Theses & Dissertations: Home

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The U of L Library collects all U of L graduate theses, dissertations, and projects.  We have them in print/hard copy up to May 2014, when the School of Graduate Studies switched to digital e-theses.  From May 2014 onward, they are in digital format and available through the library catalogue or the Institutional Repository.

If you are a graduate student looking to submit the final copy of your thesis to the Institutional Repository, please visit the School of Graduate Studies' website, which details the submission process.

If you are unable to find a copy of a thesis or dissertation online, or if you would like a print thesis or dissertation that is not available at the library, you may request a copy through interlibrary loan.  In some instances, it can take several weeks to receive a thesis or dissertation, so be sure to submit your request early if possible.

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.

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

An institutional repository (IR) is a digital collection of an organization's intellectual output.  IRs centralize, preserve, and make accessible the knowledge generated by academic institutions.  Theses and dissertations authored by researchers at a university can often be found in that university’s IR.

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