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How to Create an Effective Thesis Statement in 5 Easy Steps

Creating a thesis statement can be a daunting task. It’s one of the most important sentences in your paper, and it needs to be done right. But don’t worry — with these five easy steps, you’ll be able to create an effective thesis statement in no time.

Step 1: Brainstorm Ideas

The first step is to brainstorm ideas for your paper. Think about what you want to say and write down any ideas that come to mind. This will help you narrow down your focus and make it easier to create your thesis statement.

Step 2: Research Your Topic

Once you have some ideas, it’s time to do some research on your topic. Look for sources that support your ideas and provide evidence for the points you want to make. This will help you refine your argument and make it more convincing.

Step 3: Formulate Your Argument

Now that you have done some research, it’s time to formulate your argument. Take the points you want to make and put them into one or two sentences that clearly state what your paper is about. This will be the basis of your thesis statement.

Step 4: Refine Your Thesis Statement

Once you have formulated your argument, it’s time to refine your thesis statement. Make sure that it is clear, concise, and specific. It should also be arguable so that readers can disagree with it if they choose.

Step 5: Test Your Thesis Statement

The last step is to test your thesis statement. Does it accurately reflect the points you want to make? Is it clear and concise? Does it make an arguable point? If not, go back and refine it until it meets all of these criteria.

Creating an effective thesis statement doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With these five easy steps, you can create a strong thesis statement in no time at all.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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7 steps to turning your master’s thesis into a publication

Ania Gruszczyńska, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge

I remember too well the first day of my master’s degree. I learned that the Education library doesn’t charge fines (wait, what?). I made friends who were keen on staying in the faculty past the official induction hours, drinking leftover wine and snacking on crisps. And, I also learned that the author of the best thesis in my course would get a chance to publish in the faculty’s journal—Cambridge Journal of Education, if I remember correctly. I thought to myself, “I want to be that person.”

Fast forward a few months: I ended up getting a distinction, but not finishing top of my cohort. I was still quite confident in my work, so why not try and publish it? And I did. Here is how:

STEP 1: Identifying a target journal

My research is not firmly situated within one topic or even discipline, so no one journal immediately emerged as a clear choice. I used two strategies to make this decision. First, I thoroughly examined my reference list to check which journal I cited most frequently. Practically speaking, I exported my Zotero bibliography to Excel and arranged the journal titles alphabetically to see which appeared more than once. This gave me a broad idea, but not enough yet to make a fully informed decision, and this is why I also made sure I discussed my target journal options with someone familiar with my work. This could be your supervisor, assessors, or pathway coordinator, for example. I discovered that one of my thesis assessors was editor-in-chief of a journal that seemed like an appropriate outlet for my research; I sent her an informal email asking whether she also thought it was a good match. I was pleased to receive a prompt reply encouraging me to work on the paper manuscript and go ahead with the submission. It’s an important step of the whole process, so don’t rush it. There’s a wealth of online resources that can assist you with this process further, for example, this page run by Cambridge Libraries.

STEP 2: Becoming familiar with the journal and its specifications

Every journal will have slightly different formatting requirements, so it’s very important to carefully read “Instructions for authors” on the journal’s website. These will include the allowed length of the manuscript, expected citation style, guidelines for formatting figures and tables etc. Some journals also provide ready templates to ensure consistency, which can save you some editing! I found it also quite helpful to read a few articles from the journal to make sure that my manuscript matched the publication style. I paid attention to patterns in article structure, section headings, length and structure of article titles, and the content within the abstracts. For example, the journal I chose seemed to always include the theoretical approach in the abstract, but it was not very specific about research methodology.

STEP 3: Preparing the manuscript

I started off by trying to convince myself that it was not an impossible task to turn my 20,000-word thesis into a 7,000-word article. I’d only have to cut it by over a half, right? I learned the hard way, but here’s what you can do to make this process a bit less daunting: choose what you’d want to focus on! Perhaps you’ll be able to address one of the three research questions that your thesis covered? Maybe you’ll focus on contrasting case studies, or perhaps on something that really makes your thesis stand out? And when you have to cut something that, indeed, is unrelated to your chosen focus, you can always tell yourself, “I’ll save it for my next publication.” Maybe you will use it, maybe you won’t, but at least it’ll feel like your work is “saved for later” and not “thrown away.” Consider referring to this article for advice on how to convert the specific sections of your thesis (e.g. introduction, methodology, etc.). It’s good practice to contact your master’s supervisor at this point to offer them co-authorship if their contribution was significant. Also, you may want to consider citing at least 2-3 other articles from your chosen journals in the paper you’re about to submit. Editors may like to see some evidence of your paper engaging with the research already featured in the journal.

