< back to Producing Your Thesis
General Instructions
Submitting your ETD is a quick and straightforward process. After your thesis supervisor has approved your thesis, follow the instructions below to submit your ETD documents to the
digital library repository.
Please note that the current ETD system invites you to order copies of your thesis online through ProQuest. Theses ordered through ProQuest will not be delivered until after your convocation; ProQuest will charge you in US dollars, and you will be liable for shipping costs and duty.
An alternate option is available through the U of T Bookstore: contact
Book Pod if you would like a print copy of your thesis. You are also free to choose another printing company. If the copy is for your unit's library, please consult them about binding choice prior to placing an order.
Administrative Preliminaries
You can register as a
digital library repository user at any time, but to submit an ETD, you must first provide the Doctoral Examinations or Master’s Office with the following written confirmation (letter or email) from your supervisor (for minor corrections) or the convenor of your modifications committee (for minor modifications), that your thesis is in final form and approved.
If you are restricting the release of your thesis, you must provide us with a restrict release form, signed by your chair (outlined in the following paragraph).
Embargoes on Thesis Release
Publication of your thesis by the University of Toronto is a requirement of your degree; it is U of T's intention that there be no restriction on the distribution and publication of theses. Accordingly, theses will be released after each convocation, and will be freely available to the public in an online environment.
However, in exceptional cases, you may wish to consider delaying thesis publication. Typical reasons for embargo include:
currently seeking publication of part of your thesis in a journal, or publication of the thesis as a book
content of a sensitive nature in the thesis, the publication of which might endanger the wellbeing of the author or of persons associated with the work
a patent in process
Discuss restriction with your supervisor and the chair of your graduate unit if you think restriction might be appropriate.
If you intend to restrict the release date of your ETD, please submit a
restrict thesis release date form to SGS (dated and signed by your graduate unit chair). If applicable, include a copy bound inside the front cover of the bound paper copy for your graduate unit.
Prior to Submitting Your ETD
Create a Digital Library Repository Account
Log into the
digital library repository by entering your student number and email address. You must use an official utoronto or graduate unit email account.
Select "Submit Thesis" and choose the appropriate collection to submit to.
File Format & Naming Convention
The main thesis file must be in PDF format. Before you start the submission process, create a PDF of the final approved version of your thesis.
You must use the following file naming convention:
lastname_firstname_middleinitial(s)_graduationyearmonth_degreedesignator_thesis.pdf
e.g., Smith_Lorie_L_200711_PhD_thesis.pdf
Supplementary files should follow the same naming convention:
e.g., Smith_Lorie_L_200711_PhD_datatables.exl
Stopping During the Submission Process
You can stop and save your work at any point in the submission process and resume your submission at a later date. Click the 'cancel/save' button which appears at the bottom of every ETD submission page. The data you have already entered will be stored until you come back to the submission.
If you accidentally exit from the submission process, you can always resume by re-entering the
digital library repository.
You can cancel your submission at any point.
Submission Complete: What Next?
Congratulations! SGS will review your thesis and notify you once it is approved. If there is any problem with your submission, you will be given instructions.
