Dissertations and Theses from Other Universities
Step One: Search ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.
According to ProQuest, coverage begins with 1637. With more than 2.4 million entries, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global is the starting point for finding citations to doctoral dissertations and master’s theses. Dissertations published from 1980 forward include 350-word abstracts written by the author. Master’s theses published from 1988 forward include 150-word abstracts. UMI also offers over 1.8 million titles for purchase in microfilm or paper formats. The full text of more than 930,000 are available in PDF format for immediate free download. Use our interlibrary loan service for the titles not available full text online.
Step Two: Check the Cornell Library Catalog.
Check our catalog before placing an interlibrary loan request. We may have a copy of a dissertation from another university--either purchased by the library, or purchased by an individual student or faculty member and later donated to the library collection.
Step Three: Search for Foreign Dissertations at the Center for Research Libraries (For those not found in ProQuest or the Cornell Library Catalog)
To search for titles and verify holdings of dissertations at the Center for Research Libraries, use the CRL catalog. CRL seeks to provide comprehensive access to doctoral dissertations submitted to institutions outside the U. S. and Canada (currently more than 750,000 titles). One hundred European universities maintain exchange or deposit agreements with CRL. Russian dissertation abstracts in the social sciences are obtained on microfiche from INION. More detailed information about CRL's dissertation holdings.
European Dissertations and Theses
Searching for European Dissertations and Theses:
- DART-Europe E-Theses PortalDART-Europe to close down permanently on 1 February 2025.
"Electronic theses can be found in several general open access aggregators and in individual open access repositories."
"The DART-Europe E-theses Portal is a searchable database of electronic research theses held in European repositories. The theses listed are open access - publicly available, in full, without charge. The DART-Europe Portal does not store theses, but we aim to provide a link to at least one electronic copy of every thesis listed in our database." --Help page
UK Dissertations:
- British Library's EThOS ServiceThe full text of many UK dissertations are now available through the British Library's EThOS service. EThOS contains citations for over 480,000 UK dissertations and full-text access for over 100,000 titles. EBSCO's Open Dissertations database also has records from the British Library's EThOS service.
French Dissertations
- Catalogue des thèses de doctorat soutenues devant les universités françaisesCall Number: Library Annex Oversize Z 5055 .F79 A3 +Print listings of French dissertations covering 1884-1978.
- Inventaire des thèses de doctorat soutenues devant les universités françaisesCall Number: Library Annex Z 5055 .F79 I62Print listings of French dissertations covering 1981-1992.
Verifying German Dissertations:
- Die Deutsche Bibliothek DatabaseContains 6.5 million records representing the holdings of the National Library of Germany, which, following the unification of Germany in October 1990, combines the Deutsche Bucherei Leipzig and the Deutsche Bibliothek Frankfurtam Main (including the Deutsche Musikarchiv Berlin). The library collects and catalogs all printed and electronic publications issued in Germany, published abroad in German, translated from German-language publications, and works in any language about Germany (Germanica). The records represent monographs, periodicals, microforms, dissertations, visual materials, maps, printed and recorded music, and electronic publications issued since 1945.
- Deutsche Nationalbibliographie und Bibliographie der im Ausland erschienenen deutschsprachigen Veröffentlichungen. Reihe H, Hochschulschriften.Call Number: Uris Library Oversize Z 5055 .G37 D48 +Print index covering 1991-2003.
Subject Heading: Dissertations, Academic--Germany--Bibliography--Periodicals.
Previous title: Deutsche Bibliographie. Hochschulschriften-Verzeichnis Deutsche Bibliographie. Hochschulschriften-Verzeichnis. - Deutsche NationalbibliografieCall Number: Uris Library Oversize Z 5055 .G37 D48 +Print index covering 2004-2008.
Subject Heading: Dissertations, Academic--Germany--Bibliography--Periodicals.
Continuation of Deutsche Nationalbibliographie und Bibliographie der im Ausland erschienenen deutschsprachigen Veröffentlichungen. Print index covering 2004-2008.
Requests for non-Cornell dissertations by Cornellians
Students and faculty wishing to obtain a copy of a dissertation or thesis that is not available full text in ProQuest Dissertations and Theses can request the title using our interlibrary loan service. Questions may be directed to the Interlibrary Services (ILS) staff: contact information.
The Purchase option: It is also possible to purchase dissertations directly through UMI Dissertation Express (back to June 1954). Not all universities participate (for instance, MIT). The ILS staff can help with questions about dissertation purchases.