oxford thesis submission portal

• Contact & FAQ

The Research Thesis Digital Submission Quick Reference Guide for Examiners explains how to examine a digital copy of a student’s thesis and additional materials using RTDS

Contact & Help

In case of any problems or inquiries contact:

Submissions and Research Degrees Team Examination Schools 75-81 High Street Oxford OX1 4BG UAS Research Degrees Office: [email protected] Research examinations information page Tel: 01865 286384 / 286382 08:30-17:00, Monday to Friday

Frequently Asked Questions

I can’t open the files. What should I do?

First please ensure you have the programs or apps capable of opening Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files and ZIP files, if you are unsure about this please talk to your IT Support team. If it appears that the files are corrupt then please contact the Submissions and Research Degrees Team (contact details on the left-hand side of this web page) who can arrange for the files to be uploaded again.

I can’t download the files using the provided link. What should I do?

a.  Ensure that the files haven’t already been downloaded to the location of the Downloads specified by your browser.

b.  Contact your local IT Support.

c.  If still unable to download then contact the Submissions and Research Degrees Team (contact details on the left-hand side of this web page).

I haven’t received an email for the thesis I am examining. What should I do?

Please contact the Research Degrees Team. It is most likely that either the student has not yet submitted or that your fellow examiner has not yet accepted the formal invitation.

I have lost the email containing the thesis file links. What should I do?

Contact the Submissions and Research Degrees Team (contact details on the left-hand side of this web page) who will be able to send you a new link.

I have changed my email address. Who do I need to contact?

Contact the Submissions and Research Degrees Team (contact details on the left-hand side of this web page) with your new details.

What happens if the title of a thesis has been changed, but the original title is showing on the upload screen?

This could be because either the candidate hasn’t informed their GSA and Submissions and Research Degrees Team of the new title or there is a delay in processing the title change.

What happens if I realise that the student has not submitted an accompanying document which is referred to in the main thesis document?

You should contact the Submissions and Research Degrees Team (contact details on the left-hand side of this web page), who will arrange for the files to be made available.

Is it safe to download files using the provided links?

Yes, the files have been checked for viruses and are safe to download.

I received an email not meant for me. What should I do?

Forward the email to the Submissions and Research Degrees Team (contact details on the left-hand side of this web page) stating why you shouldn’t have received the email.

What are the additional files for?

The additional files are any document(s) that are part of the thesis but either too large to be included with it or of a different media type to the main body of the thesis. This could include sound recordings, photographs, programming, video, etc.

What happens if an examiner has downloaded the thesis, which the student has now realised is the ‘wrong’ file?

The student will need to contact the Research Degrees Team in the first instance.

How do I zip or/and unzip files and what can I include in my ZIP files?

You need to use a program or app to create or open a ZIP file, if unsure please talk to your local IT support team.

I have reached the maximum number of downloads. What should I do?

Please contact the Submissions and Research Degrees Team (contact details on the left-hand side of this web page). They will be able to reset the number of downloads permitted.

The student has sent me their thesis copy by email. Why do I need this version?

The RTDS version is the offical submission. Please do not accept any other version from the student. This could lead to the examination being deemed void.

Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

• Graduate school
• Information and resources for supervisors

Writing up, Submission and the Viva

This section provides information about Writing up, Submission and the Viva, including links to relevant regulations and useful information and resources.

Contents of this section (please scroll down to see each):

INTRODUCTION AND KEY STAGES OF COMPLETION

KEY UNIVERSITY DOCUMENTS AND REGULATIONS

DIVISIONAL REGULATIONS, GUIDANCE AND FORMS

OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES

introduction and key stages of completion

DPhil students are usually expected to submit their thesis within three or four years (12 terms) of being admitted as Probationer Researcher Student (PRS). Part time DPhil students are usually expected to submit their thesis within eight years (24 terms).

MSc by Research (MSc(R)) students are usually expected to submit their thesis within two or three years of being admitted as Probationer Research Student (PRS), although some may complete within one year.

