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Open Access theses

By Kirsty, on 31 March 2021

Among the many things that can be made Open Access; publications, data, software, and so many more, it is now increasingly more common for PhD theses to be made Open Access. This can be a great resource when you are undertaking your own PhD to get an idea of scope, structure and can be a great source of ideas.

Finding Open Access theses

UCL Library Services manages the DART-Europe service, the premier European portal for the discovery of open access research theses.  At the time of writing, this service provides access to over one million research theses from 564 Universities in 29 European countries.  It was founded in 2005 as a partnership of national and university libraries and consortia to improve global access to European research theses.  It does this by harvesting data from thesis repositories at contributing institutions, including from UCL Discovery (see below), and providing a link to at least one open access electronic copy of each thesis.  The theses themselves are located on the websites of the contributing institutions.

Users of the DART-Europe portal can search this vast database by keyword, or browse by country or institution, and view the research theses in full, without charge.  New theses are added every day, from doctoral and research masters programmes in every academic discipline.  For more information about the service, please contact the DART-Europe team .  Institutions not currently represented in the portal can view information on how to contribute to DART-Europe .

In normal times, the digitisation of doctoral theses can also be requested on an individual basis through the British Library’s e-theses online service (EThOS) .  This is a database of all UK doctoral theses held in university library collections, with links to open access copies in institutional repositories, and hosted directly in EThOS, where available.  If an electronic copy is not available, you can create an account with the service to request digitisation of the print copy: this prompts the institution where the thesis is held to find and check the print thesis, and then send it to the British Library’s facility at Boston Spa for digitisation.  Please note that this process incurs a charge (which is indicated during the requesting process) and is currently suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Your thesis – UCL Discovery

Since the 2008-09 academic year, UCL students studying for doctoral and research master’s degrees have been required to submit an electronic copy of their thesis to the Library as a mandatory condition of the award of their degree.  Students are encouraged to make their theses openly available in UCL Discovery , our open access institutional repository, although in practice access can be restricted for a number of reasons if necessary.  A citation of the thesis appears in UCL Discovery even if access to the full text is restricted.

Older theses have also been digitised and added to UCL Discovery retrospectively.  The bulk of this work has been carried out as part of a specific project covering over 10,000 theses from 1990 to 2008.  This project is ongoing but mostly complete: over 7,000 digitised theses have been added to UCL Discovery during the last twelve months alone by Library Services staff who have not been able to carry out their normal work due to COVID-19 restrictions.

If you cannot access a UCL thesis which is listed online through these methods, please contact the Open Access Team , who will be able to provide advice on options for obtaining access.

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Tags: Doctoral theses , open access , Thesis

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UCL European & International Social & Political Studies

Past Dissertations

Below are the titles of dissertations completed by last year's finalists. For older examples, please click on the appropriate year in the list at the end of the page.

Dissertations of Finalists 2020

• Memes + urban planning
• A response to #takebackcontrol: is increased national parliamentary involvement the answer to the democratic deficit in the EU? The case of the Bundestag and EU affairs.
• Refugee law
• Richard Arkwright, Early Industrialists, and the Changing Relations between State and Economic Regulation in the Long Eighteenth Century.
• Environmental Human Rights: the emergence, evolution and diffusion of a new norm.
• Applying deterrence theory to economic cyber conflict: Evaluating the strengths and limitations of a deterrence framework for mitigating conflict in economic cyberspace
• Economic insecurity, cultural clash, or politics of disillusionment? Explaining the success of the AfD in Germany.
• Humanitarianism and the case of Venezuela
• The Spanish and German transitions to democracy.
• Critical aspects of the EU asylum policy
• L'écriture inclusive: Gender neutrality in a gendered language
• Climate Security
• Democratic theory
• Something is Rotten in the State of Denmark: The 2015 Refugee Crisis and it’s Role in the Neo-Liberalisation of the Danish Welfare State
• Visible vexation: charting the evolution of the Yellow Vest movement through visual data (working title)
• The response of the EU to populism
• The relationship between autocratic repression and education development in Africa
• Foreign Policy of the European Union
• The evolution of France and China diplomatic relations: the EU as a mediator?
• Music in society, and how music is used as a tool of social change
• The failed democratization of the DRC (Congo)
• How do gendered assumptions affect discourses about global citizenship, and what implications does this have for the roles envisaged for women and girls within it?
• Does the domestic Euroskeptic narrative of populist parties carry through into a  coherent voting behaviour in the European Parliament?
• A comparative approach to the High Representatives of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
• Human rights in post-conflict situations
• German immigration policies from a socio-economic and demographic approach.

