Statement with your thesis using the template provided. The purpose of the statement is for you to describe any restrictions or difficulties experienced in undertaking your research as a result of pandemic, war/conflict, or natural disaster, and to provide details of any alternative arrangements made to complete the work for your thesis. Further details for students and supervisors can be found in the Research Impact Statement guidance  and the Research Impact Statement form can be downloaded here . 

Inclusion of additional materials

Students other than those in the Faculty of Music must seek permission through their  CamSIS Self Service page if they wish to submit additional materials for examination alongside their thesis. Content such as figures, tables, photographs, bibliography, or appendices is contained within the submitted thesis and would not normally constitute separate additional materials. Additional materials are integral to the thesis but in a format that cannot be easily included in the body of the thesis (for example, 3D graphics). You should refer to the ' Policy on the inclusion of additional materials with a thesis ' before making an application to include additional materials. Talk to your supervisor and contact your Degree Committee if you require any advice. The application process should be initiated prior to the thesis submission. If a thesis is submitted with additional materials and without permission to include them, it will be held by the Degree Committee until approval is confirmed.

Please bear in mind that if you are granted permission to submit additional materials, you are required to upload the same materials to the University repository, Apollo , when you submit your approved thesis  post-examination (doctoral candidates only). Therefore, the inclusion of additional material that contains uncleared third-party copyright or sensitive material may affect the access level that is most appropriate for your thesis.

Submitting a revised thesis

If you are resubmitting your thesis following a viva outcome of being allowed to revise and resubmit the thesis for examination for a doctoral degree, you need to follow the same procedure as for the original thesis submission .

What happens following submission of the thesis for examination 

When you submit your thesis for examination the Degree Committee will check the submission, acknowledge receipt, and inform Student Registry you have submitted. The Student Registry will update your CamSIS record.

The Degree Committee will forward your thesis to your examiners. If you have not received confirmation of the date of your viva (oral examination) within six weeks of submitting your thesis, or if you have any questions with regard to your thesis at this stage, you should contact your Degree Committee. 

Your Examiners should not ask you for a printed copy of your thesis or other material in advance of your viva (oral examination). If they do, please seek advice from your Degree Committee.

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

• University Reviews
• Career Guide

Important Facts

Ask any Question - CV Forum

PhD Thesis: Topics, Example, Process, Tips, How to Write?

Muhammad Hasim Sheikh Aug 24, 2024 1K Reads

PhD Thesis or PhD Dissertation is an important component in the process of getting a doctorate. If you are pursuing PhD or deciding to pursue it, it will be mandatory for you to prepare and submit your PhD Thesis.

All the details and information collected during the PhD research are presented in the form of a PhD Thesis. It is a detailed description of the research process of research outcomes that can contribute to the original field of knowledge in the particular field.

The PhD candidates prepare the PhD Thesis to showcase their research findings. A PhD Thesis is the backbone of the doctoral degree and plays an important role in showcasing the research ability and competency in conducting independent and original research.

A PhD Thesis not only demonstrates the research competency of the candidates but also exhibits their expertise, critical thinking, and research skills. The preparation of a PhD Thesis is a very difficult and challenging task and you need to take the utmost precautions while preparing it.

Here in this blog, we will discuss all the procedures adopted while preparing a detailed PhD and high-quality PhD Thesis:

What is the need for PhD Thesis Preparation?

The preparation of a PhD Thesis is crucial as it represents the cumulative research work and outcomes. The PhD Thesis provides a detailed description of the comprehensive research in the particular field. If you are a PhD Scholar, it will be mandatory for you to prepare a PhD Thesis to complete your degree.

It acts as proof of document of your research and findings while pursuing the PhD program. A PhD Thesis also guides the new PhD scholars for reference. Newly enrolled PhD scholars who have just begun their research work can refer to the previous research works conducted by a different researcher in the field to begin his journey.

PhD Thesis is a document that also provides a pathway to new research scholars in the field. The PhD thesis preparation involves organizing and assembling the research findings in a coherent structure. This allows you to refine ideas, identify gaps in the research, and ensure that the arguments are logically presented.

Additionally, you will be able to develop essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication that are highly valuable in both academic and professional settings. 

Beginning of the PhD Thesis Writing

PhD Thesis writing begins after completion of the PhD coursework. Every PhD Scholar has to go through a PhD coursework. PhD coursework is offered in the initial years to provide a strong foundation in the research aptitude in the given field.

