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Electronic Theses & Dissertations

UNB Libraries, in partnership with the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), provides support for graduate students who are submitting final copies of their theses and dissertations (including master's reports) to both UNB Archives & Special Collections (print, archival) and UNB Scholar (digital, online). UNB Scholar's collection of electronic theses and dissertations (ETD) provides full-text access to most theses and dissertations submitted electronically from 2010 to the present.

The benefits of digital theses and dissertations collections are numerous:

  • for universities to learn how to unlock the potential of their intellectual property and productions;
  • for graduate education to improve through more effective sharing;
  • for technology and knowledge sharing;
  • for graduate students to learn about digital publishing, applying that knowledge as they engage in their research and complete their own theses and dissertations; and
  • for universities to learn about digital libraries, as they collect, catalogue, archive, and make research accessible to scholars worldwide.

Please note that since electronic submission was optional for graduate students until January 2019, the digital collection of graduate submissions is not a comprehensive collection of all UNB theses and dissertations. Researchers are urged to check the library catalogue for the most complete record of UNB theses and dissertations in print, microfilm, and electronic formats. Full-text electronic access for many UNB theses and dissertations may be available from our institutional repository, UNB Scholar (2012-current), from Library & Archives Canada's Theses Canada Portal (1997-2011), and from ProQuest's Dissertations and Theses (1996 and earlier)

The Pre-Formatted Template

Pre-formatted templates for doctoral dissertations, master's theses, and master's reports are available through UNB Libraries to help guide structure and formatting throughout the writing process. Use of the template is not required, but it can save you a lot of time. This is especially true if adopted early, but it is possible to move your content to the template at any time prior to final submission.

It is important to note that some departments may have their own unique formatting guidelines that may require modifications to the template. The Regulations and Guidelines for the Preparation and Submission of Ph.D. Dissertations, Master's Theses, and Master's Reports from the School of Graduate Studies should be read and understood by anyone electing to submit their thesis or dissertation.

Template

There are two templates available.

Microsoft Word

You can download the latest version of the MS Word template below. This template format is typically used within the faculties of Arts, Business and Management, Education, Forestry, Kinesiology, Nursing, and Science.

Though the template may work for older versions of Microsoft Word, support will only be provided for the most recent versions of Microsoft Word for desktop. Current versions of the Microsoft Office/365 software bundle for both Windows and Macintosh computers are available to students for free via ITS.

LaTeX

LaTeX is a plain-text documentation system often used by STEM researchers. Here at UNB, this template format is typically used within the faculties of Computer Science and Engineering.

Although, the LaTeX template is not comprehensively supported by library staff, a number of resources are available for the open format, including, but not limited to, those listed below.

Formatting Services and Support

The Centre for Digital Scholarship offers support to graduate students seeking assistance with the template and document formatting (Microsoft Word only). Please, make sure you have installed the latest version of Microsoft Word for desktop from ITS before contacting support services.

Part of the support offered to graduate students is in the form of Frequently Asked Questions, which address the most common issues students face when preparing their documents. If there is a specific issue that is not addressed in the FAQ, please don't hesitate to ask. Over time, the FAQ will continue to be expanded if further issues are brought to our attention.

For any technical, structural, and formatting issues with your document, please send a detailed explanation to Tammy Nichol, Publishing Systems Technician at UNB Libraries. You should receive a reply within twenty-four hours, (excluding weekends and holidays).

For any questions or concerns regarding UNB's digital research repository, UNB Scholar, please contact Mike Nason, Scholarly Communications Librarian with UNB Libraries.

Final Submissions

Although UNB Libraries and the Centre for Digital Scholarship provide assistance with formatting and technical aspects of graduate submissions, all final and completed documents must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. For more information on the guidelines for theses and dissertations, please visit the School of Graduate Studies Regulations and Guidelines page.

For any questions or concerns regarding logistical and administrative issues (submission requirements, deadlines, embargoes, licenses and agreements, etc.), please contact Andrea Ruehlicke, Assistant to the Dean with the School of Graduate Studies. Andrea will advise when your final revisions are ready for submission to SGS.