Further Dissertation Examples

Thesis Template for University College London

UCL Thesis LaTeX Template © Ian Kirker, 2014

This is a template/skeleton for PhD/MPhil/MRes theses. It uses a rather split-up file structure because this tends to work well for large, complex documents. We suggest using one file per chapter, but you may wish to use more or fewer separate files than that. We've also separated out various bits of configuration into their own files, to keep everything neat.

Downloaded from https://github.com/UCL/ucl-latex-thesis-templates

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Prize-Winning Thesis and Dissertation Examples

Published on 9 September 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on 6 April 2023.

It can be difficult to know where to start when writing your thesis or dissertation . One way to come up with some ideas or maybe even combat writer’s block is to check out previous work done by other students.

This article collects a list of undergraduate, master’s, and PhD theses and dissertations that have won prizes for their high-quality research.

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Table of contents

Award-winning undergraduate theses, award-winning master’s theses, award-winning ph.d. dissertations.

University : University of Pennsylvania Faculty : History Author : Suchait Kahlon Award : 2021 Hilary Conroy Prize for Best Honors Thesis in World History Title : “Abolition, Africans, and Abstraction: the Influence of the “Noble Savage” on British and French Antislavery Thought, 1787-1807”

University : Columbia University Faculty : History Author : Julien Saint Reiman Award : 2018 Charles A. Beard Senior Thesis Prize Title : “A Starving Man Helping Another Starving Man”: UNRRA, India, and the Genesis of Global Relief, 1943-1947

University: University College London Faculty: Geography Author: Anna Knowles-Smith Award:  2017 Royal Geographical Society Undergraduate Dissertation Prize Title:  Refugees and theatre: an exploration of the basis of self-representation

University: University of Washington Faculty:  Computer Science & Engineering Author: Nick J. Martindell Award: 2014 Best Senior Thesis Award Title:  DCDN: Distributed content delivery for the modern web

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University:  University of Edinburgh Faculty:  Informatics Author:  Christopher Sipola Award:  2018 Social Responsibility & Sustainability Dissertation Prize Title:  Summarizing electricity usage with a neural network

University:  University of Ottawa Faculty:  Education Author:  Matthew Brillinger Award:  2017 Commission on Graduate Studies in the Humanities Prize Title:  Educational Park Planning in Berkeley, California, 1965-1968

University:  University of Ottawa Faculty: Social Sciences Author:  Heather Martin Award:  2015 Joseph De Koninck Prize Title:  An Analysis of Sexual Assault Support Services for Women who have a Developmental Disability

University : University of Ottawa Faculty : Physics Author : Guillaume Thekkadath Award : 2017 Commission on Graduate Studies in the Sciences Prize Title : Joint measurements of complementary properties of quantum systems

University:  London School of Economics Faculty: International Development Author: Lajos Kossuth Award:  2016 Winner of the Prize for Best Overall Performance Title:  Shiny Happy People: A study of the effects income relative to a reference group exerts on life satisfaction

University : Stanford University Faculty : English Author : Nathan Wainstein Award : 2021 Alden Prize Title : “Unformed Art: Bad Writing in the Modernist Novel”