The expected completion date for both full time and part time students is six months after the submission date; this is to allow for the Viva examination to take place, and for the student to complete any minor corrections and re-submit the thesis. NB these extra six months should not be used to complete any research, as the maximum submission date remains the same . 

Extensions:  Should circumstances arise where your student may need to apply for an extension, you can find information on what they should do on the page on Extensions and Suspensions .

Thesis Standard:  DPhil - The standard required for success in the DPhil examination is defined as follows: that the student present a significant and substantial piece of research, of a kind which might reasonably be expected of a capable and diligent student after three or at most four years of full time study in the case of a full-time student, or eight years in the case of a part-time student.  MSc (R):  The standard required for success in the MSc (R) examination is defined as follows: that the candidate should have made a worthwhile contribution to knowledge or understanding of the relevant field of learning after a minimum of one year or two years of full-time study.

It is important to note that at Oxford the examination assessment is completely independent of the student’s supervisor. While of course the supervisor offers support and advice, the outcome will rest on the recommendations of the examiners, and final approval by the relevant board. You should familiarise yourself with Section 7 of the University’s Policy on Research Degrees , which deals with examination.

Your department’s Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) will be able to advise you on the examination process and procedures, including guidance on examination criteria. 

As supervisor you may advise the Director of Graduate Studies if there are any special factors which should be taken into account in the conduct of your student’s examination. For example, a scientific paper may have been produced by another researcher which affects the content of the thesis, but which was published too late for it to be taken into account. You should also advise the Director of Graduate Studies if the student has any special needs that might affect their performance in the oral examination, or if any part of their work must be regarded as confidential. The Director of Graduate Studies will forward, via the Graduate Office, any appropriate information that they think should be provided to the examiners. The Graduate Office will then seek approval from the Proctors Office if required.

Form GSO.20a  provides notes and guidance for the student on the whole submission process.

Download an overview of the examination process (PDF)  from the University of Oxford website.

The key stages of completion are:

Writing the Thesis

In the MPLS Division some departments permit students to submit their thesis as an integrated thesis

You / your student should also check the examination regulations for any word or page limits.

You should work with your student to create a plan for writing up, and encourage them to start writing up early so that any hold ups or unexpected events can be absorbed more easily. 

Appointment of Examiners

It is your responsibility as the supervisor to identify and propose appropriate examiners for your student. There are normally two, one internal and one external. The internal examiner is usually a senior member of Oxford University; the external examiner usually from another research organisation. Section 7 of the University’s Policy on Research Degrees provides further information on the appointment of examiners, particularly on who may act and what might be considered as a conflict of interest.

The application for the appointment of examiners should be made no earlier than the term before, and ideally no later than 4-6 weeks before the intended submission.

You should consult with your student before making final decisions about proposed examiners, and you are encouraged to contact potential examiners informally to determine whether they are willing in principle to act and, if so, whether they are able to carry out the examination within a reasonable period of time. The process is:

• Student completes their sections of the GSO.3 , Application for the Appointment of Examiners (via My student record in student self service)
• Supervisor completes their section indicating names of the proposed examiners, and they should provide alternatives in case the preferred examiners decline to act.
• Supervisor choice of examiners is approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. (The University Regulations make reference to department, faculty or divisional board as being the decision making body in relation to examiner appointments. In MPLS this authority is delegated to the Director of Graduate Studies)
• The completed GSO.3 form is processed by the MPLS Divisional Graduate Office.
• The Exam Schools issue the formal invitations to the examiners.

submitting the thesis

Students are only permitted to submit their thesis when they have successfully completed the Transfer and Confirmation of Status milestones (Confirmation of Status is only required for DPhil Students, not for M.Sc(R) students.)

The final decision on when to submit is the student’s, noting that those funded by a research council may have a specified date by which they are expected to submit. It is of course in their interest to involve the supervisor at all stages, and to make the final version of the thesis available to you for your final comments in good time before they submit.

