Finding Dissertations & Theses
UF theses and dissertations:
- Search the UF Libraries' Catalog.
- Search by keywords, author name, adviser, or department/major.
- See UF Electronic Theses and Dissertations for search tips on browsing by UF department name and other options.
- The term THESIS denotes both Masters' theses and dissertations at UF.
- The Catalog includes both print and online UF theses.
- Limit to online theses by selecting "online resource" in the Format facet in the left column of your results.
- Note that some students may block access to the full text of their theses, either blocking all access or restricting access to the UF community, for a time specified by the student.
- Working copies of most printed theses and dissertations are found in the campus library that most closely matches with the academic department.
- Print versions are not produced for students who entered their graduate programs after 2002.
- Most thesis/dissertation call numbers begin with LD 1780 followed by the year of the thesis and then a code matching the author's last name.
- The libraries maintain another copy of printed theses/dissertations within the University Archives section of the Special Collections Department in the Smathers Library. These archival copies may be consulted but may not be removed from the area.
Identifying dissertations written outside UF:
- WorldCat Dissertations and Theses lists all dissertations, theses and published material based on theses cataloged by members of OCLC, a worldwide library consortium. This database includes links to full text of many freely-available theses
and indicates whether any member library has a print copy that may be borrowed through ILLiad Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
Start with WorldCat Dissertations and Theses when:- you are searching for a subject or topic
- you are interested in masters' theses as well as dissertations
- you need to verify (is it a thesis or dissertation, from which school, etc.)
- you are willing to wait for a borrowed copy -- but check ProQuest Dissertations and Theses for instant availability BEFORE submitting an ILL request!
- Search ProQuest Dissertations and Theses to identify many dissertations written at many universities. The database covers 1867 to the present; however, each university's coverage varies.
Start with ProQuest Dissertations and Theses when:- your are primarily interested in PhD dissertations
- you want to access free or UF-licensed online full text
- you are willing to purchase and obtain quick receipt when copies must be purchased
- The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) provides links to theses that may be freely available online.
- The Index to Theses "accepted for higher degrees by the universities of Great Britain and Ireland and the Council for National Academic Awards" includes abstracts. This database covers theses accepted from 1970 to the present.
- The Theses Canada Portal provides search and access information for print and online theses and dissertations from Canadian institutions from 1965 to the present.
- The Registry of Open Access Repositories (ROAR) maintains a list of sites with e-theses.
- You may encounter some citations/references to theses and dissertations in subject-based Databases.
Obtaining copies of dissertations written outside UF:
- UF faculty/staff/students may downoad full text of over 600,000 theses from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses: Full Text. Full text is available for approximately one third of the theses indexed in the database.
- Search WorldCat Dissertations and Theses for links to free full text or indications that a copy may be borrowed from another library.
- Try using the ILLiad Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service if you are a current student/faculty/staff at UF.
- ILLiad is not usually successful for items outside the US or Canada.
- Sometimes, ILLiad staff can obtain a technical report version of a thesis.
- You may be able to purchase a copy from ProQuest Dissertation Express, in print or online form.
- You may need to contact the author or the issuing institution/department.