STEP 4: Proofreading and asking for feedback

Getting a second opinion can really help you see your work from a different angle, especially after you’ve spent so much time working with this material. I asked my current PhD supervisors to read through the manuscripts and comment on it, and I’m glad I did. This second set of eyes could be your MPhil/MEd supervisor, a colleague from your cohort, or a PhD student that you met in the faculty—you’ll know best whose feedback would be of value to you!

STEP 5: Submitting and waiting…

Most journals will ask you to submit your manuscript via their publishing portal that you’ll find on their website. And once it’s submitted, you get a bit of a break! Your article will be assigned to an editor who will select usually 2 or 3 reviewers. “So, how long will I need to wait?” I hear you ask. It varies between journals and disciplines. I got my decision with 3 months of submission, but it often takes even longer. I was advised by a senior academic to wait 5-6 months before contacting the editor and asking about the review progress.

STEP 6: Dealing with reviewers’ comments (and correcting the manuscript)

When the editor’s decision finally reaches your mailbox, try to be prepared for any outcome. Rejections are very common in the academia, and even well-established professors sometimes get them, so if your manuscript is rejected, that’s not a bad company to be in! It’s worth trying again. Consider choosing a different journal or changing the focus of your paper, and just do it again. It gets easier every time you do it (at least that’s my hope!). And what if the outcome is positive? You’ll be likely asked to make revisions to your manuscript based on reviewers’ suggestions. Journals are not always clear about the difference between “minor” and “major” revisions, so don’t worry about this terminology that much. Your job is to reply to reviewers’ comments—if you agree with them, make the suggested changes, if you don’t, explain why. I know, sometimes it’s easier said than done. I must admit I remember being a bit nervous when facing comments that suggested that I skipped a large portion of literature or did not include a key concept in my theoretical framework. It was rather overwhelming at first, and I needed to take some time to let it sink in. But once it did, it was time to do my homework. I read the papers suggested by the reviewers, I researched the concepts that they thought were missing, and most importantly, I made my own decisions up to whether they were relevant to my paper or not. In some cases, I had to politely disagree with the reviewers, but, since I had done my homework, I had some good arguments to support my decisions. As a result of this revision process, I produced a slightly redrafted manuscript that I strongly feel was an improved version of the first one.

STEP 6B: Correcting the manuscript again?

Luckily, things went well with my corrections and the article was accepted for publication shortly after re-submission. However, some manuscripts travel back and forth between the author and reviewers, so don’t be surprised if you’re asked for additional revisions.

STEP 7: Celebration!

It’s a lengthy process and the outcome often reaches us when we least expect it. I was in a waiting room in a local medical practice, where it wouldn’t be appropriate to jump up and happily shout “I just got published!’. When I’m thinking back to that day, I realise I didn’t really do anything to celebrate or reward myself, and I wish I did. So, here’s my last piece of advice: celebrate!

This is how I went about it. Feel free to follow my advice or go about it your own way. Either way, best of luck! And, here is my very first publication if you’re interested: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14767724.2019.1628637  

Ania Gruszczynska is a PhD student in sociology of education at Durham University. Before beginning her studies at Durham in October 2018, she graduated with a BA in Geography and an MPhil in Education, Globalisation, and International Development from the University of Cambridge. In her current research project, Ania uses collaborative qualitative methods to work with emerging adults from a range of cultural and ethnic background, aiming to paint a broader picture of how heritage, identity, and education intersect in the narratives of belonging in the migration context. To learn more about her study and/or volunteer to participate, please visit bit.ly/2BTfsL2 .  

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• Schools & departments

From Masters dissertation to publication

In this post, Grace Lewis, an Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research PhD student at the University of Leeds, shares her experience of writing a journal article from her MPH dissertation completed with the Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh.

Having completed the MPH online programme in 2019, I was invited to write a blog post about the experience of writing a journal article from my masters dissertation. I hope to share a few tips based on my learning from this experience. My background is as an Orthoptist in the NHS (many people look puzzled at the Orthoptist title - you can find out more here ).

I had been fortunate early in my career to be seconded as a research assistant working on a crosssectional study and so I had some experience as a co-author in amongst a list of much more experienced authors. In this blog, I’ll tell you a little about my experience of a first author role. 

