Citelle · Library
MLA 9: cite a doctoral dissertation
Cite a repository copy of a doctoral dissertation in MLA 9: italic title, year, university, PhD dissertation, then repository and URL.
Supplementary details after the title
In this MLA entry the dissertation is a standalone work, so its title is italicized. The year follows the title, then the awarding university and the designation PhD dissertation. The repository and its address come last, with the URL written without https://. The Otis College guide to MLA 9 theses and dissertations and MLA's citations-by-format page are linked below.
The works-cited example for the dissertation is: Stone, Maya. A Sample Dissertation. 2024. Example University, PhD dissertation. Example Repository, example.org/dissertation.
Recording the repository copy
Assigned dissertation publication number and Reviewed department citation label are optional here and do not change the MLA entry. Leave them empty unless your record needs them.
- Choose MLA 9 works-cited entry and Doctoral dissertation, with Online version.
- Enter Maya Stone, A sample dissertation and A Sample Dissertation, and 2024.
- Type Example University as Awarding or responsible institution.
- Set Dissertation publication status to Published in a repository or archive, then fill Example Repository and https://example.org/dissertation. MLA output requires the repository name for this status.
- Press Create reference.
Unpublished copies
If you read a copy held by the university and not published in a repository, choose Unpublished institutional dissertation and Print version, and leave repository and URL empty. The entry then ends after PhD dissertation: Stone, Maya. A Sample Dissertation. 2024. Example University, PhD dissertation. That is the workbench output for the same record without the repository details.
Choosing Unpublished institutional dissertation while a URL or repository name is still filled in holds the entry with Dissertation publication status: this source form is outside the reviewed case set.
Limits in the app
Citelle's Thesis type has a University / institution field and a URL, but no repository field and no degree label for MLA. Its MLA entry lists the institution and year after the italic title, without PhD dissertation or the repository. For this case the workbench matches the example more closely; if you keep the source in the app, add the missing elements in your document.
A DOI saved with the thesis replaces the URL as the visible link in the app's entries.
Dissertation details to verify
- The degree designation printed on the document.
- Whether the copy you read is in a repository or only held by the university.
- The repository name, kept separate from the university.
- That you are citing the dissertation, not a later book based on it.
- The URL points to the repository record, and the entry shows it without https://.
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
Next guide: NLM Vancouver: cite a doctoral dissertation