How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation: Formatting Rules + Examples [APA, MLA, Chicago]

 How to Cite a Thesis: A Complete Guide to Citing a Thesis Correctly

Citing a thesis is a crucial part of academic writing, especially for students, researchers, and professionals who rely on scholarly works. Whether you are preparing a research paper, dissertation, or journal article, knowing how to cite a thesis ensures that you give proper credit to the original author while strengthening the credibility of your own work.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through how to cite a thesis across popular citation styles, explain the difference between printed and online theses, and provide practical examples. By the end, you will feel confident about citing a thesis in any academic setting.

Why Is Citing a Thesis Important?

A thesis or dissertation is an original piece of academic research written to fulfill the requirements for a master’s or doctoral degree. These documents often contain valuable data, case studies, and analyses that future researchers may build upon.

Failing to cite a thesis correctly can lead to:

  • Plagiarism issues – Passing off another’s work without acknowledgment is a serious academic offense.
  • Reduced credibility – Proper citations demonstrate that you’ve done thorough research.
  • Reader confusion – Without citations, readers cannot trace the source of your information.

Simply put, learning how to cite a thesis properly shows respect for intellectual property and strengthens the foundation of your research.

Key Elements in a Thesis Citation

While citation styles differ, most thesis citations require these core details:

  1. Author’s Name – The person who wrote the thesis.
  2. Year of Publication – The year the thesis was submitted or published.
  3. Title of the Thesis – Written in italics or quotation marks depending on the style.
  4. Degree Information – Indicating whether it is a master’s thesis, doctoral dissertation, or undergraduate thesis.
  5. Institution Name – The university or college where the thesis was submitted.
  6. Database/URL (if online) – For theses accessed digitally.

Having these details ensures that your citation is accurate and traceable.

How to Cite a Thesis in APA Style

The American Psychological Association (APA) Style is widely used in social sciences.

Format (7th edition):

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of thesis [Master’s thesis/Doctoral dissertation, Name of Institution]. Database or Archive. URL

Example:

Smith, J. M. (2020). The impact of social media on youth mental health [Doctoral dissertation, University of California]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

If the thesis is unpublished, use:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of thesis [Unpublished master’s thesis/doctoral dissertation]. Name of Institution.

How to Cite a Thesis in MLA Style

The Modern Language Association (MLA) Style is common in humanities.

Format (9th edition):

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Thesis. Year. University, Type of Thesis. Database/URL (if applicable).

Example:

Brown, Sarah. Women’s Voices in 21st-Century Literature. 2021. Columbia University, PhD dissertation. ProQuest.

How to Cite a Thesis in Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) is often used in history, arts, and some sciences.

Notes and Bibliography Format:

Author First Name Last Name. “Title of Thesis.” Type of thesis, University, Year. URL or Database.

Example (Bibliography):

Johnson, Emily. “Climate Change and Agricultural Adaptation.” PhD diss., Harvard University, 2019. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

How to Cite a Thesis in Harvard Style

The Harvard referencing style is common in UK and Australian universities.

Format:

Author(s), Year. Title of thesis. Type of thesis. Institution. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Example:

Lee, D., 2018. Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. PhD thesis. University of Oxford. Available at: https://ethos.bl.uk (Accessed: 5 September 2025).

How to Cite a Thesis in IEEE Style

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) citation style is often used in engineering and computer science.

Format:

[#] Author’s First Initial. Last Name, “Title of thesis,” Degree type, Abbrev. Dept., Abbrev. Univ., City, State, Year.

Example:

[1] A. Kumar, “Blockchain applications in supply chain management,” PhD dissertation, Dept. of Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, 2022.

Printed vs. Online Theses

With the growth of digital libraries, most theses are now accessible online. When citing:

  • Printed Thesis – Only include author, year, title, type of thesis, and institution.
  • Online Thesis – Add the database, DOI, or direct URL.

Example (APA Online Thesis):
Lopez, M. R. (2017). Urban planning challenges in megacities [Master’s thesis, New York University]. NYU Digital Library. https://nyu.edu/theses/urbanplanning

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Citing a Thesis

  1. Missing Degree Information – Always specify if it’s a master’s thesis, PhD dissertation, etc.
  2. Incorrect Italics or Quotation Marks – Citation styles differ, so double-check.
  3. Not Including URL or Database – If the thesis is online, this is essential.
  4. Using Wrong Year – Use the year the thesis was submitted, not defended.
  5. Incomplete Author Details – Always include initials where required.

Practical Tips for Citing a Thesis

  • Use citation management tools like Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley to generate accurate references.
  • Check your university’s guidelines – Some institutions customize citation rules.
  • Stay updated – APA, MLA, and other styles update their rules periodically.
  • Cross-check with examples – Always verify your final citations against official style manuals.

Conclusion

Learning how to cite a thesis is an essential skill for any academic writer. Whether you are working with APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, or IEEE, the key is to follow the format consistently and include all necessary details.

By properly citing a thesis, you not only acknowledge the author’s contributions but also make your research more professional, reliable, and credible. Next time you reference a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation, use the examples above as a guide—and you’ll never go wrong.

 

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