Once the coursework is completed, a comprehensive exam is conducted to examine and evaluate the ability of the scholars to conduct original research. Generally, the examination is conducted in the 3rd year of the PhD program. Once the examinations are concluded for the coursework, PhD scholars can start working on their PhD Thesis/Dissertation.

Process and Structure of PhD Thesis Writing

Writing a PhD Thesis is a daunting task and one has to go through a prolonged process. It involves several stages and PhD scholars need to through all the stages to prepare a highly inclusive Thesis.

Here is the detailed process and structure of the PhD Thesis:

• Cover Page:  The PhD Thesis writing begins with the preparation of the cover page. The cover page includes the title of the research topic, the name of the university, the name of the scholar, and the supervisor. Generally,  the cover page of the thesis is designed to catch the attention of the viewers.
• Preface: The cover page is followed by the Preface of the PhD Thesis. The Preface is written by the PhD scholars. In the preface of the thesis, they explain the reasons for taking up a particular research topic and their experiences while conducting the research and writing the PhD Thesis. Generally, the preface is written after writing the thesis but arranged after the cover page. 
• Acknowledgment: After writing the Preface of the thesis, PhD scholars begin with the acknowledgment page. Generally, the acknowledgment page of the thesis recognizes all those people who have contributed and given their support in conducting the research. PhD scholars acknowledge the contribution of all the people who have professionally and personally helped in the research. 
• Introduction: In the Introduction, PhD scholars introduce their research topic and explain how this study contributes to the original knowledge of the field. The introduction in the PhD Thesis is a summary of all the key objectives of the research and an explanation of why the particular research is needed. 
• Literature Review: The literature Review in the PhD Thesis is a summary of all the works done by previous researchers and academicians in the same field or field relevant to the topic. In the literature review, all the scholarly works whether books, research journals, research papers, or previous research thesis related to the subject are cited in the PhD Thesis.  A literature review is done to support the current research by analyzing the previous works done on the same subject. 
• Research Chapters: Research Chapters are the crux of the PhD Thesis. In this stage, the PhD Thesis is divided into various chapters. The research conducted by the PhD scholars is recorded in detail in this section. Research Chapters broadly explain the methodology, hypothesis, and original research. The research chapter includes the process of conducting the research on a particular area and the explanation of the research questions. 
• Conclusion: After writing all the research chapters in the PhD Thesis, the conclusion of the research is added. The conclusion is the final chapter of the PhD Thesis Writing that concludes all the research edvideces and findings to reach to a final result. The conclusion also includes the possibilities of further research in the same field and its application to enhance the knowledge of the particular subject. 
• Bibliography and Appendices: The bibliography is written at the end of the PhD Thesis. The Bibliography lists all sources such as books, journals, research papers, thesis, etc used in the PhD Thesis writing. It is written in alphabetical order and includes the author's name, title, publication year, etc. The PhD Scholar may be required to provide supplementary materials that aren't essential to the PhD Thesis in the form of appendices.

What is the Length of the PhDThesis/Dissertation?

The length of the PhD Thesis (or dissertation) greatly depends on the field of the study. Generally, the length of the PhD Thesis ranges between 60,000 to 1,20,000 words which can curated in 150 pages to 300 pages. The average length of the PhD Thesis is around 80,000 words.In general, the length of the PhD Thesis in Engineering and Sciences is shorter than that of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The average length of a PhD Thesis in different disciplines is explained in the table below:

How to Write Up PhD Thesis 

Once all the research related to the relevant topics and subjects has been conducted and all the data and results are collected, you can start with your PhD Thesis Writing.

This period is also known as the Writing Up period. The writing-up stage in a PhD Thesis starts when the original research has already been completed.

In this stage, you only focus on the PhD Thesis Writing and do not conduct any additional research. 

In research related to Humanities and Social sciences, you may already have a large amount of chapter drafts and papers which makes writing up easy. You only need to redraft and assemble these chapter drafts and research papers to formulate a PhD Thesis.

However, writing a PhD Thesis for a Science and Engineering subject may be different. If you are conducting research in these fields, a major part of your research depends on collecting and analyzing data.

Writing Up a PhD Thesis in Science and Engineering fields may require findings and conclusions from the data collected. 

Regardless of the subject and process of PhD Thesis Writing, it should be able to reflect your findings which can be applied in the particular discipline to enhance knowledge. 

Role of PhD Thesis Feedback

Feedback from the supervisor while writing the PhD Thesis plays a crucial role. It helps in formulating a well-organized and highly structured PhD Thesis. You must seek constant feedback from your supervisor on your chapter drafts while writing the PhD Thesis. 

