bu dissertation guidelines

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STH: Ph.D. in Theology

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• Writing Your Dissertation
• View BU STH Dissertations
• After Graduation - Career Planning

Submitting a Thesis or Dissertation this Year?

• PhD Instructions
• DMin Instructions
• Viewing Publication

Instructions for Submitting Ph.D. Dissertations

1. upload your final dissertation draft to proquest etd at  http://www.etdadmin.com/bu ..

Follow the prompts in ProQuest to fill in keywords and subject tags, and to make important decisions like whether to embargo your work. 

2. Use DocuSign to submit your signed approval pages electronically to the STH Library.

NEW! Please use DocuSign to submit signed approval pages electronically:   https://www.bu.edu/library/sth-dissertations-docusign . As of Wednesday, April 10, 2024, the approval pages for all STH doctoral dissertations (PhD) and thesis projects (DMin) can be signed and submitted electronically using DocuSign. Instructions are available on the DocuSign log-in page listed in the first sentence of this paragraph. 

[Please note that in the full dissertation file that you upload for ProQuest to publish, the approval pages should remain unsigned to protect your readers’ signatures from online identity theft, per ProQuest’s and BU’s policies.]

3. Submit your dissertation fee: $115.

Please submit the dissertation processing fee in the form of a check or money order for $115 (made payable to “Boston University”). This can be dropped off in person with Stacey Duran at the library or mailed to: BU School of Theology Library, re: dissertations, 745 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA, 02215. Unfortunately, there is currently no way for STH students to pay dissertation fees online.

4. OPTIONAL: Embargo Letter

An embargo letter is required only if you request in ProQuest ETD that your work not be displayed (in ProQuest or OpenBU) for any period of time (usually two years). This is usually done to pursue commercial publishing, although it is not always necessary. More information on embargoes can be found at BU’s main library page here : https://www.bu.edu/library/files/2011/05/EmbargoesETDFAQ.pdf. A sample embargo letter template can be found here : http://www.bu.edu/cas/files/2020/03/Embargo-Letter-Template.doc.

The embargo letter must be submitted as a physical paper with ink signatures, signed by both yourself and your advisor (no photocopies or scans.) It can be submitted to Stacey Duran, either in-person at the STH Library or via mail to: Boston University School of Theology Library, 745 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA, 02215. After the first 2-year embargo, you will be able to renew your embargo (without a letter) via email or phone, for two years at a time.

For more information, please contact the STH Library thesis coordinator, Stacey Duran, at [email protected] . 

Instructions for Submitting Doctor of Ministry Thesis Projects

1. upload your final thesis project draft to  proquest etd here . , 2. use docusign to submit your signed approval pages electronically to the sth library..

NEW!   Please use DocuSign to submit signed approval pages electronically:    https://www.bu.edu/library/sth-dissertations-docusign . As of Wednesday, April 10, 2024, the approval pages for all STH doctoral dissertations (PhD) and thesis projects (DMin) can be signed and submitted electronically using DocuSign. Instructions are available on the DocuSign log-in page listed in the first sentence of this paragraph. 

[Please note that in the full dissertation file that you uploaded for ProQuest to publish, the approval pages should remain unsigned to protect your readers’ signatures from online identity theft, per ProQuest’s and BU’s policies.]

3. Submit your thesis project/dissertation fee: $115.

For the thesis project fee, you will need to mail a check or money order for $115 (made payable to “Boston University”) to: Boston University School of Theology Library, 745 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA, 02215. Unfortunately, there is currently no way for STH students to pay dissertation fees online.

4. OPTIONAL: Embargo Letters

Embargo letters are required only if you request in ProQuest ETD that your work not be displayed (in ProQuest or OpenBU) for any period of time (usually two years). This is usually done to pursue commercial publishing, although it is not always necessary. More information on embargoes can be found at BU’s main library page here : https://www.bu.edu/library/files/2011/05/EmbargoesETDFAQ.pdf. A sample embargo letter template can be found here : http://www.bu.edu/cas/files/2020/03/Embargo-Letter-Template.doc .

The embargo letter, like the approval pages, must be submitted as a physical paper with ink signatures, signed by both yourself and your advisor. It can be submitted to Stacey Duran, either in-person at the STH Library or via mail to: Boston University School of Theology Library, 745 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA, 02215. After the first 2-year embargo, you will be able to renew your embargo (without a letter) via email or phone, for two years at a time.