You should encourage your student to ensure that their standard of English is sufficient for the presentation of the thesis, and to pay particular attention to the final proof–reading. Read more information about layout and presentation of the thesis . It is the student’s responsibility to ensure their thesis has been adequately proof-read before it is submitted.   As the student’s supervisor, you should tell the student if you notice that further proof-reading is required when reading a final draft.  However, it is not your responsibility to proof-read the student’s work.  Neither is proof-reading the job of the examiners: the student should not submit a thesis which requires further proof-reading, and should employ a professional proof-reader for this purpose if necessary.

Theses should be submitted via the   Research Thesis Digital Submission   (RTDS) portal. The University’s deadline for submission is no later than the last day of the vacation immediately following the term in which the students application for the appointment of examiners was made.

Copies of the thesis should NOT be given direct to the examiners as this could result in the examination being declared void and the student could be referred to the University Proctors.

It is normally expected that the Viva examination should take place within three months of thesis submission, although there are no regulations requiring it to happen within a defined period of time. The actual date of the exam will depend primarily on the availability of both examiners; it is worth noting that more time is usually needed to arrange the date during the Long Vacation. The internal examiner is responsible for arranging the date; they will contact the student once a date has been arranged.

If your student needs to have their viva sooner than three months after submitting the thesis, they may apply for an early viva when completing the application for appointment of examiners form. The examination date requested must not be earlier than one calendar month after the date on which the thesis has been received by the Research Degrees Team  or  after the date on which the examiners have formally agreed to act, whichever is the latest. The actual date of the examination will depend primarily on the availability of both examiners. In the Long Vacation, a longer time is normally required.  It is important that your student allows sufficient time for forms to be approved and examiners to be formally invited. If sufficient time has not be given this could impact on the early examination request.

If, for any reason, examiners wish to hold a viva within four weeks of receiving their copy of the thesis, permission must be sought from the Director of Graduate Studies. The internal examiner will need to give details of the proposed arrangement and the reasons for the request. Under no circumstances will a viva normally be permitted to take place within 14 days of receipt of the thesis by the examiners.

Students and supervisors should not contact examiners themselves except to agree the date for the viva; if examiners have not been in touch within a month of receiving the thesis, the Research Degrees team  will contact them.

Your student should wear appropriate academic dress and take a copy of their thesis to the viva.

Examiners will be provided with the Memorandum for Examiners for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy ( GS0.5 ), or Memorandum of Guidance for M.Sc Examiners ( GSO.7a ), which give information about the purpose and formal requirements of the viva, the practical arrangements, the conduct of the exam and the requirements of the examiners’ report.  They will also be sent a copy of the MPLS Division's additional notes of guidance for examiners .

For more information about regulations and the purpose of the viva,  see section 7, about examination, of the University’s Policy on Research Degrees about the viva.

DPhil (first) Examination:  Examiners must choose one of the following outcomes: 

1. Award of the DPhil (possibly with minor corrections)

2. Major corrections to the thesis

3. Reference back (for revision) for DPhil or award of the M.Sc (as the thesis stands or subject to minor corrections) as the student may choose

 4. Reference back (for revision) for the DPhil or (for revision) for the M.Sc as the student may choose

 If the student chooses to revise and resubmit for the DPhil the following options will also be available to the examiners on the next examination: 

5. Reference back (for revision) for the M.Sc only

6. Award of the M.Sc

7. Outright failure

M.Sc (R) (first) Examination : examiners must choose one of the following outcomes: 

1. Award of the M.Sc (possibly with minor corrections)

2. Reference back (for revision) for the M.Sc

If the student chooses to revise and resubmit for the M.Sc the following option will also be available to the examiners on the next examination:

3. Outright failure

Full guidance on these is set out in the University's Memorandum of Guidance for DPhil Examiners ( GS0.5 ) and Memorandum of Guidance for M.Sc Examiners ( GSO.7a ).