When the thesis writing is in progress, comments and feedback from the supervisor who has significant research experience will ensure that the research is going in the right direction. You must regularly attend the supervisory meeting and present your chapter drafts for review.

Your PhD supervisor will be more than happy to help and guide you through your PhD Thesis Writing. However, PhD supervisor is not responsible for grammatical mistakes. You must ensure that your thesis is free from grammatical errors.

Levels of Plagiarism in PhD Thesis 

While writing the PhD Thesis, you must ensure that your thesis is free from plagiarism. The PhD Thesis must contain your original research and not be copied from anywhere. Plagiarism in a PhD Thesis is considered a serious academic offense and can lead to severe consequences.

If you are giving references to works from other authors, you must give proper citations. Paraphrasing and rephrasing of other’s work must be duly acknowledged. In PhD Thesis Writing, plagiarism is defined on various levels.

Here are the different levels of plagiarism in PhD Thesis Writing:

Penalty for Plagiarism in PhD Thesis/Dissertation 

The University Grants Commission (UGC) takes plagiarism very seriously and sets the penalty standards for different levels of plagiarism.

Here is the punishment for Plagiarism in the PhD Thesis:

Finishing PhD Thesis and Final Submission 

Once you are done with the final draft of the PhD Thesis, you will need to send it to your supervisor. The supervisor will go through the thesis and after reviewing it, approve it for final submission.

Once your supervisor has approved you thesis, submit it for the examination. The Departmental Research Committee (DRC) will examine the PhD Thesis and you will have to appear for the Grand PhD Viva. In this Viva, you will need to defend your research findings and conclusions in the PhD Thesis. 

PhD Thesis submission is done in physical form and you will have to take a printout of the thesis. You should always take multiple printouts of the thesis to avoid any printing mistakes and glitches. At the time of final submission, generally, multiple copies of the thesis are required which makes it more important.

PhD Viva is conducted within 3 months of thesis submission. Once the viva has been completed, the examiners will let you know whether or not you need to make any changes to your PhD Thesis. 

These could be 3 outcomes after thesis submission and viva. All are mentioned below:

	You will receive your Doctorate.
	Usually, these are just minor adjustments, modifications, and enhancements to your thesis, and you will have three months to put them into practice.
	You might need to rewrite a portion of your dissertation or conduct additional research to make these significant modifications, and you have a six-month deadline.

If you asked for a correction, you will have to fix the errors and re-submit the PhD thesis again. The re-submission of PhD is usually done digitally.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

⭐ what is a phd thesis.

A PhD Thesis is a well-structured and well-organized piece of original research that every PhD scholar has to prepare and submit to get their doctorate. 

⭐ Is PhD Viva mandatory after the final submission of the PhD Thesis?

Yes, PhD Viva is mandatory for every PhD Candidate once they have made the final submission of their thesis. In PhD Viva, candidates defend their research and findings before the departmental research committee. 

⭐ What is the ideal length of a PhD Thesis?

There is no ideal length for a PhD Thesis. However, the length of the PhD thesis is greatly influenced by the disciplines of the research. The length of PhD in Engineering and Sciences is comparatively less than that of PhD in Humanities and Social Sciences. The PhD thesis ranges between 60,000 words to 1,20,000 words. 

⭐ What percentage of Plagiarism is allowed for a PhD Thesis?

The University Grants Commission (UGC) allows a maximum of 10 percent plagiarism in the PhD Thesis. The candidates whose thesis plagiarism falls within 10% are not penalized. 

⭐ What is the penalty for Level 2 Plagiarism?

Level 2 plagiarism means that the PhD Thesis has a similarity above 40% to 60%. For this level of plagiarism, the PhD candidate will be asked to withdraw the manuscript and debarred from the annual increment for one year. The supervisor of such PhD scholar will also be penalized with a ban on any PhD supervision for 2 years. 

⭐ What is the Penalty for Level 3 Plagiarism?

Level 3 plagiarism exhibits a similarity above 60% in the PhD Thesis. The PhD Scholars will be asked to withdraw their manuscript and they will be prohibited to annual increments for 2 consecutive years. The supervisor will not be allowed to supervise any new Master’s and  PhD Thesis/dissertation for 3 consecutive years. 