For more information, please contact the STH Library thesis coordinator, Stacey Duran, at  [email protected] . 

How to Request an Embargo

When you upload to ProQuest, you will be prompted to respond whether you’d like to request an embargo . 

An embargo simply means that you ask ProQuest and/or OpenBU to refrain from publishing your work for a specific period of time. This embargo is possible for 2 years, and can be renewed at the end of 2 years.

Note: Most theses and dissertations do not need a publication embargo. However, some authors pursuing publication of their dissertation do request an embargo to prevent their dissertation from being shared online while they seek publication of the revised dissertation as a book.

If you choose to embargo your work, you will need to submit an embargo letter:

• The embargo letter must be signed by both yourself and your advisor. 
• Both the embargo letter and your ProQuest submission should include matching embargo periods (ie. 6 months, 1 year, 2 years).

Here is a sample embargo letter from BU’s Mugar Memorial Library: http://www.bu.edu/cas/files/2020/03/Embargo-Letter-Template.doc .

Frequently asked questions about embargoes can be found at: https://www.bu.edu/library/files/2011/05/EmbargoesETDFAQ.pdf .

For more information, please contact the STH Library thesis coordinator, Stacey Duran, at  [email protected] .

Viewing Your Published Work

Once your disertation has gone through the upload checklist and been accepted, it will be delivered to ProQuest. If no embargo is applied, the dissertation will be made available in both ProQuest ETD and in the OpenBU repository, usually within 1-2 months. 

To search for your work in ProQuest, click here. 

To search for your sth thesis project or dissertation in openbu, click here. , instruction & collection development librarian.

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• Last Updated: Apr 24, 2024 11:58 AM
• URL: https://library.bu.edu/sthphd

Master’s Thesis Policy

Minimum qualifications.

• The thesis option is not a requirement for graduation.
• Student must have a minimum 3.7 GPA in the degree program (A- average) to complete a Master’s thesis.
• The Master’s thesis is to be aimed at an original contribution to the field that furthers the understanding of the subject matter.
• The Master’s thesis is to be completed under the supervision of a full-time faculty member of BU with a terminal degree, and vetted by a committee of academics and experts in the field.
• It is recommended that the first reader also has a terminal degree in the field.
• Student must receive department and dean’s approval ( Master’s Thesis Proposal Form )
• Statement of Purpose/Problem and Research Plan (1-2 pages minimum)
• Research and Writing Timeline
• Bibliography (this may change as the student progresses with the project)
• Declaration of Research Ethics and Research Protocols – If a proposal includes work with human subjects, the proposal will fall under the purview of the BU Institutional Review Board, and IRB approval will be required prior to research. The Proposal Form must indicate that approval will be sought.
• Declaration or assessment of research funds needed associated with the thesis (e.g. if funding is needed, does or can the student secure it?)
• The student must register for both 4-credit thesis courses, either in one semester or over the course of two or more semesters. A total of 8 credits must be taken to complete the Master’s thesis.
• Upon completion of the written portion of the thesis, the student must defend his/her work before the faculty adviser and committee. ( Defense Authorization Form )

Library Publication

• Approved theses by the adviser, committee, and Associate Dean can be submitted to the Mugar Library for publication. Theses must meet strict formatting guidelines and submit the library’s “Thesis and Dissertation Approval” form. See the Library Guide for Writers of Theses for details on formatting the thesis for electronic submission using ProQuest to the library. A separate Mugar Library Thesis Approval Checklist must be completed in conjunction with the Mugar Library Theses/Dissertations Coordinator and the Office of the Dean at MET.
• Important: We advise students to meet with the Mugar Library Theses/Dissertations Coordinator before they defend in order to ensure that they have the proper formatting for the signature page. Failure to secure all three readers’ signatures in ink on an original signature page with the correct margins can result in having to collect all readers’ signatures again on a new page.

BU Library Thesis Submissions Guidelines

Library Guide for Writers of Theses

Sample Pages for Library Publications

MET Thesis Template

Program Timeline & Resources

Stay in touch.

Connect with current students, alumni, and faculty from Questrom’s PhD Program.

