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Thesis and Dissertation Guide

• « Thesis & Dissertation Resources
• The Graduate School Home

• Introduction
• Copyright Page
• Dedication, Acknowledgements, Preface (optional)
• Table of Contents
• List of Tables, Figures, and Illustrations
• List of Abbreviations
• List of Symbols
• Non-Traditional Formats
• Font Type and Size
• Spacing and Indentation
• Tables, Figures, and Illustrations
• Formatting Previously Published Work
• Internet Distribution
• Open Access
• Registering Copyright
• Using Copyrighted Materials
• Use of Your Own Previously Published Materials

Submission Steps

• Submission Checklist
• Sample Pages

IV. Submission

A Checklist and Sample Pages are provided at the end of this Guide. To expedite the submission process, your work must conform to these guidelines before you submit your document electronically . Please take time before submission to review and comply with these guidelines. You will be required to resubmit your document if revisions are needed, which delays your graduation clearance processing.

Read and follow all information on The Graduate School's Electronic Thesis and Dissertation website.

Completed theses and dissertations must be submitted by the deadlines posted on the Graduation Deadlines website . You are encouraged to submit your document as early as possible to provide ample time for necessary revisions before graduation.

You need to successfully apply to graduate in ConnectCarolina before submitting your document. Your Committee Composition and Exam Report forms (with all approval signatures) should be submitted to The Graduate School before submitting your document.

The time between initial submission and final approval by The Graduate School may also vary due to factors such as proximity to deadlines and your projected graduation date. You will be contacted once your thesis or dissertation has been reviewed by The Graduate School, and you are expected to submit required revisions in a timely manner; please see further details below. Please continue to monitor your email account for notifications until the document is approved.

• Create an account on the ProQuest submission site . Be sure to use an email address that you check regularly (including your junk/spam folder) to prevent delays in communication that will impact graduation clearance. Once the account is created, you can use it to log in and complete the following steps at any time.
• Read and review the information on the ProQuest Instructions page to answer any questions that you may have as you prepare to submit your thesis or dissertation.
• You may convert your document to a PDF a number of ways. You may use the conversion tool provided on the submission site. Other options include using Adobe software (available on campus) or programs and applications such as Microsoft Word 2010 that allow you to print to PDF or save files as a PDF.
• If converted properly, the conversion to PDF format should not affect the quality of the original document.
• See the ProQuest submission site PDF FAQs for more information.
• Review the ProQuest Publishing Options page and select the appropriate publishing options for you. For more information about publishing options, see the section on Distribution above. Select Save & Continue.
• Read and agree to the ProQuest Traditional Publishing Agreement .
• Provide the requested contact information. Be sure to include current, accurate information so that ProQuest and The Graduate School can contact you about your submission. Select Save & Continue.
• Pay careful attention to capitalization and spelling, as this information will be displayed online exactly as it is entered. The keywords and abstract information that you enter will be used to provide online database access to your thesis or dissertation, so accuracy is important.
• Please review the section on your Abstract when submitting this information, especially the tips on keywords and word limits.
• Acceptable media types and information about supplemental files can be found on the ProQuest FAQ page.
• The Graduate School recommends using common file formats that do not require specialized software to open and use. This will increase the likelihood of readers having ready access to the contents of your supplemental files as they review your entire thesis or dissertation.
• The Graduate School recommends that you take care to identify supplemental files as your own. If possible, embed your name and document information within the file contents. You are also encouraged to include your name as a part of the file name. When supplemental files are made accessible online, the file name and the specific contents of the file are the only way to identify to whom the work belongs.
• Electronic file size is limited to 1000 MB total of all files added together. Files can be uploaded in zipped folders.
• Although the ProQuest submission site discusses mailing in documents with very large supplementary files on a CD, DVD, or USB drive, UNC-Chapel Hill will not accept submissions in this manner.
• Choose whether or not you would like ProQuest to file a copyright on your behalf. Please see the section on Registering Copyright for more information. Select Save & Continue.
• Please note The Graduate School cannot take responsibility for your printing job.
• You may order your copies through the ProQuest site at the time of submission or at a later date.
• The Print Stop and Copy Center in the UNC Student Stores will also send documents out to a library bindery on behalf of students. The Print Stop handles payments, provides on-campus customer service, and takes care of the shipping and order tracking. For more information, visit the Print Stop on the third floor of Student Stores or call 919-962-7016.
• You may also find other companies online that offer printing or binding services for theses and dissertations.
• Pay for any applicable fees with a credit card. Expect your card to be charged after you graduate.
• Submit your document by selecting the Submit Dissertation/Thesis button.
• Allow sufficient time for The Graduate School staff to review your document, generally within ten business days of submission. You will be notified via email if revisions are needed, and you must complete all required revisions in a timely manner, usually within 72 hours. Be sure to include an email address that you check regularly in the contact information requested by ProQuest. This email address will be used to contact you with revisions and final approval.
• Once you receive notice that The Graduate School has accepted the final document, no revisions or re-submissions are accepted.

For more details about submission, please visit The Graduate School's Electronic Thesis and Dissertation site and the Frequently Asked Questions on the ProQuest site.

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