The information on this page relates to accessing doctoral theses. Information on library support for undergraduate students completing a dissertation or honours project is available from the Library's Dissertation and honours project guide .
Use the tabs below to find out how to access UK and worldwide theses, and how to use EThOS , the UK's national thesis service. (Please note: EThOS is currently unavailable after a cyber-attack in 2023. Keep informed on the British library blog .)
You can also access GCU theses using the institutional research repository, ResearchOnline .
If you need help sourcing a thesis please contact your librarian .
UK theses
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EThOS is the UK's national thesis service and is the authoritative source for GCU doctoral theses. EThOS is an open access resource but you must create an account in order to download a full text thesis.
Theses which are available for immediate download display a PDF icon or an open access icon (or both):
A PDF icon indicates that the thesis has been digitised already and is available to download from EThOS. An open access icon indicates that the thesis can be downloaded from the awarding institution's repository. Where a thesis is not available for immediate download you must request digitisation. Usually this takes around a month. Many awarding institutions will cover the cost of digitisation; where this is the case you should follow the process outlined in the Using EThOS section of this page. However where the awarding institution does not meet the cost of digitisation a charge will be shown. If you are a GCU researcher or a member of staff, please do not proceed with the order . Instead, contact us on clascanrequests@gcu.ac.uk with details of the thesis you want and we will consider meeting the cost for you.
Print copies of GCU doctoral theses are deposited with the Library and details are available on the EThOS search.
If you urgently require access to a GCU thesis which has yet to be digitised via EThOS then contact Archives and Special Collections . Appointments are available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.45pm. We aim to respond within 48 hours (excluding weekends). Print theses are for reference use only and are retained indefinitely.
Using EThOS
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To download a thesis from EThOS follow the instructions below. If the thesis you require has not been digitised do not proceed with the order . Instead, contact us on clascanrequests@gcu.ac.uk with details of the thesis you want and we will consider meeting the cost for you.
Search for a thesis from the EThOS homepage . EThOS search tips are available. To restrict your search to GCU material, click Advanced Search at the top left of the EThOS screen. Select Current institution from the drop down menu on the right and enter Glasgow Caledonian University in the search box. Click the grey GO button and your results will display at the bottom of the screen. On the results screen click the title of the thesis you want to read. Select Download . The next screen confirms your order and displays the EThOS terms and conditions. Once you have agreed to these select your thesis then click Download . A zip file will be downloaded immediately. This will contain the full text thesis in PDF format.
Non-UK theses
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There are many open access services available for non-UK theses.
The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) is an international organisation promoting the creation, use, discovery and preservation of electronic theses and dissertations worldwide. The website provides a listing by country or continent of open access theses repositories and databases including for example:
DART-Europe E-theses Portal – a searchable database of theses from participating research libraries and consortia across Europe with full text links.
Open Access Theses and Dissertations – resource for finding open access graduate theses and dissertations published around the world.
PQDT Open – a database of North American open access theses.
