Access to UChicago Dissertations

Please do not hesitate to Ask the Dissertation Office for assistance. We welcome your questions.

How do I access University of Chicago Dissertations?

Many of our recent dissertations are open access works, available in Knowledge@UChicago, our digital repository. Current University of Chicago users can access almost all recent dissertations through ProQuest Dissertations & Theses @ University of Chicago, including those that are not availble in Knowledge@UChicago.

Older dissertations are held in the Library and are also available through ProQuest. Our guide to finding dissertations explains how to locate them.

Non-affiliated users have several options.

  • Your local library may have access through ProQuest.
  • Many dissertations are freely available in Knowledge@UChicago and sometimes through ProQuest.
  • Most dissertations written before Summer 2009 are available through Interlibrary Loan if we have print copies in good condition. Interlibrary Loan staff may provide digital copies if available.
  • Most dissertations are available for purchase through ProQuest.

Library Catalog Records

Library Catalog

  • The Library holds a paper copy of most early University of Chicago dissertations, 1893-June 2009.
  • Borrow bound dissertations just as you would a book.
  • If a dissertation is in Mansueto, place your request from the library catalog record.
  • Some are online through our digital preservation program.
  • Some are online via HathiTrust, Google Books, or ProQuest.
  • Since June 2009, our dissertations are online only.
  • Records with links to PQDT Global appear in our catalog after the records appear in ProQuest.

ProQuest Records

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

  • PQDT Global includes records for most of our dissertations plus full text when available.
  • PQDT Global contains full text for most dissertations completed after 1997 and for many earlier dissertations.
  • Recent dissertations appear within 12 weeks after graduation.
  • University of Chicago authors may delay access to the full text for 6 months, one year, or two years, but not indefinitely.
  • 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

Knowledge@UChicago

  • Many of our recent dissertations are available in our digital repository.

OpenDissertations

  • Many of our open access dissertations are available online through this open access database.

ProQuest & Open Access

  • Digital copies of some of our dissertations are freely available through the ProQuest platform.

Borrow a Dissertation

Borrowing

  • Borrow a dissertation just as you would a book.
  • If a dissertation is in Mansueto, place your request from the library catalog record.

Interlibrary Loan Lending

  • Place interlibrary loan requests through your library for our dissertations.

Buy a Dissertation

Order a Dissertation

  • Order online from ProQuest or call 1-800-521-3042.
  • Please Ask the Dissertation Office if a University of Chicago dissertation does not appear to be available from ProQuest.
  • We will be happy to provide additional assistance.
  • You may wish to contact your librarian for more options.