Deposit of hard copy thesis to the bodleian and e-theses to ora

If your student is granted leave to supplicate they are no longer required to submit a hard-bound copy of their thesis to the Examination Schools in order to graduate. This includes any students who were unable to submit a hardbound copy due to COVID-19 social distancing measures in the 2019/20 & 2020/21 academic year.

However, all candidates do need to submit an electronic copy (incorporating any amendments required by the examiners) to the Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) a minimum of five working days prior to their graduation date. Students will not be able to attend a degree ceremony (even in absentia) without doing so.

key university documents and regulations

The University’s Policy on Research Degrees

Section 7 of the University’s Policy on Research Degrees, which covers examination : 

Examination Regulations – General Regulations Governing Research Degrees

Examinations Regulations – General Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Examinations Regulations – General Regulations for the Degree of Master of Science by Research

divisional regulations, guidance and forms

Examination regulations for Research Degrees in the MPLS Division

Subject Specific Examination Regulations:

• Biological Sciences (Biology)
• Mathematical Sciences (Computer Science, Mathematics & Statistics)
• Physical Sciences (Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering Science, Materials & Physics)

MPLS Additional Notes of Guidance for Examiners  

MPLS student webpages on submitting your thesis and examination .

other useful resources

Some departments organise briefing and discussion sessions for their supervisors, which are useful opportunities to update yourself on regulations and processes, and to share practice and discuss experiences. Please contact your Director of Graduate Studies to find out if your department is planning such a session. 

MPLS Divisional training courses for DPhil students

Submissions

Bsc applied accounting project submissions.

RAP submission period 48 will open on Wednesday 1 May 2024. 

The closing date for submissions is Wednesday 8 May 2024 at 13:00 UK time.

If you submit a Research and Analysis Project, it is assumed that you have read the Information Pack. Please read the Information Pack carefully prior to submission. There are sections on submission and resubmission.

If you try to log on or register before Wednesday 1 May 2024 , you will receive an error message.

Step 1: registration

You will need to go to the submission portal where you will need to create an account. Please see our privacy notice .

It is very important that you provide accurate information. Be very careful to enter your ACCA number and date of birth accurately. These are used to verify your identity and to check your eligibility.

If we need to, we will contact you by email. Please check your email account regularly. If you change email address update your account in the system.

You are also asked to provide a postal address. This is so we can send out degree certificates to successful students. This is likely to be in 8 or 9 month's time. If you move around regularly, it is vital you provide a postal address from which you can collect your certificate. Update the information in your account if necessary.

Please see the PDF document Registration on the Oxford Brookes RAP submission portal for further guidance.

Submission portal

Step 2: submission

After you have registered you need to upload your documents and submit your project. Then you are taken to the payment page (see step 3).

Please see the PDF document Submission of Research and Analysis Project .

Please take your time and follow the instructions carefully.

There are limits to the size of file you can upload. Appendices are limited to 2MB and you must not upload copies of Annual Reports or Financial Statements.

Please take care when uploading your documents - make sure you upload the correct version of the file. If you inadvertently make a mistake, please contact [email protected]  who may be able to help. Please note OBU will not replace the documents you have submitted. It is your responsibility to ensure that the documents you upload are the ones you want marked.

When you upload your documents, the system converts the files and uploads the RR and SLS to Turnitin. This process can take up to 72 hours. It results in a change to the file names and can also change the file size. During the process, the file size will appear as 0.0B, please do not be alarmed by this or email us.

If you encounter any issues in the final hours before the deadline please email the programme administration [email protected] outlining the issue and include your ACCA number. Please attach the documents you wish to submit as this demonstrates your intention to submit. Not attaching the documents may result in a refusal by the programme to accept your submission.

Submission instructions

Step 3: payment

You are required to pay a submission fee to Oxford Brookes University. The fee is £495

Once you have submitted your project you will have the opportunity to proceed to payment. Please follow the instructions carefully.