BU provides generous support to its PhD students. This support includes a full-tuition scholarship, fully covered student fees, payment of the premium for you to participate in BU’s student health insurance plan, and a stipend to cover living expenses.

After matriculation into the PhD Program, a candidate for the degree must meet certain milestones within specified time periods, and complete all degree requirements within five years of the date of first registration. Those who fail to meet the milestones within the specified time, or do not complete all requirements within five years, will be reviewed by the PhD PDC and may be dismissed from the program. A leave of absence does not extend the time frame for degree completion.

Program Timeline

There may be variations. Please check with your respective departments. Upon completion of each milestone: Summer Paper , Comprehensive Exam , Dissertation Proposal , Dissertation Defense , students are required to submit a completion form to the Specialty Master’s & PhD Center.

* Timing depends on area teaching needs and discipline-specific recruiting cycles.

**  PhD milestones that will be documented.

External Work/Internship While Pursuing Your PhD

The Questrom PhD Program is a 12-month residential program and the terms of the Questrom fellowship forbids external work (such as an internship or external teaching) while you are receiving the fellowship.  This general rule is designed to avoid unnecessary distractions away from your coursework, research or dissertation.  However, in some cases additional work or internship experience may serve to enhance your research and academic work.  In these rare situations, you may seek approval of your faculty advisor, PhD PDC liaison for your department and the PhD Program Director for these activities by completing the Internship Approval Form .

If you obtain approval, you may take on the experience.  During the academic year, your work may not exceed 5 hours per week (in addition to the 15 hours you are fulfilling for your fellowship).  During breaks and summer, you may work on a part-time or full-time basis.  If you accept a full-time opportunity, your fellowship stipend will be suspended for the duration of the full-time work.

If you are an international student, you are required to consult ISSO to ensure you are meeting all of the guidelines provided by them as related to your additional work.

PhD in Business Administration Course Requirements

The minimum course requirement is 17 courses (64 units).

PhD in Mathematical Finance Course Requirements

The minimum course requirement is 16 courses (48-64 units). Students’ course choices must be approved by the Mathematical Finance Director prior to registration each term.

*Fall Electives: choose one

• Portfolio Theory (MF 730)
• Advanced Derivatives (MF 770)
• Credit Risk (MF 772)
• Advanced Computational Methods (MF 850)
• Macroeconomics and Financial Markets (EC 745)

**Spring Electives: choose two

• Fixed Income (MF 728)
• Functional Analysis (MA 717) –
• Stochastic Methods of Asset pricing (MF 794)
• Computational Methods in Mathematical Finance (MF 796)
• Algorithmic and High Frequency Trading (MF 821)
• Data Analysis and Financial Econometrics (MF 840)
• Financial Econometrics (EC 794)

Course Reviews

PhD students who take courses outside of BU are encouraged to complete the below form. You may view a list of course reviews , but note that this is internal information for the use of Questrom PhD students only. It is strictly prohibited to share the password to this page or course review links . You may contact the Specialty Master’s & PhD Center for the password to this page.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Requirement

All PhD students are required to complete the Boston University training for RCR for Doctoral or Postdoctoral Researchers .

There are two steps to complete. The first step is to complete the online RCR Training through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI). The second step is to complete the a 10-week, 1-unit , non-tuition bearing course through the College of Engineering. Both steps must be completed prior to the start of year 3. Completion of this training is a graduation requirement for all PhD students. Please consult the website for more details and timeline on when training is offered.

*The Fall 2024 course meets on Tuesdays from 11-11:50am for 10 weeks. You will need to register for ENG EK 800. More information here . 

*The fall section typically meets on the Charles River Campus while the spring section typically meets on the medical campus. 

At the completion of each term, the PhD program office will confirm your successful completion of the course directly with the RCR team. There is no further action needed for students.

Your PhD Profile

Your PhD Profile is frequented by prospective students, employers, etc. and is a great way to market yourself, your research as well as your department. Learn how to set up your PhD Profile , and make sure to review this yearly for updates.

All PhD Students can have a profile page for them that displays their public data, publications, short bio, website , etc. It will take at least a day for new information to show up on your directory. If you just made an edit, it will show up on your profile the next day. However, each student must OPT-IN to have the profile created.