I had been keen to take the dissertation route right from the start of the MPH to help with my goal of returning to research. Whilst studying MPH modules I developed an interest in tobacco-related health research. Like many ‘topics’ in public health, tobacco can be linked to numerous diseases and poses continuing challenges globally. With multiple complex factors involved in tobacco control, such as the publics’ choices and the psychology around smoking, the addiction factor, the policies for smoking reduction and legislation, and politico-legal will (only to name a few!) - this mix fascinated me and made me reflect on my childhood, pre-indoor non-smoking legislation, when public smoking was common-place indoors.

I had a challenging time with choosing a dissertation or study type. I was living overseas with limited local language skills and no real local network to develop a primary study from scratch. I had decided a systematic review or policy brief were not my first choices. On discussion with the dissertation leader and my eventual supervisor our interests in tobacco research and smoke free home promotion were aligned. I was invited to analyse newly emerging qualitative data from a smoke-free home study in Edinburgh and take my analysis in whichever direction I saw fit (with discussion), based upon the data. I was nervous to embark on this remotely whilst also being new to qualitative research. However, the connection to a live smoke-free home promotion project seemed like the perfect fit for me. In short, the dissertation explored parents’ experiences of stigma when using nicotine replacement therapy during a feasibility study to enable smoke-free homes for their families.

The journey to publication

With my dissertation almost done and dusted, Neneh asked if I might consider writing for publication. This was a little scary, as I’ve always struggled with writing concisely- how was I going to get all of the important points across from my dissertation, in a shortened version and still have it to a standard acceptable to reviewers and editors? Of course, the answer was lots of drafts and editing.

So, what was my writing process?/how did I get started?

I decided I should write a first draft in a generic journal-like format and see how it turned out. I knew it would be too long to begin with, but it gave me a starting point and stopped me from procrastinating! It is worth having an abstract that you and your co-authors are really happy with early on, in case you are asked for this prior to a full draft.

I had fortunately hoarded my dissertation notes, such as reflective diaries and memos, which helped me to remember my train of thought from months earlier.

Write a draft or choose a journal first?

It could be argued best to decide on the journal you’d like to submit to first. You’ll probably have an idea of some journals that might be a good fit, based on your MPH reading. Your supervisor will be able to suggest some and may have experience of the process involved for each journal, their likely turn-around time and such.

I did not want to rush my choice of journal to submit to first, as choosing what might turn out to be a bad fit would likely mean having to re-draft for submission to another journal. This meant I had a draft written before choosing a journal. There isn’t a right or wrong way (as far as I know, but I’m still learning), just things to consider.

Some points to think about

Impact factors

Having been out on a career break before starting the MPH, I was not too familiar with journal impact factors, and whilst not all journals publish an impact factor, some authors consider these important and you may wish to look at this when choosing a journal to submit to.

Most open access journals will add a publication fee known as an article processing charge (APC). For students especially, these are not cheap. If you had funding for your masters, there may be some funds available to you for an APC. It was suggested to me to write to the editors and ask if they might waive the APC as I was still a student and had moved onto a different university. This is where having your abstract ready will be useful.

Instructions for manuscripts

Most journals have instructions available online. It’s worth prereading these to be sure you are happy to write in their prescribed way, as some are more prescriptive than others.

Project managing

You will become a mini project manager as first author. You will write the first draft and ask for co-author comments and edits, arrange meetings, if needed, to discuss drafts and write re-drafts until you are all agreed on a final pre-submission draft. You will be dealing with all admin associated with your submission process and liaising with your co-authors, sometimes under journal timelines. This will include things like writing cover letters to editors, writing responses to reviewers and re-drafting, if needed, for re-review. Followed by re-drafting again for other journals should you need to move on from your first choice, if the article is not accepted.

Time management is something you may be thinking about if considering writing for publication (I certainly had questions about this a year or so ago)- So, how long does the whole process take? Each writing experience will be different, but I fitted mine in around a full-time job followed by a fulltime PhD, by writing mostly on Saturday mornings whilst my kids were at sports clubs. The article was published about one year after I had submitted my dissertation.

The right-journal-fit for your article should make life easier

I really agonised over which journal to submit to first. In searching and re-searching I found a special issue calling for papers that fitted my dissertation project perfectly and I was very glad that I had not rushed into submitting it elsewhere  prior to that (another point worth remembering is that many journals will not accept a manuscript that is under consideration elsewhere).

Remember your co-authors will likely have been through the writing and submission process many times as first and co-authors. Ask the questions that seem “silly” to put your mind at ease and allow you to focus rather than spend time unduly worrying about any doubts you may have. Co-author comments, feedback, and discussions with you about the article will be vital and will help build your confidence for the final submission.

