The Library has a full set of Imperial PhD theses.

The majority of Imperial PhD theses are available on open access, while some are restricted to 'Imperial users only', in Spiral.

We also provide access, to Imperial students and staff, to some Imperial Master's dissertations and online theses from other universities in the UK and worldwide.

Access to theses

Imperial PhD theses

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.

Imperial College London PhD theses

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 Abdus Salam 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 using “ORDER A BOOK OR ARTICLE” tab in Library Search. 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 Abdus Salam 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.
Availailability of PhD Theses
Department Collection title Years Link to access via Spiral
School of Professional Development School of Professional Development PhD theses 2009 - 2017 Available online via Spiral
Centre for Co-Curricular Studies Centre for Co-Curricular Studies PhD theses 2012 - 2017 Available online via Spiral
Administrative Services Theses Submission 2015 Available online via Spiral
Faculty of Engineering      
Design Engineering Design Engineering PhD theses 2016 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Aeronautics Aeronautics PhD theses 2006 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Bioengineering Bioengineering PhD theses 1988 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Chemical Engineering Chemical Engineering PhD theses 2001 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Civil and Environmental Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering PhD theses 1992 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Computing Computing PhD theses 2008 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Earth Science and Engineering Earth Science and Engineering PhD theses 1974 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electrical and Electronic Engineering PhD theses 1984 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Institute of Biomedical Engineering Institute of Biomedical Engineering PhD theses 2008 Available online via Spiral
Material Materials PhD theses 2006 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering PhD theses 1985 - 1989 and 2000 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Faculty of Medicine      
Clinical Sciences Department of Clinical Sciences PhD Theses 2010 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Department of Medicine Medicine PhD theses 1976 - 1979 and 2000 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Department of Surgery and Cancer Department of Surgery and Cancer PhD Theses 2010 - onwards Available online via Spiral
National Heart and Lung Institute National Heart and Lung Institute PhD theses 2008 - onwards Available online via Spiral
School of Public Health School of Public Health PhD Theses 2011 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Faculty of Natural Sciences      
Cell and Molecular Biology Cell and Molecular Biology PhD theses 2008 - 2013 Available online via Spiral
Centre for Environmental Policy Centre for Environmental Policy PhD theses 2009 - 2018 Available online via Spiral
Chemistry Chemistry PhD theses 2005 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Division of Biology Biology PhD theses 2008 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Institute for Mathematical Sciences Institute for Mathematical Sciences PhD theses 2009 Available online via Spiral
Life Sciences Life Sciences PhD theses 2013 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Mathematics Mathematics PhD theses 2007 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Molecular Biosciences Molecular Biosciences PhD theses 2008 - 2015 Available online via Spiral
Physics Physics PhD theses 2006 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Imperial College Business School      
Imperial College Business School Imperial College Business School PhD theses 2008 - onwards Available online via Spiral
Other Imperial PhD Theses Print copies 1921 - 1949 

Held by College Archives. Contact acru@imperial.ac.uk for further information.

  University of London (Imperial authors) 1920's - onwards Available online via Spiral
 
Access to PhD theses through Spiral

Imperial Master's dissertations

Library Services 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. 

Please contact Your librarian if you would like to deposit your department's Master's dissertations in Spiral.

Master's dissertations

Department/subject Dates Location Loan period / access restrictions
Bioengineering 2005 - 2017  Online via Spiral

Access restricted to Imperial College London members

Business 2006-2017 Online via Spiral Access restricted to Imperial College London members
Chemical engineering  2007 - 2012, 2017 Online via Spiral  Access restricted to Imperial College London members
Earth science and engineering 2010 onwards Online via Spiral Access restricted to Imperial College London members
Electrical and electronic engineering 2010 onwards (prizewinning projects only) Online via Spiral Access restricted to Imperial College London members
Centre for Environmental Policy

2010 onwards (selected titles)

Online via Spiral

Access restricted to Imperial College London members

Life Sciences (Silwood Park) Last 5 years (selected titles) Silwood Park Campus Library open shelves As for book loan
Life Sciences (Silwood Park) 2013 onwards (selected titles from 2008) Online via Spiral Access restricted to Imperial College London members
Mechanical engineering 2008 onwards Online via Spiral  Access restricted to Imperial College London members
Department of Medicine 2014- onwards Online via Spiral Access restricted to Imperial College London members
Paediatrics and Child Health 2014 - 2016 Online via Spiral Access restricted to Imperial College London members
Science communication

2008 - 2009 (Distinctions only)

Online via Spiral

Access restricted to Imperial College London members

Sustainable energy futures 2008 onwards Online via Spiral  Access restricted to Imperial College London members

Theses from other universities

UK theses

UK theses are available online via the British Library EThOS service. To obtain a copy of a thesis:

  • first register for the service
  • 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, place your order to digitise it. You will receive a notification from EThOS by email when the thesis is ready to download.
  • if a thesis has not been digitised and there is a charge, make a request through the Document Delivery Service via Library Search. You will either receive a copy on loan or, if this is not possible, the Library will order a digital copy and notify you when it is available for download - this will take 4-5 weeks.

Overseas theses

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