Theses and dissertations

The library holds a large number of Bristol theses and dissertations, including many PhD and doctoral theses. Read our advice about how to locate theses from other institutions, both in the UK and internationally.

University of Bristol theses and dissertations

To find a University of Bristol thesis:

  • Use Library Search as if you were trying to find a book, using either the author's name, the title or a combination of the two. When your search results display, you can refine your search by using the Resource type - Thesis option;
    • If the thesis is held in the Research Reserve, it can be requested using the 'reserve a copy' button.
  • If the thesis is not on Library Search and it is pre-1978 it is worth checking the Card Catalogue Online.
  • See below for details of how to access theses held in our other library sites.
  • Recently submitted theses may be listed on Explore Bristol Research though information about these is regularly added to Library Search.

The collection includes theses from Arts Faculty, Social Sciences and Law Faculty, Physics, Mathematics, Biological Sciences, Geographical Sciences, Agricultural Science and the School for Policy Studies.

MA, MSc, MPhil and MLitts do not have to be deposited with the library under the Regulations, so our collections of these are incomplete. 

How to consult a thesis

  • Arts and Social Sciences theses are now held in the Library's Research Reserve.  See 'to find a University of Bristol thesis' section above for details of how to request.
  • We will notify you when the thesis arrives at the library.
  • Thesis loans are for use in the Arts and Social Sciences Library only.

School of Chemistry PhD, MSc and DSc theses from 1910 to date.

Chemistry theses are now held in the Library's Research Reserve. See the 'to find a University of Bristol thesis' section above for details of how to request. We will notify you when the thesis arrives at the library. Theses are not available for loan and are for reference use only.

School of Education EdD, PhD, MPhil, and a selection of Masters theses. Many theses written before 2005 are located in the Research Reserve.

How to consult a thesis

  • The MSc and Masters theses are located in the Quiet Study Area;
  • The MPhil, PhD and EdDs are located in Research Reserve.  See 'to find a University of Bristol thesis' section above for details of how to request.

The thesis collection from the Medical Library has been relocated to the library's Research Reserve. The collection includes: PhD, MD, MSc, ChM and DSc theses of staff and postgraduate students of the Health Sciences Faculty, from 1910 to date.

A card catalogue in the Medical Library contains details of the earlier theses, or you may check the Card Catalogue Online.

How to consult a thesis

  • See 'to find a University of Bristol thesis' section above for details of how to request.
  • We will notify you when the thesis arrives at the library;
  • Theses are for use in the Medical Library only and you will be asked to sign a register.

School of Physics PhD, MSc and DSc theses from 1950 to date, with a few earlier ones. 

Physics theses are now held in the Library's Research Reserve. See the 'to find a University of Bristol thesis' section above for details of how to request these. We will notify you when the thesis arrives at the library. Theses are not available for loan and are for reference use only.

Engineering and Mathematics PhD theses are held in the Library's Research Reserve, including Computer Science theses before the Department transferred to the Faculty of Engineering.  See 'to find a University of Bristol thesis' section above for details of how to request these. We will notify you when the thesis arrives at the library. Theses are not available for loan and are for reference use only.

A card catalogue, on the right beyond the Information Desk, contains details of pre-1978 theses.

MSc Projects

  • Some early Engineering MSc projects (1914-1950) are also available from the Research Reserve.

Undergraduate projects

  • Individual and group projects from 2015/16 - 2023/24 academic years for Civil Engineering and 2015/16 - 2019/20 for Mechanical Engineering are available on the open shelves in the Gallery.
  • Early projects from 1920 to 1949 have been moved to Special Collections

MSc Meat Science theses from 1979 to date and a small number of PhD theses. The majority of veterinary sciences PhD theses are housed in the Research Reserve.  See 'to find a University of Bristol thesis' section above for details of how to request.

Theses are shelved in the Computer Room and are for use in the library only.

Collections of both Law and Earth Sciences theses.

Theses are confined to the library; please ask at the Information Desk if you wish to borrow one.

UK and international theses

Information about many UK and international theses can be found via Library Search. If the thesis you are interested in is not available online, you can use our inter-Library Loan service. Non-UK theses can be difficult to obtain: in some countries, universities are working together to make full text electronic collections available: