Is there a difference in citing Master's theses vs. doctoral dissertations in Harvard?

Both are cited identically in Harvard style. Simply specify whether it's a 'Master's thesis' or 'PhD dissertation' in the reference.

What if the thesis is published in ProQuest or similar database?

Include ProQuest as the available source with URL. Format: Author (Year) Title. PhD dissertation. Institution. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Should I include page numbers when citing from a thesis?

Yes, include specific page numbers for direct quotations or specific references in your in-text citation.

How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in Harvard Style

Theses and dissertations represent original scholarly research from Master’s and doctoral students. Harvard style provides specific guidance for citing these academic works, whether unpublished, archived, or publicly available. This guide covers thesis and dissertation citations.

Basic Format

In-Text Citation

(Author Year, p. page)
(Adams 2024, p. 45)

Reference List Format - Unpublished

Author, A. (Year) Title of Thesis. Degree type. Institution Name.

Example:

Adams, J. (2024) Remote Work and Organizational Culture. Master's thesis. University of Massachusetts.

Reference List Format - Published/Database

Author, A. (Year) Title of Dissertation. Degree type. Institution Name. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Example:

Chen, R. (2024) Artificial Intelligence in Education. PhD dissertation. Stanford University. Available at: https://www.proquest.com/docview/dissertation123 (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

Unpublished Theses

In-text:

(Thompson 2024, p. 56)

Reference list:

Thompson, J. (2024) Digital Marketing Strategy in Small Businesses. Master's thesis. University of Washington.

Dissertations in ProQuest

Park, D. (2024) Machine Learning Applications in Healthcare. PhD dissertation. University of Pennsylvania. Available at: https://www.proquest.com/docview/dissertation789 (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

University Repository Theses

Chen, M. (2024) Urban Planning and Sustainable Development. Master's thesis. University of California, Berkeley. Available at: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/thesis456 (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

Multiple Authors

Some theses have multiple authors (particularly in science). List all:

Thompson, J. and Park, S. (2024) Title of Thesis. Master's thesis. Institution Name.

Translated Theses

Include translator information:

Original Author, A. (Year) Title. Translated by Translator Name. Master's thesis. Institution Name.

Key Points

Specify degree type (Master’s thesis or PhD dissertation)
Include institution name
Include year completed (not submitted year if different)
For published versions, include URL and access date
Italicize thesis title
Alphabetize by author surname

Step-by-Step Process

Identify thesis author
Note complete thesis title
Specify degree type (Master’s or PhD)
Find institution name
Collect year completed
Determine if published/in database
If published, collect URL and access date
Format accordingly and alphabetize

Common Mistakes

Using submission date instead of completion year
Omitting degree type
Not italicizing thesis title
Forgetting institution name
Using URL without access date for online theses
Inconsistent institution name formatting
Including page count instead of citing specific pages

Practice Examples

Example 1: Unpublished Master’s Thesis

In-text: (Thompson 2024, p. 56)

Reference: Thompson, J. (2024) Digital Marketing Strategy in Small Businesses. Master's thesis. University of Washington.

Example 2: Dissertation in Database

In-text: (Park 2024, p. 89)

Reference: Park, D. (2024) Machine Learning Applications in Healthcare Diagnostics. PhD dissertation. University of Pennsylvania. Available at: https://www.proquest.com/docview/dissertation789 (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

Example 3: University Repository

Reference: Chen, M. (2024) Urban Planning and Sustainable Development. Master's thesis. University of California, Berkeley. Available at: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/thesis456 (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

Mastering Thesis and Dissertation Citations

Theses and dissertations represent culminating research at advanced degree levels. Citing them properly acknowledges substantial scholarly work while enabling readers to access and evaluate original research. With these Harvard guidelines, your thesis and dissertation citations meet academic standards.

Use our citation generator to verify thesis citations and explore guides for other source types.