PhDs will be shown in two directories: 1) questromapps.bu.edu/qstnet/Directories/dba_directory.cfm 2) bu.edu/questrom/faculty-research/academic-departments (under your department)

Photos: Students will be contacted by Questrom marketing to have headshots taken

Yearly Report

In order to track progress, manage the funding process and plan curriculum needs, it is important that each doctoral student, regardless of year in the program, meet with their Faculty Advisor and report their status, accomplishments, and plan going forward to the Faculty Director of the Doctoral Program prior to the beginning of each year.

After meeting with your faculty advisor, you are required to submit the Doctoral Yearly Report.  Students will not receive their stipend if this report is not received. Once the Specialty Master’s and PhD Center receives your Yearly Report, a copy will be sent to you, your faculty advisor, and the Faculty Director of the Doctoral Program.

Comprehensive Exam

Students must successfully complete their comprehensive examination by the end of their second year.

Once exams are complete, the Comprehensive Exam form must be completed by faculty and returned to the Specialty Masters and PhD Center to be added to your student records.

Dissertation

NEW Process as of Fall 2023 (no more pdfs!)

By the end of fall of the fourth year, students must have a dissertation committee with at least 3 members, a committee chair, and a dissertation topic. Students must have defended their dissertation proposal by the end of their fourth year, and completed their dissertation by the end of their fifth year. Please complete the following steps to ensure you are on the right track.

Proposal Defense

• Room Booking : Arrange a defense date with your committee members and book a conference room.
• Upon receipt of this form, the Specialty Master’s & PhD Center will send an announcement to the PhD community.
• Confirmation form : Upon successfully defending your proposal, a member of your dissertation committee must complete this form. Copies of the form will be emailed to the student, committee members, and the Specialty Master’s & PhD Center.

Dissertation Defense

• Dissertation Research Guide : Log on to access the Dissertation Research Guide.
• Academic Advisor Check In : As you reach this stage please feel free to set up a time to meet with your academic advisor in the Specialty Master’s and PhD Center to review the graduation time frame and procedures, and ask any questions prior to finalizing your defense date.
• Room Booking : Arrange a defense date with your committee members and book a conference room. Be sure to schedule your dissertation defense at least 3 weeks before the end of the term to allow sufficient time for final dissertation revisions and administrative items as outlined below.
• Review the library’s Guide for Writers of Theses and Dissertations
• NEW for Spring 2024 – please use DocuSign. Instructions here .
• You can still submit a paper copy, however you will need original signatures. Please submit the original to the library and email a copy to the Specialty Master’s & PhD Center.

It is important you complete the following requirements to graduate.

Graduation Application Complete a Graduation Application at least 5 months in advance of your anticipated graduation date. All Doctoral students must be registered for two units of dissertation in the term preceding graduation. Students graduating in May must be registered for dissertation in the spring term, students graduating in January must be registered for dissertation in the fall term, and students graduating in September must be registered for dissertation in the Summer II term.

May Commencement Requirements If you will be attending the May commencement ceremony, you must notify your academic advisor in the Specialty Master’s and PhD Center by March 1st. We will need to know your planned dissertation title, your dissertation chair, and the two faculty members who will be hooding you on stage during the ceremony.

Conference Reimbursements & Research Funding Report Conference and research funding from the PhD Program expires two weeks prior to your graduation date, and all reimbursement and payment processing should be concluded before this date. Recipients of research funding must submit a Research Funding Report no later than two weeks before graduation.

BU Exit Survey In an effort to better the state of graduate education at Boston University, the administration asks that you take 10 minutes to complete the Boston University Doctoral Exit Survey . The results of this survey will be used to review the policies and practices of graduate programs and departments to improve the graduate education experience at BU. Additionally, select information will be shared with the Association of American University Data Exchange members. The exchange of data with peer schools allows the administration to compare graduate education here at BU to that of other schools. All responses to this survey will be kept strictly confidential. The survey data are reported only in aggregate form or in a manner that does not allow individual responses to be identified. Upon completion of the Boston University Doctoral Exit Survey, you will be re-directed to the National Science Foundation’s Survey of Earned Doctorates . The university requires that you take action on both the BU and the NSF surveys. At the completion of each survey, an email will be sent to your department or college verifying your participation. You will also have the opportunity to print a hard copy of the participation verification.