University : University of Massachusetts at Amherst Faculty : Molecular and Cellular Biology Author : Nils Pilotte Award : 2021 Byron Prize for Best Ph.D. Dissertation Title : “Improved Molecular Diagnostics for Soil-Transmitted Molecular Diagnostics for Soil-Transmitted Helminths”

University:  Utrecht University Faculty:  Linguistics Author:  Hans Rutger Bosker Award: 2014 AVT/Anéla Dissertation Prize Title:  The processing and evaluation of fluency in native and non-native speech

University: California Institute of Technology Faculty: Physics Author: Michael P. Mendenhall Award: 2015 Dissertation Award in Nuclear Physics Title: Measurement of the neutron beta decay asymmetry using ultracold neutrons

University:  Stanford University Faculty: Management Science and Engineering Author:  Shayan O. Gharan Award:  Doctoral Dissertation Award 2013 Title:   New Rounding Techniques for the Design and Analysis of Approximation Algorithms

University: University of Minnesota Faculty: Chemical Engineering Author: Eric A. Vandre Award:  2014 Andreas Acrivos Dissertation Award in Fluid Dynamics Title: Onset of Dynamics Wetting Failure: The Mechanics of High-speed Fluid Displacement

University: Erasmus University Rotterdam Faculty: Marketing Author: Ezgi Akpinar Award: McKinsey Marketing Dissertation Award 2014 Title: Consumer Information Sharing: Understanding Psychological Drivers of Social Transmission

University: University of Washington Faculty: Computer Science & Engineering Author: Keith N. Snavely Award:  2009 Doctoral Dissertation Award Title: Scene Reconstruction and Visualization from Internet Photo Collections

University:  University of Ottawa Faculty:  Social Work Author:  Susannah Taylor Award: 2018 Joseph De Koninck Prize Title:  Effacing and Obscuring Autonomy: the Effects of Structural Violence on the Transition to Adulthood of Street Involved Youth

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A primary source is a first-hand expression or evidence of an event or experience. This evidence can be in the form of the written word, images, artefacts, data, film or sound recordings, and will have been created at some point during the lifetime of the person involved. Using primary sources in your research adds context and credibility to your argument. Primary sources will vary depending upon what is being studied.

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UCL Dissertation Victory – 10 Key Steps for Writing a Brilliant Paper

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A dissertation is a long form of original research presented by master’s and doctoral students. It is considered the final step to completing a PhD. Being a UCL (University College London) student you should add something more to make your institution prestigious. For this, you must write an award-winning UCL Dissertation to secure a position in the employment market. 

According to the QS world ranking, UCL is in 9th place among the various universities in the UK. It is a multidisciplinary university with 16,000 faculty members and approximately 50,000 students from 150 countries. The acceptance rate is 48% and stands out among the competitive universities. 

In another report published by Statista, on Jan 4, 2024, UCL holds the highest number of students. The number is 46,830 during the academic year 2021/2022, which is comparatively higher than other universities.

The increased number of students show great interest in the research activities facilitated by UCL. RIGE (Research, Innovation and Global Engagement) is a research department led by Professor Geraint Rees a UCL Vice-Provost. This research centre aims to give students good strategies for powerful dissertation writing.

Let’s explore the how and why of the UCL dissertation to make a difference in the world.

Understanding the UCL Dissertation?

As discussed above, a dissertation is long form of writing based on your research project. Specifically, the UCL dissertation has aligned criteria. It includes the basic format IMRaD – (Introduction, methodology, results & discussion). 

There are different programs such as Economics, History, Literature, Philosophy etc. So, every subject demands outstanding research skills to write a winning dissertation. To sound proficient, you can also benefit from library services at UCL. It will help you to comprehend the research concepts relevant to your subject.

On the contrary, it is difficult for many students to gather data from valid resources, make a writing plan etc. All this process becomes tiring and time-consuming. To make the process flawless, most UCL students avail of dissertation help online from legitimate writers who can assist them in the whole writing process. 

Coming to the topic, let us see the below-mentioned essential elements of writing a brilliant dissertation.

