How To Cite Dissertation Harvard

How to Cite a Dissertation in Harvard Style: A Simple Guide

Dissertations are significant academic works, representing years of research and scholarly effort. Properly citing them demonstrates academic integrity and allows readers to easily locate the source material. The Harvard referencing style, popular for its author-date system, provides a clear and consistent method for citing dissertations. This guide will walk you through the process, simplifying the complexities and providing clear examples.

1. Understanding the Basics of Harvard Referencing

Harvard referencing relies on in-text citations that briefly identify the source within your writing, followed by a full reference in a bibliography (or reference list) at the end of your work. The in-text citation usually includes the author's surname and the year of publication. For dissertations, this remains the core principle, but with specific considerations for the unique nature of the document.

2. In-Text Citations for Dissertations

The in-text citation for a dissertation follows the standard Harvard format: (Author's Surname, Year). However, it’s crucial to accurately reflect whether you are referring to the entire dissertation or a specific part of it.

Referencing the whole dissertation: If you're referencing the overall findings or arguments of the dissertation, the citation is straightforward. For example:

"Recent research on climate change mitigation strategies suggests a shift towards renewable energy sources (Smith, 2023)."

Referencing specific parts of the dissertation: If referencing a specific chapter, section, or page number, you should be more precise in your in-text citation. Unfortunately, page numbers are not always easily accessible in electronic dissertations. In such cases, if a chapter or section title is available, you could include this information parenthetically following the year. For instance:

"Smith (2023, Chapter 3) argues that..." or "Smith (2023, 'Methodology' section) details..."

If accessing a printed copy or an online version with page numbers, include the page number:

"Smith (2023, p. 45) highlights the importance of..."

3. Bibliography/Reference List Entries for Dissertations

The bibliography entry provides the complete information needed for a reader to locate the dissertation. The format varies slightly depending on whether the dissertation is accessed online or in print.

a) Printed Dissertation:

```
Author's Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of dissertation. Unpublished PhD/MPhil/EdD thesis, University Name, City, Country.
```

Example:

```
Smith, J.A. (2023). The impact of social media on political polarization. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
```

b) Online Dissertation:

For online dissertations, include the URL and the date you accessed the resource. The URL may be a repository link like EThOS or a university library website.

```
Author's Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of dissertation. [Online]. Available at: [URL] [Accessed Date].
```

Example:

```
Jones, B.M. (2022). The effects of mindfulness on student wellbeing. [Online]. Available at: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.864321 [Accessed 15 October 2023].
```

Remember to replace the bracketed information with the actual details of the dissertation.

4. Handling Multiple Authors and Editors

If the dissertation has multiple authors, list them in the order they appear on the title page, separating them with commas and using an ampersand (&) before the last author's name. If there are editors, replace "Author's Surname" with "Editor's Surname(s)" and make it clear it's an edited work (e.g., “Edited by…”).

5. Dealing with Unpublished Dissertations

Unpublished dissertations are treated as above, specifying "Unpublished PhD thesis," "Unpublished MA thesis," etc., in the bibliography entry. This indicates the work's limited accessibility compared to published material.

Actionable Takeaways

Always prioritize accuracy in your citations.
Be consistent in your application of Harvard referencing throughout your work.
If in doubt, consult your institution's style guide or seek advice from a librarian.
Double-check all URLs and access dates for online dissertations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What if the dissertation doesn't have a year? If you can't find a publication year, use "n.d." (no date) in place of the year.

2. How do I cite a chapter from a published dissertation? If a dissertation chapter is published as a stand-alone article, cite it like a journal article. If it's only accessible within the complete dissertation, follow the dissertation citation rules, but make a specific reference to the chapter within the in-text citation.

3. Can I cite a dissertation abstract? Yes, cite the abstract as you would the full dissertation, but note in the bibliography that you only consulted the abstract. For example: "Abstract consulted from [Source]."

4. What if the dissertation is in a language other than English? Include the language of the dissertation in the bibliography entry, such as "(in German)" or "(in French)".

5. Where can I find more information on Harvard referencing? Your university library website will likely have a comprehensive style guide, or you can find reputable online resources dedicated to citation styles.

Search Results:

How to Cite a Dissertation in Harvard Style - ResearchProspect 27 Aug 2021 · In Harvard, the following in-text citation format is used for the dissertation: (Author Surname, Year Published) For example, ‘Occasionally the talent for drawing passes beyond …

Guides: How to reference a Dissertation in Harvard style - Cite … A full template and example to help you write a citation for a Dissertation in the Harvard style.

LSBU Library: LSBU Harvard Referencing: Thesis (online) 5 Feb 2025 · (Year submitted) Title of dissertation/thesis. Level of award, Location of awarding institution if not clear from name: Name of awarding institution. Available from: …

Leeds Harvard: Thesis or dissertation - Leeds University Library When you're referencing with Leeds Harvard you may come across issues with missing details, multiple authors, edited books, references to another author's work or online items, to name a …

Library Guides: Harvard referencing style: Thesis or dissertation 5 Jun 2024 · Author Year, 'Title', Type of thesis, Publisher, Place of Publication. Yong, S.S.E. 2011, 'Tax compliance and small and medium enterprise operators: an intra-cultural study in …

Theses - Harvard Style Guide - LibGuides at UCD Library 24 Mar 2025 · This guide explains how to use the Harvard Style. It includes a short tutorial. Reference: Author, Initial. (Year of submission) Title of thesis. Degree statement. Degree …

Dissertation (thesis): how to cite in Harvard style? - Grafiati 12 Jan 2021 · How to cite a doctoral dissertation / thesis in a list of bibliographic references (works cited) according to the Harvard referencing system? Examples of references under the …

Library guides and databases: Harvard: Thesis or dissertation 30 Jan 2025 · This guide introduces the Harvard referencing style and includes examples of citations.

How to Cite Theses and Reports in Harvard Style - Perlego Format for citing a printed thesis: Harvard style. Surname, Initial (s). (Year of publication) Title. Award and type of qualification. Awarding body. For example: Robak, M. (2016) Practicing …