Mugar Library Certification In order to be certified for graduation, you must submit your final version of your Dissertation electronically with the Mugar Library. Brendan McDermott will sign off on it and the Specialty Master’s and PhD Center will be notified electronically.

Office Check Out Doctoral student offices should be cleaned and left in good condition. All personal belongings should be removed.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Requirement All PhD students are required to complete the Boston University training for RCR for Doctoral or Postdoctoral Researchers. Once you have completed all modules, please submit the RCR Requirement Completion form to confirm that you have met your RCR requirement.

DS999 Grade At the conclusion of the term in which you successfully defended your dissertation, the instructor of record for your department’s section of DS999 needs to enter in a grade of “P” (pass). All past terms of DS999 will automatically change from a J to a P. Only once this happens can the Specialty Master’s and PhD Center certify you for graduation.

PhD Student Spotlight

Questrom’s PhD Program enrolls students from around the world who are bringing innovative thinking to business. The Specialty Master’s and PhD Center would love to highlight your research and accomplishments to the community on our social media and building TV screens.

Build a Website

Electronic portfolios/websites are your place to show your best work, reflect your experiences, and, should you choose, present yourself to the world. View our Foliotek quick guide to get started.

Questrom Website Management

PhD students are displayed on bu.edu/questrom. For updates and questions, please reach out to Susan Leyva (617.358.5506). We make every effort to do quick copy changes in a day or two if a request comes during the work week. Depending on the nature and scope of a large request, it will probably take more than a day or two. Susan will certainly discuss that with the requestor.

• Quick Copy Changes (Including Department Seminars): Please send an email to Susan Leyva . Be sure to include the URL for the page and clear information on the copy change, deletion, or addition.
• Adding or Updating Department Seminars : Please send your term list in an email to Susan Leyva .
• Major Changes : Please use the MarCom Project Intake Form. This link can also be found in Questrom World under Forms. Make the request through the form so it goes on our schedule of work and follow up with the details, including copy or copy points, in an email to Susan Leyva . Susan will follow up with any questions about the work, scheduling, etc.
• Inaccurate Search Results : If someone does a search and the result is incorrect or old information, please send an email to Susan Leyva [email protected]. Be sure to include the URL for the page where you landed and the search term if possible. Give us brief description of the issue to help us resolve it.
• PhD Students to Appear on the Questrom External Website : Students should use the link questromworld.bu.edu/edit-phd-profile to edit profiles and to opt-in to be shown on the site. This link is on the left side of the Doctoral Student Directory page.
• PhD Students Needing a Photo : Once a term, MarCom schedules a photo shoot for faculty, staff, and PhD students. The Specialty Master’s and PhD Center shares the list of new PhD students with MarCom, then MarCom reaches out to the students and adds them to the schedule for the day of the shoot. Should a student be off-cycle or not able to attend, Susan Leyva will work with them on the next scheduled date. We do not have a photographer available for individual photo sessions for students.
• PhD Students Listed as Faculty : PhD students no longer teaching should email Kristen Gallagher and ask to be removed from the faculty listing and be listed only as a PhD student.

Process for applying for a Teaching Assistant (TA) or a Research Assistant (RA) position for current Questrom PhD Students

If you are a current Questrom PhD student in years 1-5 and have the opportunity to participate in a TA or RA role at Questrom beyond your fellowship obligation, you may do so for up to an additional 5 hours per week during the academic year and possibly more during the summer.  This can only be done if you have prior approval from your Faculty Advisor and the Director of the PhD Program.  If you have obtained that permission, please follow these steps:

• Faculty are allocated TA and/or RA budgets either by their department or out of a central TA budget administered through the Dean’s Office. If the position is department-funded, the faculty member should have his/her Chair sign the Student Assistantship Form and submit it to Questrom Payroll ([email protected]) or drop it off in Room 504D.  Faculty members submitting forms funded by the central TA budget should follow the instructions in step #2 below.  Please email Norm Blanchard should you have any questions about the source of funding for a position.
• Return the completed form for centrally-funded TA positions to the Questrom Undergraduate Academic & Career Development Center. (Please note that this is the case for both undergraduate and graduate courses.) For department funded positions, please return the form to the appropriate department chair and/or senior program coordinator.
• This request will be reviewed by the Director of Course Planning and the Payroll Administrator and, barring unusual circumstances, you will be added to the payroll system within 5-7 business days. Be sure to complete the contact information section of the Student Assistantship Form so that we can contact you should any questions arise.

