Find Theses
Theses are...
- lengthy, formal papers usually written by candidates for a master's or doctoral degree at academic institutions
- papers containing original research on a specific topic
- also referred to as dissertations, particularly when written for a doctorate.
Theses from McMaster University
To find McMaster theses, search one or more of the following sources:
- McMaster's library catalogue, is the primary tool for finding theses written by McMaster students.
- Look up a thesis by author, title, subject or keyword(s).
- If you don't have a specific title or author in mind, perform a search Anywhere using the terms thesis and McMaster and a word that best describes your topic e.g., thesis and McMaster and Internet
- For detailed searching instructions, please refer to the Find McMaster Theses in the Library Catalogue guide.
- PAPER COPY: Note the location, call number and status of the thesis in the library catalogue.
- If the status of the thesis is:
- Checked In - Retrieve the thesis from the location indicated (usually Bookstacks).
- In Process - Submit this form and the thesis will be made available as soon as possible.
- Item missing - Check with Interlibrary Loan.
- Copies available in the Bookstacks may be borrowed with a valid McMaster identification card. Visitors wanting to borrow a McMaster thesis should submit a request for the item with their local library's interlibrary loan department.
- If the status of the thesis is:
- ONLINE COPY (if available): To access an online version of a thesis, click on Link to Online Resource noted in the catalogue record. NOTE: Only McMaster faculty, staff and currently registered students can view / download the full-text of a McMaster thesis for FREE. Visitors may be able to access a free digital copy via the Theses Canada Portal. If not available, an online copy may be purchased.
Archives & Research Collections
- The archival copies of McMaster theses are housed offsite. Contact Archives & Research Collections for assistance. The archival copies are partially accessible by a card catalogue. Some archival theses are unique, and are not recorded in the library catalogue.
- Date coverage: 1971 to current (Ph.D. theses); 1972 to 1982 (some Master's theses may be included)
- Includes full-text, online (PDF format) copies of McMaster dissertations & theses.
- Excludes Faculty of Health Sciences theses.
- Search by keyword(s) or browse by year or author.
- McMaster faculty, staff and currently registered students can download the full-text of McMaster theses for FREE. Off-campus users should login to LibAccess first.
- Visitors may be able to access a free digital copy via the Theses Canada Portal. If not available, an online copy may be purchased.
Dissertations & Theses @ McMaster University (McMaster users only)
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Theses from Other Institutions
- Theses completed at other institutions are purchased selectively by McMaster University libraries.
- Using the information provided in the sources below (i.e., title, author), search our library catalogue to determine if we own a copy of a particular thesis.
- If not available at McMaster, you may be able to borrow or purchase the thesis.
- Sometimes a thesis will not be available for loan or purchase and a visit to the institution owning the thesis is the only way to view it.
To find a thesis from another institution, search one or more the following sources:
CANADA & THE UNITED STATES
Dissertations & Theses: A&I (McMaster users only)
- Date coverage: 1637 to current
- Includes citations and abstracts for doctoral dissertations as well as some master's theses completed at accredited North American and selected European colleges and universities.
- McMaster faculty, staff and currently registered students can download full-text online (PDF) versions of McMaster theses for FREE. Theses from other institutions can be downloaded for a FEE.
- Paper versions:
The paper versions of this index may provide summaries that are not included in the online version. This is particularly true for older theses.
Microfilm Abstracts
MILLS Periodicals (3rd floor) & THODE Reference (Lower Level) ZLB 2369.D58 (1938-1951)
Dissertation Abstracts
MILLS Periodicals (3rd floor) & THODE Reference (Lower Level) ZLB 2369.D58 (1952-1966)
Dissertation Abstracts A: The Social Sciences and Humanities
MILLS Periodicals (3rd floor) ZLB 2369.D58 (1966-1969)
Dissertation Abstracts B: The Sciences and Engineering
THODE Reference (Lower Level) ZLB 2369.D58 (1966-1969)
Dissertation Abstracts International A: The Social Sciences and Humanities
MILLS Periodicals (3rd floor) ZLB 2369.D58 (1969-1979)
Dissertation Abstracts International B: The Sciences and Engineering
THODE Reference (Lower Level) ZLB 2369.D58 (1969-1981)
- Paper versions:
- Date coverage: 1930's to current
- Includes citations to approximately 300,000 Canadian master's theses and doctoral dissertations in the Library and Archives Canada theses collection.
- Search by author, title, subject, university and more.
- Provides FREE access to full-text electronic versions of some Canadian theses and dissertations (approx. 50,000).
INTERNATIONAL
- Date coverage: 1800's to current
- Includes more than 750,000 doctoral dissertations from universities outside of the U.S. and Canada.
- Search for dissertations by keyword(s) or browse by country or awarding insititution.
- See CRL's dissertations topic guide for more information about this collection.
- To obtain dissertations from CRL (Center for Research Libraries), submit an interlibrary loan request via RACER.
- Includes dissertations from Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as German-language and foreign-language online dissertations with reference to Germany.
Index to Theses... (McMaster users only)
- Date coverage: 1716 to current
- A comprehensive listing of theses with abstracts accepted for higher degrees by universities in Great Britain and Ireland.
- Paper versions:
Retrospective index to theses of Great Britain and Ireland, 1716-1950
MILLS Reference ZLB 2369 .G7R45 (2nd floor) (Vol. 1)
THODE Reference ZLB 2369 .G7R45 (Lower Level) (Vols. 2, 4 and 5)
Index to Theses ...
Storage ZLB 2369.G7A8 (1950 to 1967)
- Paper versions:
WorldCat (McMaster users only)
WorldCat (Free version)
- A catalogue of books, theses and other materials in libraries worldwide.
- Search by author, title, subject, year and/or keyword(s).
- On the Advanced Search screen, limit your results to Thesis/dissertation.
Borrowing McMaster Theses
- All McMaster theses in print can be borrowed with a valid McMaster identification card (e.g., McMaster faculty, staff, currently registered students, external borrowers, etc.). The availability or circulation status (e.g. checked out) of a thesis will be noted in the library catalogue.
- Visitors wanting to borrow a McMaster thesis should submit an interlibrary loan request for the item with their local library.
Borrowing Theses from Other Institutions
- McMaster faculty, staff and currently registered students wanting a thesis not available at McMaster libraries can submit a request for the item with interlibrary loan via RACER. NOTE: Very few libraries will lend copies of theses in their collection. If a thesis is unavailable for loan, Interlibrary Loan will contact you.
Purchasing Theses
- Theses not available for loan or download, can usually be purchased.
- Costs vary widely, according to supplier and format of reproduction.
- Copies of most Ph.D. dissertations in universities in North America can be purchased via Dissertation Express, either through interlibrary loan, or as an individual. Use Dissertations & Theses: A&I to find the order number, author or title of the theses you'd like to purchase.
- Copies of international theses can usually be purchased through Interlibrary Loan from a variety of sources such as the university library involved.
- Questions?: Please contact Interlibrary Loan.
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