10 Essential Elements to Write a Brilliant UCL Dissertation

Crafting the UCL Dissertations is a time-consuming task. Many students often neglect the core elements that increase the proficiency of a dissertation. You should follow the steps below to make a difference among other fellows.

1. Make a Good Topic Choice

UCL provides a platform for students to write an innovative and original UCL dissertation. Select a manageable topic that typically interests you. Ensure that it requires 

• Extensive research
• Explores available resources
• Dictates feasibility

If the above-mentioned elements fulfil your topic criteria, then it’s fine to proceed. Other than this, you can also see the list of different dissertation topics.

UCL Dissertation Topics for 2024

To search for a creative topic, you can consult the UCL library. You will find different topics for the UCL dissertation. Some of the good examples of writing an outstanding dissertation are mentioned below:

• A Comparative Study on the UK Legal System
• Artificial Intelligence Overcoming Modern-Day Problems.
• How Social Media Is Increasing Sales for Businesses?
• The Lasting Effects of Drugs on Adult’s Mental Health.

2. Carry Out Effective Research

Everything demands proper planning and deep research to kickstart writing. Don’t conduct invalid research which eventually leads to false information. Dissertations for UCL students should be written crisply, focused, and topic-oriented. For this, you must review previously published work, research articles, books and documentaries. 

Different online platforms include Google Scholar, Research Gate, and the UCL library. UCL Library holds copies of dissertations from where you can get a lot of help. It has a number of copies on different subject areas:

• Ophthalmology Library
• UCL Institute of Archaeology
• Bartlett Academy
• School of Pharmacy

3. Create an Outline

Create a strong outline for writing a high-scoring UCL dissertation. Following the proper structure makes the whole writing process smooth. Some of the advised guidelines for the dissertation are mentioned below:

• Title Page – must enclose; the student’s full name, dissertation title, institute name as UCL and degree for which submission is made.
• Declaration Page – write the acknowledgement that this work is yours. i.e. I [full name] hereby confirm that Wok presented….
• Abstract – of only 300 words
• Impact Statement – not more than 500 words
• Acknowledgements [optional]
• Table of contents – can include figures.
• The main body of the UCL dissertation includes five chapters:
• Introduction
• Literature review
• Methodology
• Results and discussion
• Summary or conclusion.
• References 
• Division of labour/author contribution
• Appendices [optional]

4. Make a Writing Plan

Deadlines are difficult to handle when there is no proper action plan. Starting late and running out of the UCL Dissertation deadline is a struggle. To cope with this situation, you must adhere to a proper writing schedule. 

For example, if the deadline is two months, you must organise dissertation sections aligned with allocated time slots. This will save you time and effort. You can devote two hours to research, and two hours to writing. Switch on to these alternate patterns for logical flow. Moreover, for effective scheduling, you can also use Microsoft 365, Pro Writing Aid, and Focus Writer. These technical software will assist you a lot in developing a clear action plan.

5. Use Professional Tone

While writing a UCL dissertation, strictly follow the formal and academic tone. Write your dissertation in an active voice. The purpose and information should sound clear. So, it will be easily understood by the supervisor and committee members. 

Avoid passive voice in writing. The use of passive voice highlights the ambiguous knowledge of research. Also, do not use connectives like “but” and use the following:

• Furthermore
• Despite all this…
• The aim of study…
• The research investigates…
• Don’t use the figure as 0-9 write it from zero to nine

6. Follow UCL Guidelines

It is important to follow the guidelines provided by UCL and its supervisor. The set of guidelines will turn a UCL dissertation into a professional document.

UCL dissertation examples for fine arts students should fulfil the following criteria:

• Should include a written report of at least 15,000 to 40,000 words.
• It should be accompanied by a CD/DVD, and USB memory.
• Written reports can be both hard-bound and soft-bound.
• Hardbound pages must be sown in (not punched).
• Softbound pages must be glued in.
• Dissertation submitted in any other form of binding, like ring binding,

As per the devised UCL criteria, you must provide the video and photographic records, musical scores, audio works, publications, diagrams and designs.