It is not necessary to pay at the point of your submission however the University will not award any students their degree if there are outstanding fees owed. You can return to the submission portal and make a payment at any time within the submission period.

If you do not have access to a credit or debit card, please send a cheque or banker's draft for £495  sterling payable to “Oxford Brookes University” (with your name and ACCA number on the back) to:

James Wakenell, ACCA Office

CLC G.15, Oxford Brookes Business School

Oxford Brookes University

Oxford OX3 0BP, UK

Privacy notice

Oxford Brookes University (OBU) will be the Data Controller of any personal data that you supply. This means that they will make the decisions on how your data is used and for what reasons. 

Why do we need your data?

We need this data in order to process your submission and get your data record from CCA in order to calculate your award and to post out your award. OBU’s legal basis for collecting this data is:

• OBU need to use this to enter into a contract with you or maintain an existing one
• We have a legal obligation to use your data (such as reporting statistical data to government etc)

If OBU asks you for special category data such as; racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade-union membership, data concerning health or sexual life, genetic/biometric data or criminal records we will use these data because:

• You have given us explicit consent to do so
• We need to use this data for legal purposes
• We need this data for the completion of statistical returns, both statutory and voluntary

Who will OBU share your data with?

• ACCA ( view ACCA privacy notice )
• Calibrand - providers of submissions portal and marking platform for RAP ( view Calibrand privacy notice )
• Google Inc. - providers of email and productivity software ( view Google privacy notice )
• Ellucian - provider of student records system for Oxford Brookes University ( view Ellucian privacy notice )
• HESA ( view HESA privacy notice ) - the Higher Education Statistics Agency are the experts in UK higher education and publish official statistics about students in higher education

Will OBU transfer my data out of the EEA?

What rights do i have regarding my personal data that obu holds.

• You have the right to be informed
• You have the right of access to your data
• You have the right to correct data if it is wrong
• You have the right to ask for your data to be deleted
• You have the right to restrict use of the data we hold
• You have the right to data portability
• You have the right to object to OBU using your data
• You have rights in relation to using your data automated decision making and profiling

Are there any consequences of not providing the requested data?

We will be unable to send you a transcript and certificate.

Will there be any automated decision making using my data?

How long will obu keep my data.

End of registered student relationship + 6 years.

Who can I contact if I have concerns?

If you have a query about enrolling or the administration of the ACCA programme please contact the ACCA programme admin team through the usual channels.

If you have a Data Protection query, you can contact the Information Security Management team by email: [email protected] . Please note that the Information Security Management team only deal with Information Security concerns.

You can contact the independent Brookes Data Protection Officer. Email: [email protected]

Details of the national regulator may be found at ico.org.uk

Back to top

Cookie statement

Theses and dissertations

Read our guidance for finding and accessing theses and dissertations held by the Bodleian Libraries and other institutions.

DPhil and postgraduate open access portal

Welcome to the open access portal page for DPhils at Oxford, where we have compiled links and information specific to your work.

On this page

What applies to you, responsibilities and options, training for dphils, how to make your research open, tools and resources to help, oxford university open access publications policy.

The University’s 2018 Open Access policy applies to research students and asks them to deposit journal articles and other research outputs, including research data, into ORA.

Depositing your thesis

DPhils at Oxford will need to deposit their thesis into the Oxford University Research Archive. Learn more on the Bodleian Libraries guide to ORA.

Funded DPhil?

If your DPhil is funded your outputs (including your thesis) may be subject to your funder's open access requirements.

Back to top

UKRI-funded DPhils at Oxford

What is covered.

If you are a DPhil student who is funded by UKRI for the entirety of your DPhil, then the UKRI open access policy applies to:

• your thesis 
• publications based on your DPhil funded research during your DPhil
• publications based on your DPhil funded research after you have finished your DPhil (see below on re-use of data).

Note: After 1st January 2024, this will include monographs and book chapters.

If you are funded for a specific piece of work during your DPhil, then the UKRI open access policy applies to that specific piece of work.

