Information for Imperial students and staff

• Check if an electronic copy of the thesis is available in the Spiral repository. If the thesis has been digitised you can access and download it.
• If the thesis has not been digitised, you can visit the Central Library to consult it - complete a Thesis request form prior to your visit.
• You can also place a Document Delivery request for an electronic copy of the thesis. The time scale for digitisation is 4 weeks.

Information for external users and alumni

• Most of the electronic copies of Imperial PhD theses are available on open access in the Spiral repository. Some theses are closed access, for copyright reasons, and are unavailable to external users.
• You can visit the Central Library to consult any print theses, including theses unavailable in Spiral - complete a Thesis request form and, if you do not have a current membership card, complete the online library membership application form prior to your visit.
• If you are unable to visit the library or wish to receive an electronic copy of a thesis, please contact the Document Delivery Service by email at ill@imperial.ac.uk. Full details will be given upon application.

The Library provides access to the Master's dissertations of some departments - check the table below for details. If your department is not listed there are no Master's dissertations available. 

If you would like to begin depositing Master’s dissertations for your department or course in Spiral, please contact your Liaison Librarian

Master's dissertations

UK universities

Search for theses from UK universities using the British Library's EThOS service.

• EThOS

To see the full text of a thesis you will need to register for EThOS.

• If a thesis has already been digitised it will be available for immediate download.
• If a thesis has not been digitised and there is no charge, you can order it from within EThOS. Complete the form and you will receive it in 30 days.
• If a thesis has not been digitised and there is a charge, request a copy through the Document Delivery. We will order a copy and notify you when it is available for download (usually 4-5 weeks).

Overseas universities

Most overseas theses are now available online via Library Search. If the thesis you are interested in is not available, you can request it using the Document Delivery.