thesis submission ucd

Explore UCD

• (opens in a new window) University Strategy
• University Governance
• President's Office
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
• Campus Development
• Course Catalogue
• Study at UCD
• Current Students
• Campus Accommodation
• International Student Experience
• Access & Lifelong Learning
• Careers Network
• Sports Clubs
• (opens in a new window) Student Societies

Research & Innovation

• Innovation at NovaUCD
• Graduate Studies
• Support for Researchers
• (opens in a new window) Find a UCD Researcher
• UCD College of Arts and Humanities
• UCD College of Business
• UCD College of Engineering and Architecture
• UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences
• UCD College of Science
• UCD College of Social Sciences and Law
• All Colleges and Schools
• News & Opinion
• Work at UCD
• UCD in the Community
• Global Partnerships
• (opens in a new window) UCD Foundation
• University Relations

Key Services

• Staff Directory
• Sport & Fitness
• IT Services
• (opens in a new window) Commuting
• (opens in a new window) UCD Map
• (opens in a new window)

Thesis Submission

Steps to submitting your thesis .

•  Check you registration and fee status - Make sure that you have an active registration for the current academic year and that you've paid all of the necessary fees.  If you're unsure of the amount that you need to pay, Ask Us .
•  Upload your thesis electronically via the eThesis system for examination .
•  Upload the revised version of your thesis post-examination (if applicable).
•  Submit the final hard-bound thesis to the Student Desk 

Types of Thesis Submission

Thesis for examination.

Your thesis can be submitted   electronically via the  eThesis system in SISWeb . Before submitting your thesis, make sure that you’ve completed the steps below. 

✓   Discuss with your supervisor if an embargo is required for your thesis. See  UCD Thesis embargoes for further details.

✓   Check out the Research Repository Database (RRU) FAQ  for further information.

✓   Pay all of the necessary fees. If you have any questions about what you owe, Ask Us .

✓   Check your address. Go to “My Profile” in SISWeb & check that your permanent address is current, accurate & formatted correctly.

✓   Ensure that you have completed all necessary modules and programme requirements. If, when preparing to submit your thesis, you see the following message " Awaiting Governing Board programme compliance approval for examination " please contact your supervisor or the Graduate Research Board at  (opens in a new window) [email protected] . A graduate research student is recorded as compliant when all programme requirements have been achieved (for example completing  Research Integrity  training). Please see the  Research Student Hub  on the UCD Graduate Studies website for further information

✓   Additional queries in relation to the eThesis Exam System can be sent to (opens in a new window) [email protected] .

You can find further information about submitting your thesis electronically in the Graduate Research Theses section of the Student Desk's FAQ page .

Final Hardbound Thesis

All students must submit a physical, final hardbound thesis to the Student Desk.  You can submit this in person (a third party can also submit it on your behalf) or by posting it to the address below:

Make sure that you’ve completed the steps below:

✓   Printed and bound enough copies. You only need to submit 1 hardbound thesis to the Student Desk, but may want to print additional copies to keep yourself.

✓   The Exam Committee has certified that your revisions are complete and uploaded to the eThesis system (if applicable).

✓   Check your name and address. Go to the “My Profile” section of SISWeb and check that your name is spelt correctly (e.g. with proper upper and lower case, fadas and diacritic marks are in the appropriate place, etc.) as this is how your name appears on your parchment at graduation. Check that your permanent address is current, accurate and formatted correctly.

You can find guidance on formatting and the presentation of your final thesis in the document Guidelines for Preparation, Submission, Examination and Dissemination of Research Degree Theses .

Contact the Student Desk

www.ucd.ie/askus

Thesis Preparation and Submission

The final examination of a candidate for a Research Master's or PhD degree is based on the explanation of the student’s research in a thesis describing the context, nature, methodology and outcomes of the research, prepared in accordance with international norms.

Thesis preparation

You will prepare your thesis under the direction of the Principal Supervisor and with the support of your Research Studies Panel.  For detailed information, refer to the   Guidelines for Preparation, Submission, Examination and Dissemination of Research Degree Theses . 

See thesis submission dates .