Learn about UKRI’s open access policy

Official wording

The  UKRI Terms and conditions for training funding  state in section 11 Exploitation and Impact that:

11.4 Students supported by the Training Grant shall, subject to the procedures laid down by the Research Organisation, publish the results of their research, excluding theses (see TGC 11.5), funded by the Training Grant, in accordance with normal academic practice and  Our policy on open access . Publications and other forms of media communication, including media appearances, press releases and conferences,  must acknowledge the support received  from Us, quoting the Training Grant reference number if appropriate.  Please see details on how to acknowledge funding from UKRI.

Go to our templates page to find official acknowledgement wording

Grants awarded before the policy start date, and closed grants

The policy applies to a publication arising from pre-existing and closed awards if it is an in-scope research article submitted for publication on or after 1 April 2022, or an in-scope monograph, book chapter or edited collection published on or after 1 January 2024.

Thesis deposit and embargoes

You will need to deposit a copy of your thesis into the Oxford University Research Archive.

UKRI have several requirements for this that are outlined on the thesis LibGuide. 

Go to the University of Oxford thesis LibGuide

Training for Oxford DPhils depositing their thesis

Journal articles and conference papers

• have published a journal article or conference paper
• and this is during your DPhil (or after – see below about the re-use of data)
• and it acknowledges the funding from your DPhil

then the UKRI open access policy applies to this work and you may apply for funds from our Oxford-held block grant to assist with compliance. (Please note the criteria for payment and funder requirements.)

Apply to the Oxford University UKRI APC block grant

Book chapters

• have published a book chapter
• and publication is after 1st January 2024

then the post-1st January 2024 policy on book chapters will apply.

Monographs based on your thesis

There are special exemptions to the 1st January 2024 open access monograph policy for "UKRI issued training grant" students who are publishing a monograph based on their thesis.

You do not need to follow the open access monograph section of the policy . However, you are allowed to apply for open access funding from the monograph fund hosted by UKRI either through your new institution or as a solo researcher. This would allow you to benefit from an open access monograph.

Publishing works unrelated to your UKRI DPhil funding

If, for example, you publish an article that is a re-written version of your masters dissertation and UKRI did not fund this masters, then UKRI will not be acknowledged on that paper and therefore you do not need to follow the policy.

You can, of course deposit the article into ORA for ‘green’ open access or make use of publisher deals to publish ‘gold’ open access if you wish.

If you feel you need to acknowledge your research funding, then the policy will need to be followed for applicable outputs.

Publishing outputs based on UKRI-funded DPhil data

If an output is a result or adaptation of research that you undertook while having UKRI funding, then that output needs to comply with UKRI open access policy.

Any subsequent work created by building on data collected during a DPhil is considered a secondary project and would not need to comply.

For example, if a UKRI-funded DPhil

• writes a thesis based on research they carried out while they were UKRI funded
• makes their thesis open access in accordance with the rules of their training grant
• goes on to do additional post-doc research funded from another source, though building on the data collected during their DPhil

then they wouldn’t be subject to the UKRI policy, because the second research project, even though it draws on existing data, is a separate exercise.

However, if they

• adapt the thesis into a journal article using content which is broadly the same as the thesis
• acknowledge funding received during their doctorate
• are using data collected during the DPhil which has not yet been used for their thesis or any published work

then they ought to comply and acknowledge UKRI.

Funding for publication

If you are publishing articles and conference papers that are in scope of the UKRI open access policy (see above) you may apply for funds from the block grant.

Note payment exemptions and fund status.

If you are publishing in a journal covered by an Oxford-signed publisher deal during the duration of your DPhil, you should submit using your @ox.ac.uk email address and make use of the deal.

Note: many deals will not be available to you after you have left the University.

If you are publishing a monograph based on your thesis you may apply for open access publication funding from the UKRI managed monograph fund.

Note: there is no guarantee of funding as this output is ‘out of scope’ for the policy.