Is it worth it?

You will need to invest time and potentially money if you cannot secure funds for the APC. As MPH students or graduates you will know that research waste is, well, potentially wasteful on many levels  and that there is an ever-increasing focus on sharing findings (and data, where appropriate) to maximise impact. Being a first author and/or co-author is great for your CV and applications- one of my PhD interview questions was along the lines of “are you planning to publish anything from your masters dissertation?” If you plan to stay in research or start a career in research it is a great starting point. Even if you aren’t staying in research, having a publication shows dedication and commitment to seeing a project through to another level and it can give a great sense of achievement.

Every experience is different, so it is worth speaking to contacts and colleagues for advice too, at least to be aware of potential pitfalls. My experience was positive and although it is easy to get swayed by hearing others’ negative experiences with journal reviews and rejections, there are positive stories out there too and a lot to be learned during the process.

If you decide this is for you, try to stay positive, and be willing to learn as you go. Good luck!

About Grace Lewis

"I am the current Student Representative on the Advocacy Committee at the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research. I graduated from the University of Sheffield with a BMedSci (Hons) in Orthoptics and have seven years’ experience as a clinical Orthoptist in the NHS. I have some experience in quantitative and qualitative research methodology, and an interest in improving health-related quality of life. I completed a Master’s in Public Health (distinction) at the University of Edinburgh. During my master’s dissertation I developed an interest in novel familial interventions to improve child and family health, particularly respiratory health." 

Academic Publishing

Publishing Your Master’s Thesis: Everything You Need to Know

A Master’s thesis is the final requirement of a graduate program, and it represents the culmination of months or years of hard work and dedication. But once the thesis has been approved and you have received your degree, what happens to the work you have produced? Can you publish your Master’s thesis, and if so, how?

The answer to this question is not a simple one, as it depends on a variety of factors, including your institution’s policies, your advisor’s preferences, and your own goals for the thesis. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you determine whether publishing your Master’s thesis is a feasible and worthwhile endeavour.

The first thing to consider is whether your institution allows or encourages thesis publication. Some universities have specific policies or programs in place to support the dissemination of graduate research, such as online repositories, scholarly journals, or book series. In these cases, you may be able to submit your thesis for publication through one of these channels, either directly or after making revisions based on feedback from your committee.

If your university does not have a formal publication process, or if your advisor does not support the idea of publishing your thesis, you still have options. You can explore independent publishing avenues, such as self-publishing platforms or open access journals, that can help you share your research with a wider audience.

Another factor to consider is the content and quality of your thesis. To be publishable, your Master’s thesis should be original, well-written, and of interest to a scholarly or professional audience. You may need to revise or expand certain sections, add more literature review or data analysis, or adapt your language and tone to suit a specific audience.

Once you have determined that your Master’s thesis is worth publishing, you should also consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of doing so. Publishing your thesis can increase your visibility and credibility as a researcher, help you build your professional network, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in your field. However, it can also limit your options for future publications, as many journals or publishers do not accept previously published works. You may also need to navigate copyright and intellectual property issues, especially if your thesis includes materials or data from other sources.

In conclusion, the decision to publish your Master’s thesis is a complex and personal one that requires careful consideration of your goals, your institution’s policies, and the content and quality of your work. However, if you believe that your thesis has the potential to make a valuable contribution to your field and you are willing to put in the effort to revise and adapt it for publication, there are many opportunities and resources available to help you share your research with the world.

Best ways to publish my master's thesis

If you have completed a master’s thesis and would like to share it with a wider audience, there are several ways to publish it. Here are some of the best ways to publish your master’s thesis :

• Publish it in an academic journal

Many academic journals accept articles that are based on a master’s thesis. This is a great way to get your work published in a reputable academic publication and increase your visibility in your field. Look for journals that are relevant to your research topic and that accept submissions from graduate students.

• Self-publish

If you prefer to publish your thesis on your own , you can use self-publishing platforms like Amazon Kindle or Lulu to create and distribute your work. This is a good option if you want complete control over the publication process and want to make your work available to a wide audience.

• Publish it on a repository

Many universities have online repositories where graduate students can publish their work. This is a good option if you want to make your work available to other researchers, but do not want to go through the process of submitting it to a journal or publishing it on your own.

• Publish it as a book

If you have a longer thesis and want to publish it as a book, you can submit it to a publishing house. You will need to make sure that your work is well-written, edited, and formatted before submitting it to a publisher.

• Publish it on your personal website

If you have a personal website or blog, you can publish your thesis there. This is a good option if you want to make your work available to a wider audience and do not want to go through the process of submitting it to a journal or publishing it on your own.

There are several ways to publish your master’s thesis. The best option for you will depend on your goals, the length of your work, and your personal preferences. Whether you choose to publish your thesis in an academic journal, self-publish, or make it available on a repository, sharing your work can help you build your professional reputation and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in your field.

Are you a researcher or an author struggling to get your thesis published? Look no further than Lambert Academic Publishing! We offer an easy and affordable publishing process that allows you to share your research with a global audience. With no publishing contract required and professional editing and formatting services included, publishing your thesis with us has never been easier. Plus, our worldwide distribution network ensures that your work will be seen by a wider audience. Don’t let your research go unnoticed – publish your thesis with Lambert Academic Publishing today and take the first step towards sharing your findings with the world!

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How to Get Your Thesis Published

Writing a thesis is tough. Current or recent graduate students understand the time and effort required to successfully complete their research program. Indeed, graduate training involves extensive amounts of research that often reflects years of failures and successes. This research often leads to some type of novel insight, which is organized into either a t hesis paper or dissertation.

When writing a dissertation or a thesis , there is much to consider. Both require extensive amounts of work and reflect the years of research conducted by the student. Some universities require that students publish this final research in peer-reviewed journals prior to being considered eligible to graduate. Meanwhile, others do not require the thesis to be officially published. Ultimately, regardless of the graduation requirements, certain career tracks for PhDs or Master’s students require publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Graduate Writing

The type of graduate writing that is required by a student’s university depends upon where the graduate student has studied. In Europe, a doctoral thesis reflects original research, whereas, in the USA, a thesis is often a shorter document associated with a Master’s degree.

Whatever the title, extensive research projects are organized into a final document. Some of these written documents can be formatted into a book. Before publishing, a graduate student should consider several factors prior to publishing. Namely, the student should ask, is my research

• Rigorous: Is it methodical, scholarly work?
• Significant: Why does it matter to your potential audience?
• Original: Is it novel and unique?
• Marketable: Are there potential customers?

When to Publish?

In the past, universities have published theses graduation research summaries in only a hard copy format, such as a bound book. Now, some theses or dissertations are available online, often with a Creative Commons license. This can be a problem due to the requirement by journals that manuscripts contain only unpublished and original data. However, generally, a thesis or dissertation consisting of original, previously unpublished research that has been made available by your home institution does not prevent you from publishing. Rather, journals will consider these theses and dissertations that were published by universities as, understandably, still sufficiently novel data. Furthermore, peer review is an integral component of publication. To pass the muster of peer review, it is important to consider the feedback of dissertation or thesis committee. The critiques of your committee will often mirror the potential concerns of your peer reviewers.

Related: Planning to publish your Ph.D. research in a good journal?  Check these journal selection guidelines now!

Tips and Common Concerns

When going to publish your dissertation, there are generally some common errors made by graduate students.

First, it is generally a good practice to reference or acknowledge the thesis. Since the dissertation may be available publicly, it is important to be transparent about the source of the data.  Similarly, always inform journals that some research contained within a thesis or dissertation was published either in a print-only version or in an online repository.

You can publish your thesis as a monograph or a series of articles. It can depend on the type of thesis.

• Traditional thesis: It is usually in the form of chapters and is an original work written by an individual student.
• Thesis by publication: It consists of papers that have already been published in a journal.

According to COPE guidelines , when thesis contains original unpublished work, it should not be considered as prior publication. Therefore, it is acceptable to be published as a manuscript or a monograph in a journal, even if it is available freely in university repositories and Creative Common license may or may not apply.  However, if the thesis is of the second type, then the papers will be considered as prior publication and are not acceptable as original works for publication. As a research lab hosts student’s work, it is important to first review the policies of your host university. Similarly, since fields transform rapidly, don’t wait too long before publishing. If you do, you run the risk of your literature review or methodology becoming outdated.

I have my dissertation i want to published

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Submit and publish your thesis.

• The Graduate Thesis: What is it?
• Thesis Defences
• Deadlines and Fees
• Formatting in MS Word
• Formatting in LaTeX
• Making Thesis Accessible
• Thesis Embargo
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Publishing from your thesis before or after graduation

"Will repository submission affect my publishing plans?"

... this is a common question for someone looking to publish from their thesis before or after graduation.

Most journals welcome submissions based on a thesis or dissertation. Some may have additional requirements, such as to:

• Let them know about the university’s requirement to make your thesis publicly available
• Submit a manuscript that is substantially different than the thesis content
• Embargo the thesis until after publication, etc.