By Muhammad Hasim Sheikh

10 Years of Experience / Storyteller / Research-driven Writer

As an Academic Content Writer and Content strategist, I have great experience in crafting high-quality, research-based content across diverse subjects. My academic background with a doctorate in business Management allows me to create informative and engaging academic materials for students, educators, and institutions. I have expertise in developing well-researched course materials, academic blog

Every query is essential.

Our team of experts, or experienced individuals, will answer it within 24 hours.

Recommended for you

Tired of dealing with call centers!

Get a professional advisor for Career!

LIFETIME FREE

Rs.1499 (Exclusive offer for today)

MBA 7 yrs exp

M.Com 4 yrs exp

Kapil Gupta

MCA 5 yrs exp

UCC University College Cork

Graduate studies office oifig na staidéar iarchéime.

• Visited Pages
• Current Students
• Registration
• Job Vacancies
• Examinations
• Programme and Course Descriptions
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• International Office
• Adult Continuing Education
• Online Courses
• Continuing Professional Development
• Micro-credentials
• Scholarships and Prizes
• Transition-In Programme
• Graduate Attributes
• Incoming First Year Students
• Apply to UCC
• Upcoming Events in UCC
• Parents and Guardians Information
• Apprenticeships
• UCC Innovation
• UCC Futures
• UCC in the world university rankings
• News and Views
• Leadership and Strategy
• Campus Life
• World's First Green Campus
• Cork City and Region
• UCC Arboretum
• Culture Night 2024
• Academic Schools and Departments
• Support and Service Departments
• Work with UCC Students
• Recruit UCC Graduates
• Executive Education
• Centre for Continuing Professional Development
• Research and Innovation
• Entrepreneurship Resources
• Meet People
• Make an Impact
• Discover our Alumni
• Explore Benefits
• Register for UCC Alumni Online
• Make a Gift

You should be seeing some content in this space that is currently blocked due to cookie settings. Open the Cookie Management Tool to change your settings.

• How to Apply
• Application Dates
• Fees and Funding
• UCC Research Courses
• First Year Research Registration
• Ongoing Research Registration
• Changes to Registration
• Modules Registration

Doctorate Thesis Submission Steps

• Research Masters Thesis Submission Steps
• Thesis Submission Deadlines
• Format of E-thesis
• Postgrad Expo
• Prospective Students
• Current Postgraduate Students
• Current Research Students
• Research Thesis Submission

Save to Favourites

On this page

When can I submit?

Please make sure you are aware of your start date. If you have made changes to your registration (for example leave of absence) this will change your submission date. Research students start in January, April, July or October, and usually agree a registration period of 3 or 4 years from their start date.

Students can submit any time in their last year of study. Students must begin planning for thesis submission 6 months before their submission date. 

1. Intention to submit

Student's responsibilities.

• Ensure student registration and fee payments are up-to-date.
• Ensure you have completed any mandatory elements of your programme (example 15 module credit requirement for Doctorate programme).
• At least three months prior to the proposed date of thesis submission, complete the  Intention to Submit form .

Helpful Tips

• You can submit this form more than three months in advance.
• You only have to submit this form once and we will await your thesis submission.
• You can submit less than three months in advance but it may delay your examination process.

UCC's Responsibilities

Supervisors should advise their students of the  Intention to Submit form and to start planning 6 months in advance to meet their submission deadline.

2. Approval of external and internal examiners

Students do not play a role in the approval of external and internal examiners process.

Graduate Studies Office informs the school/department of student intention to submit and requests the school/department to appoint the examiners. Final approval resides with College Graduate School.

3. E-thesis Submission for Examination

• Check the thesis examination deadlines to see what your next deadline is.
• You must then submit a PDF copy of your thesis  ONLINE HERE .
• IMPORTANT: If your Examiner requests a paper copy of your thesis, you will be notified of this and required to submit a paper copy to the Graduate Studies Office.   
• Along with your thesis you must upload a completed  Submission for Examination Form , where you will choose the level of access required for your final thesis. You must read the  Access Options Here , and agree the required level of access with your Supervisory Team. The Submission for Examination Form must be signed by all Supervisors and the Head of School/Department.   
• SUBMIT YOUR E-THESIS HERE .   

Helpful tips

• You can submit before the deadline.
• There are no exceptions or extensions to the deadline, however, a three-month grace period applies for all students.

What is our three-month grace period?

You must be a registered student to submit your thesis for examination. If your registration period is about to expire you have an additional three months in which you can submit your thesis for examination without being liable for registration fees, but you must register for the next academic year. If you do not submit within the three months, you will be liable for a reduced fee (€1700 per annum/€850 per 6 months) for the remainder of the year.