The REF and DPhils

DPhil students may publish outputs that are later submitted to the REF, but those produced while they were a student are exempt because they were not employed by a UK higher education institution at the time of submission for publication.

Unfunded Dphils

DPhils who are not in receipt of funds for open access payments can achieve open access through other routes.

Learn more about unfunded routes to open access

EXPLORE THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD'S WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH

Members of the University of Oxford can deposit a wide range of research to ORA including articles, conference papers, theses and data.

Latest additions

• Dynamic BAF chromatin remodeling complex subunit inclusion promotes temporally distinct gene expression programs in cardiogenesis
• Measurement of associated J/ψ - ψ (2 S ) production cross-section in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV
• A contact binary satellite of the asteroid (152830) Dinkinesh
• Measurements of the branching fraction ratio B ϕ → μ + μ − / B ϕ → e + e − with charm meson decays
• Harnessing stimuli‐responsive biomaterials for advanced biomedical applications

Discover research from University of Oxford

• Search Menu
• Sign in through your institution
• Advance Articles
• Editor's Choice
• Braunwald's Corner
• ESC Guidelines
• EHJ Dialogues
• Issue @ a Glance Podcasts
• CardioPulse
• Weekly Journal Scan
• European Heart Journal Supplements
• Year in Cardiovascular Medicine
• Asia in EHJ
• Most Cited Articles
• ESC Content Collections
• Author Guidelines
• Submission Site
• Why publish with EHJ?
• Open Access Options
• Submit from medRxiv or bioRxiv
• Author Resources
• Self-Archiving Policy
• Read & Publish
• Advertising and Corporate Services
• Advertising
• Reprints and ePrints
• Sponsored Supplements
• Journals Career Network
• About European Heart Journal
• Editorial Board
• About the European Society of Cardiology
• ESC Publications
• War in Ukraine
• ESC Membership
• ESC Journals App
• Developing Countries Initiative
• Dispatch Dates
• Terms and Conditions
• Journals on Oxford Academic
• Books on Oxford Academic

Article Contents

Risk of heart failure in inflammatory bowel disease: a swedish population-based study.

• Article contents
• Figures & tables
• Supplementary Data

Jiangwei Sun, Jialu Yao, Ola Olén, Jonas Halfvarson, David Bergman, Fahim Ebrahimi, Annika Rosengren, Johan Sundström, Jonas F Ludvigsson, Risk of heart failure in inflammatory bowel disease: a Swedish population-based study, European Heart Journal , 2024;, ehae338, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae338

• Permissions Icon Permissions

Dysregulation of inflammatory and immune responses has been implicated in the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF). But even if inflammation is a prerequisite for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), little is known about HF risk in IBD.

In this Swedish nationwide cohort, patients with biopsy-confirmed IBD were identified between 1969 and 2017 [n = 81,749, Crohn’s disease (CD, n = 24,303), ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 45,709), and IBD-unclassified (IBD-U, n = 11,737)]. Each patient was matched with up to five general population reference individuals (n = 382,190) and IBD-free full siblings (n = 95,239) and followed until 31 December 2019. Flexible parametric survival models estimated the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and standardized cumulative incidence for HF, with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

There were 5,582 incident HF identified in IBD patients (incidence rate [IR]: 50.3/10,000 person-years) and 20,343 in reference individuals (IR: 37.9) during a median follow-up of 12.4 years. IBD patients had a higher risk of HF than reference individuals (aHR 1.19, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.23). This increased risk remained significant ≥20 years after IBD diagnosis, leading to one extra HF case per 130 IBD patients until then. The increased risk was also observed across IBD subtypes: CD (IR: 46.9 vs. 34.4; aHR 1.28 [1.20 to 1.36]), UC (IR: 50.1 vs. 39.7; aHR 1.14 [1.09 to 1.19]), and IBD-U (IR: 60.9 vs. 39.0; aHR 1.28 [1.16 to 1.42]). Sibling-controlled analyses showed slightly attenuated association (IBD: aHR 1.10 [1.03 to 1.19]).