Your steps will depend on the following scenarios:

Scenario 1 - you ARE NOT planning on publishing your thesis before or after graduation

In this case:

• You can submit your thesis without an embargo
• Your thesis will become publicly available in TSpace  and Library and Archives Canada after your convocation and will be widely indexed via search engines and indexes
• Use the TSpace-generated permanent URL to share and cite your thesis - see example of such citation below

Tajdaran, K. (2015). Enhancement of Peripheral Nerve Regeneration with Controlled Release of Glial Cell Line-derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) (Master’s Thesis, University of Toronto). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1807/74747

Scenario 2 - You ARE planning on publishing your thesis AFTER graduation

Most journals are interested in “original, previously unpublished” research. Some journals consider theses as a form of “prior publications”, others do not, and the majority does not have a clear definition. It will be best to check journal policy before you submit your thesis.

Nature Research will consider submissions containing material that has previously formed part of a PhD or other academic thesis which has been published according to the requirements of the institution awarding the qualification.

►►►How to check journal policies:

• MIT Libraries' list of policy excerpts from major publishers
• Journal’s website - usually under Information for Authors or Copyright / Permissions or Editorial Policy; or in the publication agreement if available online
• If such information cannot be located online, contact the editors directly
• If the journal requires that you place an embargo on your thesis until after publication, see the SGS instructions on how to request an embargo on your thesis .

Scenario 3 - You ARE planning on publishing (or have already published) from your thesis BEFORE graduation

You may want or be expected to publish parts of your thesis before your thesis is submitted, such as with an integrated/publication-based/sandwich thesis. The most important thing to keep in mind here is copyright. You own copyright of your written materials, and a publisher may require copyright transfer of your manuscript.

You need to ensure you retain certain rights or obtain permission in order to satisfy the university’s requirement of making your thesis openly accessible via TSpace, ProQuest and Library and Archives Canada (LAC). For more details on these repositories, see the  Review and Release  section of this guide.

Check whether the journal requires prior notification about U of T’s open access requirement for theses. Some journals want to be notified of this mandate whether or not they restrict the re-use of articles in theses.

Check whether the publisher requires copyright transfer . This should be stated on their website, in the publication agreement, or you can inquire directly with the journal.

If the publisher does not require copyright transfer , i.e. author retains copyright, then you can reuse your article/chapter in your thesis; no permission needed.

If the publisher requires copyright transfer , follow these steps:

Check if the publisher has special provisions for reusing your published work in your thesis. They may permit the inclusion of a non-final version, such as your submitted or accepted manuscript. See more below on understanding different article versions for sharing .

►►►How to check journal policies:  See MIT Libraries' list of policy excerpts from major publishers or the journal/publisher website.

For example, Taylor and Francis policy allows to:

Include your article Author’s Original Manuscript (AOM) or Accepted Manuscript(AM) , depending on the embargo period in your thesis or dissertation. The Version of Record cannot be used. https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/copyright-and-you/

Check if the article is distributed under a Creative Commons license. This may allow re-use.

►►►How to check journal's CC license:  See the journal/publisher website or contact the journal directly.

If the publisher requires copyright transfer, has no special provisions and does not publish under a CC license, you will need to contact them to request permission to include your article in your thesis. You can:

• Negotiate making the article available as part of the thesis in TSpace, ProQuest, and LAC Theses Portal; 
• Request an embargo [link to Lisa’ section on embargo] if the publisher only permits open sharing after some time post-publication;
• If permission is denied you may include in place of the chapter an abstract and a link to the article on the journal website.

If you have specific questions about your situation, publisher policy or author rights, contact the Scholarly Communications and Copyright Office at [email protected] for a consultation (best before you publish!)

Understanding different versions of a published article

A publisher may distinguish between the versions of an article that you may be allowed to include in your thesis:

• Submitted manuscript / pre-print - version you initially send in (often permitted)
• Accepted manuscript / post-print - version after peer review but before copyediting, layout editing, formatting, etc. (sometimes permitted; publisher may require an embargo/access restriction for a period of time)
• Version of record / final publisher’s PDF - version that appears in the journal (many publishers do not permit sharing this version)

►►►How to check article versions permitted for sharing:

• MIT Libraries’s list of policy excerpts from major publishers
• Sherpa/RoMEO database of publisher policies
• Journal’s website - usually under Information for Authors or Copyright/Permissions or Editorial Policy; or in the publication agreement if available online
• << Previous: Creative Commons Licenses for Theses
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• Last Updated: Sep 15, 2023 3:23 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.utoronto.ca/thesis

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Benefits of Publishing Your Master's Thesis

What's Next after Your Thesis?

Publishing their master's thesis is usually not in the minds of many master’s students when they start their degree programmes, except for those who are interested in an academic career. Technically, nobody really bothers about the thesis once he/she steps out of the university, but little did students know that a published work enhances a graduate’s professional credentials. Having a master’s degree is common nowadays, but a published thesis will be your competitive edge over other potential job candidates. You may not be the cream of the crop of your cohort, but your publication will surely be the cherry on top of your master's degree.

Employers are always on the lookout for new employees who are not only hardworking but also have an inclination for academic knowledge and professional development. A published thesis shows that you have got that edge, because to get something published, especially in a credible journal, needs dedication, hard work and a certain level of expertise in a particular topic. Besides that, a published thesis will surely boost your eligibility for a PhD candidacy, should you intend to pursue one.

Another benefit that comes out of a published thesis is that all your hard work will not go to waste. Why keep the results of your efforts hidden when you can put them to good, even valuable use, by sharing with the research community and outside world? First of all, you carry out research on a topic that piqued your interest that many others might have the same interest in too. Your research may help to close some gaps in knowledge in the respective field and it makes other researchers aware that some research has already been done. Your research might even benefit various other members of the public, like article/book authors, business entities or government agencies.

Wittenborg sets to increase publication of master's theses

WUAS is not exactly shy of lecturers who are PhD holders and experienced researchers. One such example is Dr Gilbert Silvius, who is not only a lecturer and pioneer, but also an active researcher and book author. To date, Silvius has published over a hundred academic papers and several books, and one of his master students’ theses has just been published. (You can find the article about this here ). When asked whether it is important to sensitise Wittenborg students/graduates on the importance of presenting their research findings in journals, Silvius said that it is indeed important for Wittenborg because academic output is an important aspect of being a university of applied sciences. Indeed it is true, and for the new academic year, Wittenborg has put in place some initiatives to increase applied research in its curriculum, such as getting lecturers to actively identify excellent students who have the potential to be involved in research.

The key to getting your work published

It is common knowledge, though, that getting your work published is not a walk in the park either. And many students are also put off by this aspect, as it requires further hard work and nerves of steel after graduation. But according to Silvius, the key is to start from the very beginning. Silvius advised that students who wish to publish their theses should work with a supervisor who is regularly publishing on the topic they are interested in. They are the best persons to guide them and ensure that the thesis is of a publishable quality. They should agree on the topic both are interested in and inclined towards. Students need also to work closely with the supervisor in the development of their theses and be open to the supervisor’s ideas, and able to integrate these ideas into their own study.

Knowledge is valuable only when shared

To sum up, getting your work published will reward you with a sense of satisfaction and self-actualisation. Commenting on this, Silvius agreed and said that for students, a publication, whether professional or academic, is stimulating and something to be proud of. That is true, even for experienced authors or researchers, as it helps to boost confidence and encourages more inspirational work. Even if you get critical reviews on your research, it is perfectly natural and it may pave the way for the betterment of your skills or for future research opportunities.

So think about it. Work hard on your thesis and share it with others. As Euan Semple asserts in his book ‘Organizations Don’t Tweet, People Do’,  tacit knowledge has no value but explicit knowledge has value because it is shared. He adds, “The more we all open up and share our thinking … the more we will all learn.”

WUP 5/11/2020 by Hanna Abdelwahab © WUAS Press

Dissertation & Thesis Publishing: Home

• LIU Post Print Dissertation Retrieval
• Ask a Librarian
• Dissertation/Thesis Binding

How To Publish Your Dissertation or Thesis Online and/or in Digital Commons@LIU repository

You have three options for publishing your dissertation or thesis online:

• Publish your dissertation  or thesis  in Digital Commons @ LIU - our Institutional Respository
• Publish your dissertation  or thesis  with Proquest /UMI Digital Dissertation Publishing (EDT Administrator)
• Publish your dissertation  or thesis  in BOTH of the above.

Note: Your academic department may require that you submit a print copy to the library for binding and cataloging.  At this time, publishing online is optional.

Proquest/UMI Digital Dissertation & Thesis Publishing

The library provides access to an online dissertation or thesis  publishing platform through Proquest/UMI Digital Dissertation & Thesis Publishing.  When you publish your dissertation or thesis online using this service it will be available in the Proquest Dissertation & Theses  Global   database and in Dissertations & Theses @ LIU database .  These databases can also be found on our library online databases page.  The links are provided below for your convenience. You may submit your dissertation or thesis once you have permission from your department to do so.