4. Viva Voce and Post Viva Voce

The internal examiner will arrange the Viva Voce examination required for students and will communicate the details to students and supervisors.

Doctorate students liaise with the internal examinner and supervisor/s on all aspects of Viva Voce.

Students will be given an unofficial recommendation after their Viva Voce.

Doctorate students will undertake a Viva Voce. The internal examiner will arrange this and will communicate the details to students.

5. Examiner Report

An examiners report is generated from the Viva Voce and requires formal approval at the Academic Council Graduate Studies Committee (see deadline dates ).

Students receive an official recommendation after approval at Academic Council Graduate Studies Committee.

• The Internal Examiner should submit a joint examiners report to the Graduate Studies Office using the upload facility within 5 working days of the Viva Voce.
• Graduate Studies Office will submit the report to the next Academic Council Graduate Studies Committee for formal approval.
• The Graduate Studies Office will notify Doctorate students by email regarding your approval and any associated recommendations.

Recommendations Explained

Award, no amendments needed.

• Student progresses to the next step which is final e-thesis submission.  See all submission deadline dates .

Award, on condition minor amendments are carried out

• Student liaises with their internal examiner to confirm the amendments needed.
• Student carries out amendments and sends them to both their internal examiner and external examiner for review.
• Internal examiner and the external examiner confirms approval of corrections to the Graduate Studies Office using the upload facility and confirms to the student that they can progress to final e-thesis submission  online via CORA

Award, on condition major amendments are carried out

• Internal examiner and the external examiner confirms approval of corrections to the Graduate Studies Office using the upload facility and confirms to the student that they can progress to final e-thesis submission online via CORA .
• The original examiners report along with the emails from examiners regarding major amendment completed are submitted to the next ACGSC meeting ( see deadline dates ) for final approval.

Reject, but permit submission of a revised thesis

• Student is required to undertake a major rewrite of all or a significant part of the thesis.
• This process should be completed within 12 months and the candidate must be registered as a student.
• The new thesis needs to be  submitted as a PDF online for a new examination (see step 1).

Reject, but allow the award of a lower degree

A research Masters degree is awarded in lieu of a Doctorate as the thesis stands, or such a degree is awarded subject to minor or major amendments. A recommendation will need to be made on the grade of award of the lower degree (on the original thesis).

No degree is awarded as the thesis is very seriously and inherently deficient.

More Information

For detailed information see the Academic Programme Catalogue.

Students receiving a recommendation of award on condition of major or minor amendments should liaise with their internal examiner and supervisor regarding completion of the amendments.

6. Final e-thesis submission and conferring Research Masters students

• Take a look at the final e-thesis submission deadlines and corresponding conferring deadlines to decide when you will submit and confer.
• Log in to  CORA https://cora.ucc.ie/shibboleth-login with your UCC IT account details (@umail.ucc.ie) and submit your abstract and thesis online.

7. Conferring

Once the final e-thesis has been submitted you will be put forward to graduate at the next conferring ceremony and will receive information on this by email.

• UCC Conferring Dates
• Contact: [email protected]  

Graduate Studies Office

Oifig na staidéar iarchéime.

We use cookies on reading.ac.uk to improve your experience, monitor site performance and tailor content to you

Read our cookie policy to find out how to manage your cookie settings

This site may not work correctly on Internet Explorer. We recommend switching to a different browser for a better experience.

Thesis submission and examination

Phd, mphil or llm.

When you are ready to submit your thesis, please send it to us by email, either as a single pdf attachment or by providing a link to your thesis, to the Doctoral Examinations Officer at [email protected] . Please name the pdf in the format [SURNAME] [first name]_Thesis.pdf (e.g. SMITH John_Thesis.pdf).

If you are studying for a PhD, MPhil, or LLM, it is important that you read the following documents for information about the rules and process for submitting your thesis:

• COVID-19 mitigation statement (PDF, 0.09 MB)
• Rules for submission of theses (PDF, 0.3 MB).

At least four months before you plan to submit your thesis, please notify us of your intention by completing and returning the notice of intention to submit thesis form (Word document, 0.8 MB)  form.

Candidates are entitled to submit their thesis, without exceptional permission, eight weeks prior to the end of their minimum registration period.

If you wish to submit your thesis earlier than this, you will need to complete a Request for Early Submission of Thesis (PGR)  (Word document)  for approval by the Dean of Postgraduate Research Studies.

Further information relating to the examination process – written for the use of examiners – is available, for information:

• guide for examiners of research degrees (PhD, MPhil, LLM) (PDF, 0.1 MB)
• guide for examiners of PhD by Published Works (PDF, 0.2 MB)
• reviews of examination results for Higher Degrees by Thesis (PDF, 0.2 MB)

Electronic deposition of theses

For information on the electronic deposition of your final thesis, please see the separate guidance on the electronic deposition of theses  page.

Confirmation statements

Statements confirming the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Philosophy by Thesis, and LLM by Thesis can be obtained from the Doctoral Research Office in the Doctoral and Researcher College after the candidate's award has been ratified by the Senate.

For all queries relating to research degree examination, please contact:

Sean Semple (Doctoral Examinations Officer)

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: (0) 118 378 4163

Professional doctorates

If you are undertaking a Professional Doctorate programme, the rules for submission of theses and the notice of intention to submit thesis forms are also applicable to you. However, there is a  different version of the guide for examiners specific to your degree, which is provided for information:

• guide for examiners of Doctor of Agriculture and Food (DAgriFood) (PDF, 0.1 MB)
• guide for examiners of Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) (PDF, 0.1 MB)
• guide for examiners of the Doctorate of Education (EdD) (PDF, 0.1 MB)
• guide for examiners of Engineering Doctorates (EngD) (PDF, 0.2 MB)

Thesis preparation

University template front cover for theses.

While it is not mandatory, the University prefers students to use its standard coversheet for their thesis. The University of Reading thesis cover template (Word template document, 0.6 MB)  incorporates the University's logo (or device) and is available to edit in word format.

Thesis binding services

The University of Reading Library has teamed up with experienced university binders, Hollingworth & Moss Ltd, to offer an online service for the binding of theses and dissertations. Further information can be found via the library website .

Take the next step

• Get a prospectus
• How to apply

Browser does not support script.

Thesis submission

You are required to submit a thesis for examination after your period of registered study and before the conclusion of the thesis pending period.  

Your thesis should be submitted to the Nottingham ePrints service and must be the result of your own work, done mainly while you were registered as a researcher of this university. Student Services will work with your supervisors in preparing the thesis to be sent for examination. 

The information on this page will signpost you to the different processes, policies and detailed instructions on submission. More detailed information can be found in submission pack . 

The word limit for your thesis depends upon the qualification you are working towards: 

PhD theses should not exceed 100,000 words 

MPhil theses should not exceed 60,000 words 

Please note, the word limits for MRes theses vary according to the number of taught module credits taken. Please see our Quality Manual regulations for MRes and supplementary regulations. 

For PhD and MPhil, the word limits are inclusive of appendices, footnotes, tables, and bibliography. For Mres, bilbiography is not included in word count. In any case, the University may withhold a thesis that exceeds word limits from examination.

Proof readers

A proof-reader may only ensure that the meaning of the author is not misrepresented due to the quality and standard of the English used. This can include correcting spelling and basic grammar errors.

Inaccuracies in academic content should not be corrected nor should the structure of the piece of work be changed; doing so may result in a charge of plagiarism.

Format of thesis

You should submit your thesis in pdf format to the Nottingham ePrints system. Your thesis should be presented on A4 size, normally with a size 12 font. There should be a margin of at least 4cm on the left side of the page, both for typescript and diagrams, to allow for binding (if required).                         

Other margins should be of at least 2.5 cm.

Alternative formats

Alternative formats for submission may apply. For certain doctorates (Music, Creative Writing, Drama and Performance Practice as Research, Translation Studies) an appendix detailing submission requirements is available.

For more information, please visit the university's Quality Manual for further guidance.

You are also allowed to submit by published works, please consult your supervisor and also refer to the university guidance in the Quality Manual . 

Quality Manual alternative formats guidance

Submission deadline

You are required to submit your thesis for examination by the submission deadline notified to you during your course of studies. In exceptional circumstances, you can apply for an extension to your submission deadline, in line with the extension to thesis pending policy in the Quality Manual . 

If your submission deadline falls on a non-working day then you are permitted to submit on a first working day after this deadline.

Please also see here for key dates for graduation guidance .

Please note, even when they have been correctly observed, no guarantee can be given that the necessary examination procedures will have been completed in time for a candidate to graduate at the next degree congregation.

Extension to thesis pending form

Quality Manual thesis pending policy

Notification of submission

You are required to submit a thesis for examination before the conclusion of the thesis pending period. You must formally notify your school at least three months prior to your intended submission date. 