Patients with IBD had a moderately higher risk of developing HF for ≥20 years after IBD diagnosis than the general population.

• heart failure
• inflammatory bowel disease

Supplementary data

Email alerts, companion article.

• Human Immunology of Heart Failure: Deconstructing Inflammatory Risk

Related articles in PubMed

Citing articles via, looking for your next opportunity, affiliations.

• Online ISSN 1522-9645
• Print ISSN 0195-668X
• Copyright © 2024 European Society of Cardiology
• About Oxford Academic
• Publish journals with us
• University press partners
• What we publish
• New features  
• Open access
• Institutional account management
• Rights and permissions
• Get help with access
• Accessibility
• Media enquiries
• Oxford University Press
• Oxford Languages
• University of Oxford

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide

• Copyright © 2024 Oxford University Press
• Cookie settings
• Cookie policy
• Privacy policy
• Legal notice

This Feature Is Available To Subscribers Only

Sign In or Create an Account

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

For full access to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, or purchase an annual subscription.

Submitting your thesis to ORA: Oxford Research Theses and predatory publishers

• Eligible degrees
• Requirements
• What to deposit
• Pre-deposit checklist
• Hardcopy thesis submission
• How to deposit
• Open Access
• Pre-publication concerns
• Restricted access to your thesis
• Edited/dissemination copy of your thesis

Oxford Research Theses and predatory publishers

• Funder/sponsor requirements
• Third party copyright
• Fair dealing
• RightsLink®
• Google Maps/Permissions
• Creative Commons
• Unable to get copyright permissions
• Separate appendix
• Plagiarism concerns
• Information for Supervisors
• Digital preservation
• Visibility of your thesis
• Persistent URLS

Please be aware that the author of the thesis usually [1] holds the copyright of their thesis. The University of Oxford does not assert copyright over research theses.

A number of Oxford research students consider publishing their thesis as a monograph and may spend significant time finding a publisher and going through the editorial process. 

Some early career researchers are approached by external organisations to publish their thesis.  Understandably, this can be flattering for the researcher. Although some unsolicited approaches are from reputable publishers, many of these offers are from predatory publishers [2] . 

Typically a predatory publisher wants to obtain the thesis copyright, meaning you would relinquish control over your own work, including how or where it is used, or to whom it may be sold for the publisher’s sole profit.

The following should be kept in mind:

• However, please be aware that some funding bodies exert an influence on whether, but usually when, the thesis content is released publicly
• Authors are strongly advised to research carefully any unsolicited publishing offer and the publishing company making the offer to ensure that the company is reputable and their intentions acceptable
• Any paperwork or agreement issued by the publisher should be read carefully, particularly in regards to copyright transfer and future use of the work

Queries should be addressed to subject librarians in the first instance. 

[1] If your thesis forms part of a body of research being carried out by your Department, Research Group or a Doctoral Training Centre, you may need to clarify this.

[2] The University of Cambridge has a very helpful page on predatory publishers .

Oxford Research Archive (ORA)

ORA (Oxford University Research Archive)   is the institutional repository for the University of Oxford and is home to the scholarly output of its research members. 

Contact us at:  [email protected] , or via our contact form .

• << Previous: Edited/dissemination copy of your thesis
• Next: Funder/sponsor requirements >>
• Last Updated: May 17, 2024 12:38 PM
• URL: https://libguides.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/digitaltheses

Website feedback

Accessibility Statement - https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/accessibility

Google Analytics - Bodleian Libraries use Google Analytics cookies on this web site. Google Analytics anonymously tracks individual visitor behaviour on this web site so that we can see how LibGuides is being used. We only use this information for monitoring and improving our websites and content for the benefit of our users (you). You can opt out of Google Analytics cookies completely (from all websites) by visiting https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

© Bodleian Libraries 2021. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence