Finding theses worldwide
Identifying material published in your research field often begins with locating other theses to ensure you are not duplicating research and to have an awareness of existing research topics. Locating theses involves searching a variety of databases, catalogues, websites and print resources. There is no one site that provides a comprehensive search. Below is a list of resources.
University of Wollongong (UOW) theses
The Thesis Collection contains University of Wollongong higher degree research theses, Doctoral and Masters by Research. The collection also includes some Honours theses if content pertains to the Illawarra region or if recommended for inclusion by an academic staff member. Some schools/departments also hold copies of theses, contact the appropriate school/department for information.
UOW theses may only be used in the Library and are not available for borrowing. See staff at the Research Help desk to view a thesis located on the Library Catalogue. Theses purchased from other universities may be borrowed. The location will state W'gong - 1st Floor.
> Search the Library Catalogue <
- Select Keywords search
- Type a keyword from your topic and the word thesis, for example, nursing and thesis
- To truncate a keyword, use the * , for example nurs*
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Australian theses
Australian Digital Theses Program (ADT)
The aim of ADT is to provide access to and promote Australian research via the Web. The University of Wollongong is a participant of ADT with all higher degree research students supplying a copy of their thesis in digital format. View procedures for deposit for more information.
> Search ADT <
- Click on Search ADT
- Use the drop down menus to tailor your search and tick the Digital only box
For example, to search for UOW digital (online) theses change All Institutions to University of Wollongong and tick the Digital only box
- ADT has a basic search functionality and does not support truncation or boolean searching, for example type education gifted to retrieve education and gifted
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Libraries Australia
Search for theses in all major Australian libraries via the database Libraries Australia, previously known as Kinetica.
> Search Libraries Australia <
- Use the drop down menus to tailor your search
- Tick the Theses box
- To truncate a keyword use the ? symbol, for example nurs?
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ACER Education Research Theses
The Australian Council for Education Research provides access to specific educational resources including theses. ACER contains abstracts, some fulltext and includes UOW theses.
> Search ACER <
- Type in the Keyword search box
- To combine keywords use the & symbol
- To truncate a keyword use the * symbol, for example educat* & nurs*
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A list of over 900 theses from selected Australian Universities relating to the political history of New South Wales. Note this site has basic functionality and does not support truncation or Boolean.
> Search NSW Political History Theses <
Browse by Subject or Author
- Click on Browse Subjects or Bibliography
- Click on a letter of the alphabet
- Select a subject heading
- Click on Theses on this Subject
To browse by author
- Click on Bibliography
- Click on Details to view the full citation Search
- Click on Search
- Enter a keyword, for example election campaigns
Search
- Click on Search
- Enter a keyword, for example election campaigns
Australian library catalogues
Not all Australian university libraries add their thesis holdings to Libraries Australia. For details view the Australian Higher Degree Theses on the National Bibliographic Database. To access individual library catalogues search Australian Libraries Gateway.
> Search Australian Libraries Gateway <
- Type the name of the university
- Select Web Catalogue
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Pre-1965 theses
To identify older theses which may not be included in Libraries Australia, consult the Union List of Higher Degree theses. A cumulated volume for pre-1965 and then published annually to 1989.
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Theses in overseas libraries
Dissertations Abstracts
Contains over 2 million citations from 1861 to North American and many European theses. Abstracts are included from 1980. Citations also include a 24 page preview from 1997 onwards. Abstracts between 1952 -1980 are available in print. Access the print Dissertation Abstracts located on the 2nd Floor, Compactus 016.378205/3.
> Search Dissertations Abstracts <
- Type in your keywords
- To truncate a keyword use the * symbol, for example educat*
- UOW abstracts included up to 1997
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WorldCat
Useful for identifying theses held in North American libraries, however there is some overlap with Dissertations Abstracts.
> Search WorldCat on the FirstSearch database <
- At the FirstSearch screen type in the authorisation and password (contact Research Help staff for details)
- Click on WorldCat
- Select the Advanced Search option
- At Subtype limits select Thesis/dissertation
- Type in your keywords
- To truncate a keyword use the * symbol, for example educat*
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Overseas Library Catalogues
Search overseas catalogues by type, for example Arts, Health/Medical, Law libraries or by country/region, for example, Asia & Oceania, UK & Europe.
> Search Australian Libraries Gateway <
- Use the Overseas libraries by type to locate academic libraries
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Internet sites
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD)
Provides access to free and many fulltext theses from participating universities.
> Search NDLTD
- Click on Scirus ETD Search
- Use the Advanced Search
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OAIster
OAIster provides access to digital resources from more than 610 institutions.
> Search OAIster <
- Type your keywords
- Add thesis to one of the search boxes
- To truncate a keyword use the * symbol, for example educat*
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British Library
The Integrated Catalogue searches UK and overseas theses back to 1980.
> Search the Integrated Catalogue <
- select Advanced Search
- Type your keywords
- To truncate a keyword use the ? symbol, for example educat?
- A search on ?view, will return documents with overview, review, underview
- Supports variant spellings, for example, labour will also retrieve labor
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Hong Kong University Theses Online
Access to theses from 1941. Theses are primarily in English with some in English and Chinese, while others are in Chinese only.
> Search Hong Kong Theses <
- Type your keywords
- Use the Limit Search by: Language to retrieve English only theses
- To truncate a keyword use the * symbol, for example educat*
- A search on *view, will return documents with overview, review, underview
Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology-Online (DDM)
It contains more than 13,700 records. An international database with bibliographic records for completed dissertations and new dissertation topics in the fields of musicology, music theory, and ethnomusicology, as well as in related musical, scientific, and humanistic disciplines. There are no links within this database to the thesis.
> Search DDM <
- type one keyword per box
- typing two keywords per line will be interpreted as an OR search
- to truncation a keyword use the * symbol, for example symphon*
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Theses by subject discipline
Databases, research journals and published bibliographies may also provide listings of theses in specific subject areas.
Some databases, for example: MLA, ERIC, SciFinder, may also be searched and limited to thesis/dissertation. Use the relevant drop down menus or limiting options.
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Obtaining copies of theses
Use Document Delivery to obtain a copy of a thesis from another university.
- Click on the Books / Films / Thesis link. The Title must be supplied and in the Additional Information type "payment authorisation form to be supplied from the department"
- Print the payment authorisation form and when completed forward to Document Delivery by internal mail or deliver in person to the Lending Desk of the Library.
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Writing theses
Use UOW thesis writing resources for an overview on all aspects of the process.
> Search the Library Catalogue <
- Select Keywords search
- Type in the phrase (thesis or theses or dissertation*) AND (writ* OR guide*)
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