Theses & Dissertations: Home

What are Theses and Dissertations?

A thesis or dissertation is a lengthy work written and presented in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification.  It presents the author’s original research and findings on a specific topic.  The term “thesis” is generally used at the master’s level, while “dissertation” is typically reserved for doctoral work.  Theses and dissertations are considered scholarly sources.

Most theses and dissertations, especially those written recently, are available online.  For this reason, the term ETDs (electronic theses and dissertations) has become increasingly common.

Finding Theses and Dissertations

Use the following tools and resources when searching for theses and dissertations.  See also the section on institutional repositories below.

Research Repositories

A research repository (or institutional repository) is a digital collection of an institution's intellectual output. Repositories such as OPUS, the University of Lethbridge's research repository, preserve, and make publicly accessible the knowledge generated by academic institutions. Theses and dissertations authored by a university's students can often be found in the institution's research repository.

University of Lethbridge Theses & Dissertations

The University of Lethbridge Library collects all of the University's graduate theses and projects. The Library holds print copies of completed U of L theses to May 2014, when the School of Graduate Studies switched to e-theses. Print theses can be found through the library catalogue and digital theses can be found in OPUS, the University's research repository.

If you are a graduate student looking to submit the final copy of your thesis to OPUS, please consult the School of Graduate Studies' E-Thesis Submission guidelines.