Please note that we cannot help you secure a TA or RA position.  You may obtain a TA or RA role in one of these 2 ways:

• You are approached by a faculty member
• You may inquire with a faculty member or department about opportunities that exist

If you have any additional questions about the process, please contact the Questrom Payroll Office .

Questrom Doctoral Association (QDA)

The Questrom Doctoral Association is a student-lead club that plans social events for Questrom’s PhD students.

Ankita Shirahatti – QDA President

Selected Library Resources

The Frederick S. Pardee Management Library has compiled a custom list of Selected Library Resources for our Questrom PhD students.

Family Resources

Starting a graduate degree program means a lot of changes for you but also for your family. Check out BU’s family resources to help make the transition easier for your family.

Check out this list of campus resources that support all aspects of your well-being. From a list of all-gender bathrooms, to lactation spaces, food insecurity resources, spiritual resources, and much more.

Rafik B. Hariri Building 595 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215

For Residential MBA Students: CONTACT [email protected] 617.353.7800

OFFICE HOURS Fall & Spring Appts: M-Th 9am – 6:30pm, F 9am – 5pm

Summer M-T 9am – 5pm, W-Th 9am – 6:30pm, F 9am – 1pm

SPECIALTY MS & PhD CENTER

CO NTACT [email protected] 617.353.2673

OFFICE HOURS M-F 9am – 5pm HAR 402

PhD Program Research and Dissertation Information

General research & dissertation information.

All Boston University theses and dissertations are submitted to the library electronically. Submitting your thesis or dissertation to Boston University Libraries is the last step to fulfill at the University before you graduate and are awarded your degree.  A diploma application must be submitted prior to this step. Use only the Dissertation template GMS provides, do not use any other templates.  

PhD Completion of Degree Checklist

• Guide for Writers of Dissertation and Thesis
• GMS Thesis Guideline Landscape Page Numbering
• GMS Faculty List
• IRB 101 for BUMC Graduate Students IRB Submission with Mary-Tara Roth, Director, Clinical Research Resources Office (CRRO). View  Video Recording or Slides.   Video Tutorials for Thesis & Dissertation Electronic Submission
• The Mugar Library requires that a   copyright page   be added to all theses/dissertations.  Please add a copyright page after the title page and include it on the Table of Contents.  Make sure you re-number all the preliminary pages appropriately.  Adding the copyright page does not mean you must register for copyright.  You can find a sample of the copyright page in the Masters Thesis Prepage Template (updated Jan/2014).
• Dissertation-and-Thesis-Formatting-Tips-2023
• Spellcheck Tutorial
• Do not use google documents to write your thesis.  
• Sample Embargo Letter Requesting Circulation Restriction for Thesis or Dissertation   Most students do not request delayed circulation however if desired (due to special circumstances such as a pending patent), you will need to submit an Embargo letter requesting Circulation Restriction – embargo options are one year or two years.  Embargo letter must be signed by student and primary reader and submitted to the GMS Registrar with the final thesis/dissertation paperwork by the deadline.  Signature from the GMS Provost will be obtained by the GMS Registrar.
• When graduate students submit a dissertation to the Library via the online ETD Administrator, they are now able to complete the process with an online payment. If you have any questions about this service you can contact Brendan McDermott, Thesis/Dissertation Coordinator at [email protected]  or (617) 353-9387.

MD/PhD & PhD: Abstract & Dissertation Templates Information

• MDPHD Student Transitioning to M3 Curriculum 2024
• MDPHD Abstract Template
• MDPhD DissertationTemplate
• MDPhD Completion of Degree Checklist
• PhD Dissertation Template 2022
• PHD Completion of Degree Checklist
• BU Library Student Resources

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Required Plagiarism Check Prior to Thesis/Dissertation Submission

All capstone, thesis and dissertation documents must be scanned using Turnitin plagiarism detection software prior to final submission to your Program/ Department and the Registrar.

