Citing a dissertation correctly is essential for academic integrity and ensuring your work is taken seriously. Whether you’re referencing someone else’s dissertation in your own research or citing your own work, following the proper citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard) is crucial. This guide will walk you through how to cite a dissertation in the most common citation styles, including where to find the necessary information and what to do if some details are missing.
Why Citing Dissertations Matters
Dissertations are valuable academic sources, often containing original research, in-depth analysis, and extensive literature reviews. Citing them:
- Gives credit to the original author.
- Strengthens your argument by building on existing research.
- Helps readers locate the source for further reading.
- Avoids plagiarism, which can have serious academic consequences.
Information Needed for Citing a Dissertation
Before citing a dissertation, gather the following details:
- Author’s Name: Full name of the dissertation’s author.
- Title of the Dissertation: In title case (capitalize major words) or sentence case (only the first word and proper nouns capitalized), depending on the citation style.
- Year of Publication: The year the dissertation was completed and submitted (not necessarily the year it was published or uploaded to a database).
- Institution: The university or college that awarded the degree.
- Degree Type: Specify whether it’s a PhD, Master’s, or Undergraduate dissertation.
- Database or Repository (if applicable): If the dissertation is published in a database (e.g., ProQuest, your university’s repository), include the name of the database and URL (if available).
- Publication Number (if applicable): Some dissertations have a unique identifier (e.g., ProQuest publication number).
How to Cite a Dissertation in Different Styles
1. APA (7th Edition)
APA is commonly used in the social sciences, education, and psychology.
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation [Degree type, Institution]. Database Name. URL
Examples:
- Published in a Database (e.g., ProQuest):
Mwangi, J. K. (2020). The impact of mobile money on financial inclusion in rural Kenya [Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi]. ProQuest. https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/docview/241234567
- Unpublished (from a university repository):
Omondi, L. A. (2019). Climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers in Western Kenya [Master’s thesis, Kenyatta University]. https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1234
- Print Version (rare):
Wanjiku, P. N. (2018). Gender disparities in STEM education in Kenya [Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi].
In-Text Citation:
(Mwangi, 2020)
Mwangi (2020) found that…
2. MLA (9th Edition)
MLA is often used in the humanities, such as literature, art, and philosophy.
Format:
Author(s). Title of Dissertation. Year. Institution, Degree type. Database Name, URL.
Examples:
- Published in a Database:
Mwangi, Jane K. The Impact of Mobile Money on Financial Inclusion in Rural Kenya. 2020. University of Nairobi, PhD dissertation. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/docview/241234567.
- Unpublished:
Omondi, Lucas A. Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Among Smallholder Farmers in Western Kenya. 2019. Kenyatta University, Master’s thesis.
In-Text Citation:
(Mwangi 45)
Mwangi argues that… (45)
3. Chicago/Turabian (17th Edition)
Chicago style is used in history, some social sciences, and business. Turabian is a simplified version of Chicago for students.
Notes-Bibliography Style (Common in Humanities):
Bibliography Entry:
Author, First Name. Title of Dissertation. Degree type, Institution, Year. Database Name, URL.
Example:
Mwangi, Jane K. The Impact of Mobile Money on Financial Inclusion in Rural Kenya. PhD diss., University of Nairobi, 2020. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/docview/241234567.
Footnote/Endnote:
- Jane K. Mwangi, The Impact of Mobile Money on Financial Inclusion in Rural Kenya (PhD diss., University of Nairobi, 2020), 45, https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/docview/241234567.
Author-Date Style (Common in Social Sciences):
Reference List Entry:
Mwangi, Jane K. 2020. The Impact of Mobile Money on Financial Inclusion in Rural Kenya. PhD diss., University of Nairobi. ProQuest. https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/docview/241234567.
In-Text Citation:
(Mwangi 2020, 45)
4. Harvard Style
Harvard is widely used in the UK, Australia, and some social sciences.
Format:
Author, A. (Year) Title of dissertation. Degree type. Institution. Available at: URL (Accessed: Date).
Examples:
- Published in a Database:
Mwangi, J.K. (2020) The impact of mobile money on financial inclusion in rural Kenya. PhD thesis. University of Nairobi. Available at: https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/docview/241234567 (Accessed: 10 May 2026).
- Unpublished:
Omondi, L.A. (2019) Climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers in Western Kenya. Master’s thesis. Kenyatta University.
In-Text Citation:
(Mwangi, 2020, p. 45)
Mwangi (2020, p. 45) found that…
Citing Your Own Dissertation
If you’re citing your own dissertation in a later work (e.g., a journal article or book), follow the same rules as above, but avoid self-plagiarism by:
- Paraphrasing your own work and citing it properly.
- Not copying and pasting large sections without attribution.
Example (APA):
Mwangi, J. K. (2020). The impact of mobile money on financial inclusion in rural Kenya [Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi]. ProQuest. https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/docview/241234567
What If Information Is Missing?
Sometimes, dissertations may lack certain details (e.g., no URL, no database name). Here’s how to handle missing information:
| Missing Information | Solution |
|---|---|
| No Author | Start with the title. Example: The impact of mobile money…. (2020). |
| No Year | Use “n.d.” (no date). Example: Mwangi, J. K. (n.d.). |
| No Institution | Omit it if unknown. |
| No URL | Omit the URL. If the dissertation is unpublished, just include the institution. |
| No Database Name | Omit it. If the dissertation is from a university repository, include the repository name. |
Where to Find Dissertation Citation Information
- Title Page: The first page of the dissertation usually contains the author’s name, title, institution, degree type, and year.
- Database Record: If the dissertation is published in ProQuest, your university’s repository, or another database, the citation information is often provided in the record.
- Library Catalog: Your university library may have a catalog entry for the dissertation with all the necessary details.
- Ask the Author: If you’re citing a recent dissertation, you can contact the author for missing information.
Tools to Help with Citation
If you’re unsure about formatting, use citation generators like:
Always double-check the generated citation against your style guide, as these tools can make mistakes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Incorrect Capitalization: Follow the title case or sentence case rules for your citation style.
- Missing Information: Include as much detail as possible (e.g., degree type, institution).
- Wrong Year: Use the year the dissertation was submitted, not the year it was published in a database.
- Improper Formatting: Pay attention to italics, punctuation, and indentation (e.g., APA uses hanging indents for references).
- Citing Unpublished Work as Published: If the dissertation is not published in a database, do not include a URL or database name.
Citing a dissertation correctly ensures academic integrity and helps readers locate your sources. The exact format depends on your citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard), but the key details—author, title, year, institution, and degree type—are always required. If you’re unsure, consult your style guide or use a citation generator, but always double-check the result.
Which citation style do you use most often? Share your tips for citing dissertations below!
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