Access to UChicago Dissertations
Please note that some authors choose to delay access to their dissertations for a limited period of time.
How do I access University of Chicago Dissertations?
As of Autumn 2015, most of our dissertations are open access works, available in Knowledge@UChicago, our open access digital repository.
Print copies of most older dissertations (1893-Spring 2009) are held in the Library and have records in the Library Catalog. Since Summer 2009, only digital copies are available, with links included in the catalog record.
ProQuest databases provide a fairly comprehensive record for our dissertations from 1893-Spring 2024, with full text for nearly 70% of the titles. Participation in ProQuest is now optional for dissertation authors, and their records will no longer be comprehensive.
For a comprehensive record, see our convocation programs.
Unaffiliated users have several options.
- Many dissertations are freely available in Knowledge@UChicago and a few are freely available through ProQuest.
- Your local library may have access through one of ProQuest's subscription databases.
- Interlibrary Loan staff will provide digital copies if available.
- Print copies of most dissertations written before Summer 2009 are available through Interlibrary Loan if we have print copies in good condition.
- Those who wish to view dissertations in the Library are welcome to visit.
- Most dissertations are available for purchase from ProQuest.
Knowledge@UChicago Records
- Authors may delay access to the full text of their dissertations for a limited period of time.
- Knowledge@UChicago provides open access to all University of Chicago dissertations completed after June 2024.
- Knowledge@UChicago provides open access to most University of Chicago dissertations, August 2015-June 2024.
Library Catalog Records
- The Library holds a paper copy of most early University of Chicago dissertations, 1893-June 2009. Some are online through our digital preservation program.
- Borrow bound dissertations just as you would a book.
- If a dissertation is in Mansueto, place your request from the library catalog record.
- After June 2009, our dissertations are online only.
- Catalog records include links to digital copies.
Interlibrary Loan
- Interlibrary Loan staff will provide digital copies of University of Chicago dissertations if available.
- Print copies of most dissertations written before Summer 2009 are available through Interlibrary Loan if we have print copies in good condition.
ProQuest Records
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global
- As of Summer 2024 access through ProQuest is optional for UChicago dissertation authors.
- PQDT Global includes records for nearly all of our dissertations completed 1893-June 2024.
- PQDT Global contains full text for most dissertations completed after 1997 and for nearly 20,000 earlier dissertations or theses.
- PQDT Global is a subscription database that may be available through your local library if you do not have access through ours.
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses @ University of Chicago
- This subset of PQDT Global includes records for works from the University of Chicago only, as well as full text when available.
Open Access Dissertations
- Most of our recent dissertations are available in our digital repository.
Open Access Theses and Dissertations
- OATD.org provides access to the dissertations in Knowledge@UChicago, as does Google Scholar.
- Many of our open access dissertations are available through this open access database.
- Digital copies of some of our dissertations are freely available through the ProQuest platform.
Dissertation Access
UChicago
ProQuest
Other Libraries