APA 7: cite a doctoral dissertation

University and repository are separate

This case is a doctoral dissertation that was published in a repository. The university that awarded the degree, Example University, and the repository that holds the copy, Example Repository, play different roles in the entry. Check the document designation on the title page; this example is a doctoral dissertation, not a model for every master's thesis or undergraduate project.

For Example University's dissertation, the page gives this APA 7 entry: Stone, M. (2024). A sample dissertation [Doctoral dissertation, Example University]. Example Repository. https://example.org/dissertation The dissertation title is italicized, the bracket names the document type and the university, and the repository and the link come after it.

Setting up the dissertation fields

• Choose APA 7 reference and Doctoral dissertation, and set Version consulted to Online version, because a repository copy is an online source here.
• Enter Maya Stone, A sample dissertation, 2024 and Example University as the Awarding or responsible institution.
• Leave Document designation on Doctoral dissertation and set Dissertation publication status to Published in a repository or archive.
• Type Example Repository in Repository or archive name and https://example.org/dissertation in Source URL, then press Create reference.
• If the repository gives the work a number, put it in Assigned dissertation publication number; the entry then shows it as Publication No. after the title. Leave it empty when no number was assigned.

An unpublished copy is a different case

If you read a copy held only by the university, choose Unpublished institutional dissertation and Print version, and leave the repository, number and URL empty. The workbench then writes [Unpublished doctoral dissertation] followed by the university. Mixing an unpublished status with a repository name or a URL holds the entry, because the details describe two different sources.

What the app records for a thesis

The app's Thesis type has a University / institution field but no repository or publication-number field, and its APA entry always calls the work a doctoral dissertation. That fits this case, but check the wording for any other degree. A DOI or URL saved with the source is added at the end of the entry.

Dissertation errors to catch

• Naming the repository host as the awarding institution.
• Citing the dissertation when you actually read the later book or article based on it.
• Choosing thesis or dissertation from the country rather than from the document itself.
• Inventing a publication number to make the entry look complete.

Gather the source details

• Verify the author, title and completion year.
• Record the awarding institution and actual document designation.
• Distinguish an unpublished institutional copy from a repository publication.
• Keep any repository name, publication number or source location required for that version.

Author

Maya Stone

Title as supplied

A sample dissertation

Publication year

2024

Containing work or site

Example Repository

Awarding or responsible institution

Example University

Publication place

London

Source location

https://example.org/dissertation

Sources

• APA7: Published dissertations

Next guide: Chicago 18 author-date: cite a doctoral dissertation