Theses & Dissertations

As per Carnegie Mellon’s Student Handbook, most graduate students are required to submit copies of their theses and dissertations to the University Libraries.  The Libraries maintains KiltHub, a free, open access repository of CMU research, and provides access to and assistance with ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, a commercial repository and database of dissertations from institutions around the world.

The University Libraries offers two thesis and dissertation submission workflows for students and graduate coordinators. Students should contact their graduate coordinator and advisor to discuss the submission process for their department

Direct Submission by Students

Step 1 - Graduate Students will:

• Create a .pdf version of your dissertation (If submitting your manuscript to ProQuest, please see ProQuest/UMI's Preparing Your Manuscript Guide)
• For submission to KiltHub, complete the Libraries' online Dissertation and Thesis Repository Submission form, and attach your thesis .pdf.
• If submitting to ProQuest/UMI, log in through the ProQuest CMU online form and create an account.  Follow the online submission process.

Step 2 - Graduate Program Coordinators will:

• Receive an email from the Libraries that a student from your department has submitted their thesis or dissertation with the submission attached
• Review the submission and notify the Libraries contact when the submission is ready for deposit in KiltHub and/or ProQuest

Step 3 - University Libraries will:

• For KiltHub Deposits: 

  • Deposit the dissertation or thesis into the KiltHub Theses and Dissertations Collection under the terms indicated by the student on the submission form.

• For ProQuest Deposits

  • Ensure the submission to ProQuest/UMI 

Submission by Graduate Coordinators

Step 1 - Graduate Students will:

• Create a .pdf version of your dissertation (If submitting your manuscript to ProQuest, please see ProQuest/UMI's Preparing Your Manuscript Guide)
• For submission to KiltHub, download and complete the Libraries' pdf Dissertation and Thesis Repository Submission checklist. Send your completed checklist and thesis .pdf to your graduate coordinator
• If submitting to ProQuest/UMI, log in through the ProQuest CMU online form and create an account.  Follow the online submission process.

Step 2 - Graduate Coordinators will: 

• Receive completed submission from student and complete any departmental checks
• Organize and submit files to the Libraries' Box folder based on the Graduate Coordinator workflow

Step 3 - University Libraries will:

• For KiltHub Deposits: 

  • Deposit the dissertation or thesis into the KiltHub Theses and Dissertations Collection under the terms indicated by the student on the submission form.

• For ProQuest Deposits

  • Ensure the submission to ProQuest/UMI