• Turnitin similarity report must be approved by your mentor, advisor, first reader (BU faculty) or external committee member(s) depending on the GMS program.
• Turnitin similarity report must be submitted to your program director prior to thesis/dissertation submission to the registrar
• This is the student’s responsibility.

Turnitin Directions :   Turnitin compares your work with existing online publications and allows you to confidentially check your written work for potential plagiarism.  With a close inspection of the Turnitin results, you may also identify incorrect quotations and missing citations. All students have access to the online tool throughout their time in GMS.   Directions and tips for usage can be   found here.

If you have problems with Turnitin please reach out to Dr. Theresa Davies for assistance ( [email protected] )

Google Doc Turnitin Draft Coach:   If you use Google Doc for writing your paper, you also have the option to use   Google Doc Turnitin Draft Coach   for checking the   initial drafts   of your work. However, note that as a requirement for submitting your thesis or dissertation, you should generate and download the Turnitin similarity report through this GMS Plagiarism Check Blackboard course.

Dissertation DocuSign Signatures

The Deadline: to submit a dissertation will be set by the GMS Registrar.  Do not submit prior to Dissertation/Thesis format review has been done by GMS Registrar.

PhD and MD/PhD students graduating and needing to collect electronic signatures from their dissertation readers on their Readers’ Approval page: GMS in collaboration with BU Libraries, has launched an initiative to simplify the collection of electronic signatures.

DocuSign for the use of PhD & MD/PhD Students Only:  Once a doctoral student has successfully completed their defense, they will be instructed to fill out a webform to initiate the signing of their readers’ approval page through DocuSign. The student will enter their name, BU email address, and then the contact information for their readers. Their readers will then be sent emails from DocuSign, all at the same time, letting them know to sign the form. Once the form has been completely signed, a copy is automatically sent to GMS Registrars, the Libraries, and to the student.

Please go to the following link:   Docusign for PhD & MD/PhD Dissertations

BU Open Access Information and ProQuest

• Open Access Information
• Open Access FAQ’s
• FAQ: Embargoes & Electronic Theses & Dissertations (ETD)

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

• Theses and Dissertations electronically submitted in 2014 or later are now searchable via  Proquest

•   OpenBU

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Theses and dissertations by BU students

Undergraduate and taught masters dissertations.

The following dissertation collections are available online on Brightspace:

• Faculty of Health and Social Sciences (Postgraduate Social Work; Social Sciences and Criminology) - For access via Brightspace, go to the Faculty area and follow the link to Dissertation Archive
• Bournemouth University Business School (Undergraduate and Postgraduate) - The BUBS Dissertation Archive  will be available until the end of 22/23 academic year. From 1 September 2023, go to your course specific dissertation / final project unit in Brightspace, providing access to some best practice examples selected by BUBS.
• Faculty of Media and Communication (all programmes apart from Undergraduate Law, see below) -   For access via Brightspace go to the Faculty area and follow the link to the  Dissertation Archive
• Faculty of Science and Technology (Computing, Creative Technology, Design, Psychology) -   For access via Brightspace go to the Faculty area and follow the link to the  Dissertation Archive .

We have the following in print format in the library. They are for reference use only and cannot be taken out of the library.

• Faculty of Media and Communication (Undergraduate Law) -  A small sample is held in The Sir Michael Cobham Library, filed at the end of the journals sequence in the mobile shelving on the ground floor
• Faculty of Science and Technology (Archaeology, Anthropology, Biological Sciences, Ecology and Wildlife Conservation, Environmental Science, Forensic Sciences, Geography) - A small sample is held in The Sir Michael Cobham Library, filed at the end of the journals sequence in the mobile shelving on the ground floor.

PhD theses and Research Masters dissertations

Many research degree theses (e.g. PhD, MPhil, MRes) completed by BU researchers are available full text and open access in  BURO (Bournemouth University Research Online) , Bournemouth University’s institutional repository.

Print copies of some theses (dated 1973 - 2019) are held at an off-site location. Search for a title via  mySearch  or email  [email protected]  to find out if we hold it (some are embargoed). If submitting a request access to a print thesis please be prepared to visit our Talbot Campus Library to view it and allow a minimum of 10 working days for materials to arrive on-site. Theses are reference only and cannot be removed or loaned from the library.