How To Find Free Dissertation Samples


It is important that if you are writing your dissertation that you have a guideline of sorts to help you in the writing and research process. If you are new to writing dissertations, finding samples to help you guide you through it step by step is crucial. I have compiled a list of ways you can find free dissertation samples via the internet.


University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  • Via the school’s website, all dissertations that were written from 1997 forward are available in full text download and PDF file.
  • They have a very convenient search engine where you can refine your search by subject and year through the University library catalog.
  • Anything prior to 2010 is available in some form. You can also print theses or save them for your review.

Paper Writing Companies

  • There are some companies that offer dissertation samples at a cost.
  • You should be careful as some of these companies are not legitimate and they could be scamming you out of your money or your identity.
  • You should not have to pay for dissertation sample papers. Nine times out of ten you can obtain one from the college you are attending.

PQDT Open

  • This website allows you to search their database for full text dissertation at no cost to you.
  • You can do basic searches or an advanced search where you can search by author, title, publication number, school, advisor, year or keywords.

The Marshall Library from the University of Cambridge

  • They have a large database with dissertations.
  • Students have the ability to search by typing in a keyword and find a dissertation in any field.
  • This also allows you to see now only how it was done, but how many other dissertations had been written on the same topic as yours.

The Open University

  • Has a database of online dissertations and theses that a student can review.
  • It is very easy to search using this database. You can simply search by keyword and it will show you a list of dissertations with that topic as well as other dissertations written on the same subject.

Professors and Graduates

  • Ask your current or past professors to see if they may have access to some samples or know of where to find them.
  • Former students and graduates might have dissertations that they have written on hand that you could use as a reference tool when writing your own dissertation.
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