Steps to submitting your thesis

• Check you registration and fee status. You must be a fully registered student and not owe any fees at the time your thesis is submitted for examination. If you're unsure of your registration or fee status, contact the Student Desk . 
• Use the UCD eThesis System to submit your thesis online, verify authorship and programme compliance and track progress through all stages of the examination process.
• Following the viva voce , upload the revised version of your thesis (if applicable). The Examiner will provide electronic sign-off of this version.
• Following the viva voce and once you have approval of the Internal Examiner, submit a hardbound copy of your final thesis to the Student Desk.

Receiving your research degree

After your hardcopy and e-thesis are submitted,  the UCD Academic Council Committee on Examinations (ACCE) will review the recommendation of the Examiners and authorise the award of the degree or otherwise.

The ACCE meets once a month throughout the academic year. Upon submission of your hardcopy and e-thesis, the relevant examination documents are submitted for consideration at the next scheduled ACCE meeting.

If the ACCE decides on the basis of the Examination Committee report to authorise the award of the degree, you will receive, within 10 working days, an official Degree Outcome Letter from the UCD Registrar and Deputy President confirming that your PhD degree has been awarded and with the link to download your official Academic Transcript as a PDF document.

All degrees are conferred at the next available conferring ceremony, following the approval of the degree award by the ACCE. It is not possible to defer a graduation; successful candidates who are unable to attend on the appointed day will have their degrees conferred in absentia and their testimoniums will be posted to them after the conferring ceremony. Please see the conferring schedule  for dates. 

Further Resources

Documents and files.

Review the most useful policies, regulations and forms for graduate research students

Review key dates for graduate research students

PhD lifecycle

View the lifecycle of the PhD programme at UCD, from application to conferring

Viva voce examination

Explore guidance and procedures relating to the viva voce oral examination

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

• Exhibitions
• Visit and Contact
• UCD Library
• Current Students
• News & Opinion
• Staff Directory
• UCD Connect
• Explore Collections
• Theses Information
• Introduction

Theses Information: Introduction

Ucd theses collection.

UCD Library receives copies of all major theses awarded at University College Dublin. This collection comprises thousands of volumes of original primary research in all subject areas.

This collection is made up, primarily, of doctoral and master theses by research, which have been received in accordance with university regulations. Theses submitted as part of a taught masters degree are usually not held by UCD Library. For exceptions to this rule consult library staff in your Library. Theses held in the James Joyce Library include those submitted to:

• College of Health & Agricultural Sciences (except Health & Veterinary Medicine)
• College of Arts & Humanities
• College of Business
• College of Engineering & Architecture (except Architecture)
• College of Social Sciences & Law
• College of Science

Theses related to Health Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Postgraduate Business and Architecture are held at their respective libraries.

Use One Search  to locate details of all UCD theses held in the Library: once you have keyed in your topic keywords, use the left hand panel to select Library Catalogue  and then further limit your results under  Content Type  to  Dissertations/Theses

Consulting UCD Theses

Consult a thesis:

• Theses held at the James Joyce Library (JJL) are available for consultation purposes only.  

Use One Search  to locate details of all UCD theses held in the Library: once you have keyed in your topic keywords, use the left hand panel to limit results to Library Catalogue  and further limit your results under Content Type to Dissertations/Theses

• External users - complete the thesis request form .  
• For theses held in our other Libraries access may vary. Queries should be directed to staff in those libraries .

Access to some theses in UCD may be restricted:

• An author may withhold permission for access for up to 3 years after presentation (Library Regulation 2.13). Unless the embargo period is extended, theses become automatically available for consultation after the 3 year period expires.  
• Within this 3 year period, where the permission hasn’t previously been granted, the Library is obliged to seek permission for consultation - this may result in a delay in supply.  
• Within this 3 year period an author may choose to refuse permission for consultation.

Copyright notice A thesis is made available for consultation on the understanding that the reader will not publish in any form, either the whole or any part of it, without the written permission of the University Librarian.

For further information regarding theses please email

[email protected]

For queries about access to UCD theses held by UCD Library please email

[email protected]

• Next: Theses Request Form for External Library Users >>
• Theses Request Form for External Library Users
• Searching for a Thesis in the Catalogue

• Last Updated: Aug 9, 2024 11:33 AM
• URL: https://libguides.ucd.ie/theses_at_UCD