The school should ensure that Student Services are informed so that the procedure for appointing examiners can be initiated. Any delay in submitting your Notification of Submission form can lead to a delay in your examination. Visit the Examination webpage for more information on the examination process.

Your supervisor’s signature on the Notification of Submission form acts as confirmation that: 

the thesis is the result of work done mainly while you have been registered as a researcher of The University of Nottingham 

you have been given appropriate plagiarism guidance 

you have been advised on thesis embargo and/or restriction 

if appropriate to your discipline, you are aware of the requirement to submit all data collected during the period of study as a researcher of this university, to your School prior to arrangement of the viva voce examination. 

Upon receipt of your completed form, Student Services will ask your school to nominate examiners. When approved, we will email you with the names of your examiners, asking you to declare any possible conflict of interest.

Notification of submission form

Late submission

You are required to submit your thesis for examination by the submission deadline notified to you during your course of studies. Full time doctoral researchers submitting a thesis after this deadline, without receiving formal approval from the university for an extension of time, will be permitted to submit up to 12 months after their latest submission date as long as the maximum period from initial registration has not been reached.  

Once the work has been submitted the late submission fee for each month or part month (as per the university fee schedule, please see under Postgraduate Research – Exceptional Fees – Current Academic Year) that passes between your expected submission date and the date that your thesis is actually submitted will be raised and is payable immediately.

For researchers who are not on doctoral programmes, or who are not full time, or for whom this is not the first submission, there is no recourse to submit a thesis late and an extension to thesis pending must be requested.

Quality Manual: policy on extension to thesis pending

Quality Manual maximum period from initial registration

How to submit

Your thesis should be submitted to the Nottingham ePrints service in pdf format and must be the result of your own work, done mainly while you were registered as a researcher of this university. Student Services will work with your supervisors in preparing the thesis to be sent for examination. 

Notitngham ePrints is the used to store your first submission, as well as corrections and/or re-submission. Once the degree has been conferred, your final version will be retained for publication in the repository, all previous drafts will be removed. 

For detailed instructions, please visit the uploading your thesis webpage .

You are not routinely required to use Turnitin prior to thesis submission. However, you are strongly recommended to discuss this with your supervisory team for their recommendations for best practise within your area of research. 

What happens with my submission

 Your submission will be checked by the Student Services team. Once initial processing is complete, the Student Services team will write to confirm receipt of your thesis. Your thesis will then be stored securely in a local drive so that it can be shared with your examiners. It will then be removed from Nottingham ePrints . Doing so generates an automatic ‘Item Destroyed’ message, please do not be alarmed. 

First submissions, corrections and re-submission will be forwarded to examiner(s) for examination and/or final approvals. 

The final version will be retained for publication in the repository, unless you indicate a different preference.  For detailed instructions, please visit the uploading your thesis webpage .

Publishing your thesis: open access, embargo or restriction

In most cases, your thesis will be published in the University’s online library when you have graduated. Exceptions apply, such as embargo and thesis restriction, the distinction and process for application is explained below. You should discuss these options with your supervisor. 

Embargo: 

You may wish to delay online publication of the full text by requesting an embargo period, of up to two years* to allow publication through alternative channels. Please note: If you wish extend the embargo beyond the initial period, please enquire by emailing [email protected] . 

For embargoed theses, the full text is not publicly available but the bibliographic details (author, title and abstract) are discoverable and available to read. You must request embargoes when submitting the final draft of your thesis to Nottingham ePrints . 

Creative writing researchers may apply for an extended embargo of up to seven years. 

Thesis Restriction: 

The University Senate may fully restrict theses in special cases- where a thesis includes work which is politically, commercially or industrially sensitive.Theses may be restricted for a period of two years from conferral of the degree, if requested to do so. 

Thesis restrictions may be applied for by completing application for restriction form . Where the restriction is contractually obliged, the documentation should be appended to the application form. For more information visit the Quality Manual . 

Application for restriction form

Quality Manual application for restriction policy

  

• Current Students

Thesis Submission

Turnitin check on theses.