7. Apply Proper Formatting

The UCL dissertation should be formatted using the standard provided by the university. The official formatting of a dissertation should include:

• Paper – Use A4 size paper (210 x 297 mm). plain white paper must be used. Make sure it is of high quality and use both sides of the paper.
• Layout – Use proper margins at the edge, which should not exceed 40mm (1.5 inches).  Other margins should not be less than 20mm (.75 inches). Double one-and-half spacing can be used in the writing context. Intended quotations and footnotes can be compensated by a single space.
• Pagination – the sequence of page numbers should be in chronological order. Use Arabic numerals from the title page to the last page.
• For the rest, you can follow the outline structure discussed in the outline section in this guide.
• After writing it, submit your thesis by uploading it to the UCL Dropbox. Use Word or PDF format and email it to research degrees. Include your full name and student number mentioned on the student card

8. Add Supporting Evidence

The UCL dissertation should sound authoritative and original. It can only be done by adding the numerical data. This data may include relevant figures, graphs, tables, charts, diagrams, statistical reports etc. You can gather the information from different statistical websites such as:

• Google Public Data Explorer
• Statistic Brain
• Google News

All the above-mentioned resources are credible and proficient. Besides this, you can also gather supporting information from research reports, articles and books.

9. Perform Proofreading

The most important step is editing the UCL dissertation. Editing and proofreading make the dissertation more polished and structured. Before you start proofreading, analyse what are your weak spots. 

For example, grammar, spelling, passive voice and punctuation all this influence readability. When proofreading, read the whole content in a louder voice so you will spot your mistakes. Instead of doing this take appropriate breaks. Breaks help to refresh your mind and maintain the logical flow of information in writing.

10. Appropriate Referencing

Last but most important is using proper references in the dissertation. Although there are a lot of different styles for citing the references. Some of them include:

What Are the Criteria for a UCL Thesis?

The general criteria as per UCL says that it should be of,

• High quality 
• Authentic evidence
• Contribution to the subject
• Candidates own original work

How Long Is the UCL Dissertation?

The length of the UCL dissertation for different programs is mentioned below:

• PhD: 100,000 words.
• MPhil: 60,000 words .
• EngD: 100,000 words.

How Hard Is It to Get into UCL PhD?

The acceptance rate for postgraduate programs at UCL is 38% which means less than 2 applicants in 5 receive this offer. Getting accepted for a PhD at UCL is competitive. This is due to highly skilled professors and numerous applications other than UCL like Oxford, Cambridge, LSE and Imperial College.

What GPA Is Required for UCL?

According to the entry requirements by UCL, you must have at least a CGPA of 3.3/4 but some subjects are competitive. So, the eligibility criteria become different. For example, to secure admission to MSc Financial Mathematics at UCL you must have a 2:1 UK honours degree.

What Is the Best Subject in UCL?

There is a list of subjects that have been named best in UCL. See the subjects below in the list.

• Education 
• Architecture and Built Environment
• Archaeology
• Anthropology
• Pharmacology

Why Is UCL Ranked So High?

UCL has an outclassed research instructor and a large research portfolio. They conduct quantitative and qualitative research to contribute to the emerging challenges.

From the overall discussion, now you can write a victorious UCL dissertation. Although it is an extensive and research-based task following the above steps can help in writing. No matter what your subject is this set of tips can be implemented in any subject dissertation. Incorporating numerical data, infographics, and proper citations using different styles reflects professionalism.

Also, being a doctoral student, you may find it problematic to write, attend courses, conduct research and perform jobs to afford your expenses. This routine becomes hectic and you may not write a perfect dissertation. Therefore, you can seek help from experienced dissertation writers with a vast knowledge of writing a perfect paper as per UCL dissertation requirements. This will let you manage your studies and help you achieve high scores.

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