Thesis and dissertation citation generator
Cite a thesis or dissertation from ProQuest, a university repository, or in print.
or fill in the details below
How to cite a dissertation
A thesis citation takes three steps. One question, where you found it, sets the right format in every style.
Step 1
Search or paste a link
Search by title, author or DOI, or paste the link to a university repository. We fill in the author, year, title and university.
Step 2
Say where you found it
A database like ProQuest, a university repository, or unpublished (a print copy, or one from the author). Then choose doctoral, master’s or bachelor’s.
Step 3
Copy your citation
Add the reference entry to your list and use the in-text citation in your paper.
How to cite a thesis or dissertation in APA
An APA dissertation citation gives the author, the year, the title in italics, the kind of work and the university in square brackets, and where you found it.
From ProQuest
Kabir, J. M. (2016). Factors influencing customer satisfaction at a fast food hamburger chain: The relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty (Publication No. 10169573) [Doctoral dissertation, Wilmington University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
The publication number comes after the title.
From a university repository
Mepham, A. H. (2019). Micro- and nano-scale approaches for disease detection and characterization [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toronto]. TSpace. https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/97000
Unpublished
Harris, L. (2014). Instructional leadership perceptions and practices of elementary school leaders [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Virginia.
An unpublished dissertation puts the university after the brackets.
In-text citation
Parenthetical: (Kabir, 2016)
Narrative: Kabir (2016)
How to cite a dissertation in MLA
An MLA dissertation citation gives the author, the title in italics, the year, the university and the kind of work, and the database or repository with its URL.
Format
Author. Title. Year. University, PhD dissertation. Database, URL.
From a repository
Mepham, Adam Hunter. Micro- and Nano-Scale Approaches for Disease Detection and Characterization. 2019. U of Toronto, PhD dissertation. TSpace, tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/97000.
From ProQuest
Kabir, J. M. Factors Influencing Customer Satisfaction at a Fast Food Hamburger Chain: The Relationship between Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty. 2016. Wilmington U, PhD dissertation. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
How to cite a dissertation in Chicago
Chicago puts a thesis title in quotation marks and describes it as PhD diss. or Master’s thesis, with the university and year.
Bibliography
Mepham, Adam Hunter. “Micro- and Nano-Scale Approaches for Disease Detection and Characterization.” PhD diss., University of Toronto, 2019. TSpace. https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/97000.
Footnote
Adam Hunter Mepham, “Micro- and Nano-Scale Approaches for Disease Detection and Characterization” (PhD diss., University of Toronto, 2019), TSpace, https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/97000.
How to cite a master’s thesis
A master’s thesis follows the same pattern. Only the description changes.
APA
Hutcheson, V. H. (2012). Dealing with dual differences: Social coping strategies of gifted and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer adolescents [Master’s thesis, The College of William & Mary]. William & Mary Digital Archive. https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/bitstream/handle/10288/16594/HutchesonVirginia2012.pdf
MLA
Hutcheson, Virginia H. Dealing with Dual Differences: Social Coping Strategies of Gifted and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Adolescents. 2012. The College of William & Mary, Master’s thesis. William & Mary Digital Archive, digitalarchive.wm.edu/bitstream/handle/10288/16594/HutchesonVirginia2012.pdf.
Chicago
Hutcheson, Virginia H. “Dealing with Dual Differences: Social Coping Strategies of Gifted and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Adolescents.” Master’s thesis, The College of William & Mary, 2012. William & Mary Digital Archive. https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/bitstream/handle/10288/16594/HutchesonVirginia2012.pdf.
For a published article based on a thesis, cite the article instead with the journal article citation generator. For a thesis later published as a book, use the book citation generator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I cite a dissertation in APA?
Give the author, the year, the title in italics, [Doctoral dissertation, University] and where you found it, like ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global with the publication number, or a repository and its URL.
How do I cite a ProQuest dissertation?
Give the publication number in parentheses after the title, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global as the database. No URL is needed.
What is the difference between a thesis and a dissertation?
In the US, a thesis is usually for a master’s degree and a dissertation for a doctorate. Choose the type in the form and each style labels it correctly.
How do I cite an unpublished dissertation?
Choose Unpublished. APA writes [Unpublished doctoral dissertation] and then the university.
How do I cite a dissertation in MLA?
Give the author, the title in italics, the year, the university and PhD dissertation, then the database or repository and its URL.
Is this dissertation citation generator free?
Yes. It’s free with no signup, and your citations go into the same list as the main Citation Generator.