• Workflow of Compulsory Plagiarism Check on RPg Theses 

Thesis Examination Procedure

• Flowchart of Thesis Examination Procedure

Guidelines on Thesis Submission

• Regulations Governing the Format, Binding and Presentation of Theses for Higher Degrees by Research 
• Preparation, Submission and Examination of Theses (From the Graduate School Handbook)
• Preparing and Submitting Your Thesis: A Guide for MPhil and PhD Students
• The Library's Subject Guides on Writing Theses and Dissertations
• Submission of Dataset of Research (if applicable)
• Editing of Abstracts of Research Postgraduate Theses 
• Electronic Thesis Submission (Final Thesis) 
• Printing of Final Bound Thesis 

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Trinity Search

Trinity menu.

• Faculties and Schools
• Trinity Courses
• Trinity Research

Graduate Studies

You are here Current Students > Postgraduate Research Students > Thesis Submission

Thesis Submission

Guidelines for the submission of theses and dissertations are available in the Regulations and Forms section of this page.

The PhD Thesis Submission Process

The Intention to Submit form must be completed and returned at least one month prior to submission by every postgraduate research student to the Director of Teaching and Learning Postgraduate in their School, copying [email protected]. Submitting this form initiates the formal nomination of examiners for the thesis.

The steps involved in the thesis examination process are illustrated on the flowchart below:

Dean's Grace

Dean's Grace of one month free of fees to submit a thesis is granted by the Dean of Graduate Studies and is automatically applied to all research students registrations in their expected final year (this is end of year 2 for full-time Masters by research candidates; end of year 4 for full-time PhD candidates; end of year 3 for part-time Masters by research candidates and end of year 6 for part-time PhD candidates).

Thesis Stay of Deposition Requests

Although TARA serves as an open access institutional repository for digital scientific and scholarly publications, you may request that access to your thesis deposited in TARA be restricted or delayed if necessary. In order to apply such restrictions, you must request and receive a "stay of deposition" on your thesis. The application for a stay process is described in Calendar and states the following:

“Should an author of a thesis wish to withhold permission for the use of her/his work, a written application must be made to the Dean of Graduate Studies at the time of submission of the thesis for examination. Such applications must have the written support of the graduate student’s Supervisor or Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate), must state the reasons for the request for a stay on access and must provide a contact address. The maximum length of a stay is five years. During this period of withheld permission the thesis may be consulted, lent or copied only by written permission of the author who is under an obligation to reply to all enquiries within a reasonable time.”

Please ensure you have a written confirmation of support of your Supervisor or Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate) as it must be submitted with the form. The Graduate Studies Office at [email protected] will then revert with a decision.

Regulations and Forms

• Thesis Intention to Submit Form
• Guidelines for the Submission of Theses and Dissertations
• Calendar Part III - Regulations for the Submission of Theses and Dissertations
• How to Deposit your Thesis - a Step by Step Guide
• Stay of Deposition Application Form

If you have any questions please contact the Administrative Officer in Graduate Studies or check for answers on our FAQ page.

Main navigation

• Graduate Students
• Faculty & Staff
• General requirements
• Preparation of a thesis
• What is myThesis?
• Next steps (Master’s)
• Next steps (Doctoral)
• myThesis FAQ for students
• myThesis FAQ for units
• Thesis examination
• Doctoral oral defence
• Final Thesis Submission
• Thesis Writing and Support Resources
• Letters of Completion/PGWP

The next deadline for initial and final thesis submissions is August 15 th . For initial thesis submission, your myThesis status should be “Eval. Authorized by GPD” by midnight, August15 th . This means your submissions was approved by the supervisor(s) and GPD.

Initial Thesis Submission

Master's students, doctoral students.

Click the button below to access myThesis:

Important Information about deadlines and registration

For each of the three annual dates for conferring degrees/convocation, there are corresponding deadlines for initial submission and for deposition of the final, corrected version of the thesis. For specific dates of initial and final submission, please consult the deadlines page .

• Please note: some Units* enforce earlier submission deadlines than those listed by GPS, always check with your respective Graduate Unit.

Initial submission by the indicated deadline for a particular granting of degrees does not guarantee graduation, nor does it exempt you from registration fees. You must be registered in the appropriate degree program at the time of initial thesis submission.

An initial thesis submission will prompt the GPS Thesis Unit to automatically add your name to the graduation list for either the current or following term. Thesis students do not apply to graduate as a thesis submission is an indication of readiness for evaluation and subsequent completion of degree.

Students who are no longer registered at McGill must be readmitted to be eligible for thesis examination.

You may submit your thesis at any time during the year.

• If you are submitting a revised thesis, please follow these instructions.

*Unit refers to a department, a division, a school, an institute, or a Faculty/University-wide program.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International License . Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, McGill University .

Department and University Information

Graduate and postdoctoral studies.