How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation
Updated July 2026
A thesis or dissertation is cited with the author, title, a descriptor naming the degree (e.g., [Doctoral dissertation] or [Master's thesis]), the university, and the database or repository where you found it. The key distinction is published (in a database/repository) vs. unpublished.
Here's the format in each style.
The format
Author → title (italic) → [Doctoral dissertation] / [Master's thesis] (APA) → university → repository/URL. Use the Thesis / Dissertation type in Manual Entry.
Alvarez, M. (2022). Sleep and memory consolidation in adolescents [Doctoral dissertation]. Stanford University. https://purl.stanford.edu/abc123
In-text(Alvarez, 2022)
Alvarez, Maria. Sleep and memory consolidation in adolescents. Stanford University, 2022.
In-text(Alvarez)
Alvarez, Maria. Sleep and memory consolidation in adolescents. Stanford University, 2022.
In-text(Alvarez 2022)
Published vs. unpublished
Published (in ProQuest, a university repository, or online): cite the descriptor with the university, then the database/repository and URL — this is the common case. Unpublished (you accessed it directly, not via a database): APA notes [Unpublished doctoral dissertation] and gives the university, with no repository. The descriptor tells the reader which it is.
Doctoral vs. master's
- Doctoral dissertation — [Doctoral dissertation, University Name] in APA.
- Master's thesis — [Master's thesis, University Name].
- Match the degree the work was submitted for — it's part of the citation, not optional.
- Database/repository — name it (ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, the university's institutional repository) and include the URL or accession number.
Citing a thesis vs. a published article from it
Researchers often publish journal articles drawn from their dissertation. If a peer-reviewed article version exists and covers what you need, cite that — it's the version of record. Cite the thesis when you're using content unique to it. Official guidance: the APA Style Blog and Purdue OWL.
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Go Premium — $5/monthFrequently asked questions
- How do I cite a dissertation in APA?
- Author. (Year). Title [Doctoral dissertation, University Name]. Database/Repository. URL. Use [Master's thesis] for a master's-level work.
- What's the difference between published and unpublished?
- Published means it's in a database or repository (cite that source and URL). Unpublished means you accessed it directly — APA marks it [Unpublished doctoral dissertation] with the university and no repository.
- Do I have to say whether it's doctoral or master's?
- Yes — the degree is part of the descriptor: [Doctoral dissertation] vs. [Master's thesis]. Match what the work was submitted for.
- Should I cite the thesis or an article based on it?
- Cite the peer-reviewed article if one exists and covers your point — it's the version of record. Cite the thesis for content unique to it.