 You can go to the LIU dedicated “ETD Administrator” website at:

http://www.etdadmin.com/liu

On this page you will find links to information about publishing your dissertation or thesis online.  You are encouraged to read all of the provided information under the “Resources and Guidelines” tab so that you have a full understanding of the process and of your rights as an author. 

If you have not already done so you will first need to create an account by clicking on the "Sign up and get started today!" button. Once you have logged in and are ready to publish, you will be asked several questions during the process concerning copyright protection, open access publishing, and if you wish to delay (embargo) the publication of your dissertation or thesis.   The “traditional” publishing option is free of cost.  If you choose additional options you can pay online with a credit card. The online resources provided should answer your questions. 

You will be asked for your "Institutional Student ID" number during the process.  This is not your University login.  Your Institutional Student ID number can be found within your "My LIU" account or by contacting your academic department.

During the process you can also choose to order one or several personal print copies. These would be in addition to the bound copies you may have already ordered through the library if your department requires this. This online publishing service for digital dissertations and the bound dissertations oe thesis service in the library are separate programs. Please contact the Dean's office (516-299-2764) concerning ordering print copies of a dissertation through the library.

Once you submit your dissertation, the ETD Administrator will review your submission for formatting and other quality control issues.  The final submittal to the Proquest Dissertation & Theses Full-text database will take place after your graduation.

You must follow the formatting guidelines as stipulated by your department.   It is particularly important that you follow the correct format on the title page so that your dissertation or thesis can be indexed correctly.  The library also receives a microfilm copy that will be cataloged into the library collection.  For security reasons, do not include a page containing personal signatures.  Please remove the page or submit a replacement page without the signatures .  Proquest has advised not to include signatures.   If you include signatures in the document, you will need to resubmit and the publication of your dissertation or thesis will be delayed.

The Proquest publishing process can take up to 8 to 12 weeks to complete.  You will receive an email from Proquest when your dissertation or thesis is published in the databases.

If you still have questions concerning this program you can e-mail your library liaison.  If you have technical questions during the process please contact the ETD administrator, professor Natalia Tomlin ([email protected]).

In addition to submitting your dissertation or thesis to the Proquest EDT Administrator, you can also submit your dissertation to the LIU Institutional Repository (IR).  You do not need to submit your dissertation or thesis to the IR.  We just need your approval and we will do the rest. There is no cost to you. See below for more details.

Dear  Student,

We would like to invite you to submit your dissertation or thesis (free of charge) to our Digital Commons @LIU open access Institutional Repository.

Your submission to Digital Commons (should you chose to submit) would be in addition to submitting the dissertation or thesis to ProQuest. The advantage is broader dissemination of your scholarship.

How to submit your thesis/dissertations to Digital Commons@LIU:

•  sign the submission agreement  http://digitalcommons.liu.edu/creative_works_permission.pdf  (electronic signature is fine) and scan it.
• email scanned permission and the copy of your thesis/dissertation to  http://digitalcommons.liu.edu . Please note that your paper can be in either World Document or PDF format. The front page has to be free of signatures.
• The library will upload your dissertation or thesis once/if your agreement is received.

Once your dissertation or thesis is posted:

• Once your work is uploaded, the system will automatically create an account for you in BePress. The account will use email address that you supplied during submission. Bepress is the name of platform that hosts our repository. You can log into the system and create/change your password. To do so, log into the site via "My Account" link (you will need to use email address that your supplied during submission process). Click on the "Edit Profile" option from "My Account" page and update email.
• your dissertation or thesis is periodically featured as a Paper of the Day
• you receive URL “for life’ that you can include in social media sites, digital portfolio, blackboard etc.
• you also receive monthly report if your research is downloaded during specific month period
• you have access to personal author dashboard that shows the location in the world where your work is read and downloaded as well as by what kind of organizations (educational, commercial etc.)
• your work is disseminated world-wide
• potential for increased Google citation statistics 

Proquest Dissertation Databases

• Dissertations & Theses @ LIU
• Dissertations & Theses Global

Example Title pages

• Library and Information Science
• Clinical Psychology

ETD WorkFlow

Attribution.

Created by Professor Robert Battenfeld

• Next: LIU Post Print Dissertation Retrieval >>
• Last Updated: Sep 5, 2023 8:24 AM
• URL: https://liu.cwp.libguides.com/dissertations