How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in OSCOLA (4th Edition)

This guide explains how to format a thesis or dissertation citation in OSCOLA (4th Edition). Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a thesis or dissertation in OSCOLA (4th Edition):

Template

Author, 'Title' (Type of Thesis, Institution Year)

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

See footnote 6 (superscript in text).

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

James Harrison, 'Human Rights and the Regulation of International Trade' (DPhil thesis, University of Oxford 2008)

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Write the author name
Write the full name (first name then surname, no full stops after initials).
2
Write the thesis title
Place the title in single quotation marks. Do not italicise.
3
Add the parenthetical
In parentheses, write the degree type (e.g., 'PhD thesis', 'LLM thesis'), the university name, and the year. No comma between university and year. Do not end with a full stop.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not placing the thesis title in single quotation marks.
Using 'doctoral thesis' or 'PhD dissertation' instead of the OSCOLA convention 'PhD thesis'.
Adding a comma between the university and year inside the parenthetical.
Using full stops after initials in the author name.
Ending the citation with a full stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does OSCOLA italicise or quote thesis titles?

OSCOLA places thesis titles in single quotation marks, not italics. This follows OSCOLA's general rule that unpublished work titles are quoted rather than italicised.

Is there a comma between the university and year in the OSCOLA thesis parenthetical?

No. OSCOLA uses a space: (PhD thesis, Stanford University 2021). The comma appears only after the degree type, not before the year.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your thesis or dissertation:

Author
Year
Title
Type (doctoral dissertation or master's thesis)
University name
Database or repository (if applicable)
URL (if available online)

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Step-by-Step Guide

Write the author name

Write the full name (first name then surname, no full stops after initials).

Write the thesis title

Place the title in single quotation marks. Do not italicise.

Add the parenthetical

In parentheses, write the degree type (e.g., 'PhD thesis', 'LLM thesis'), the university name, and the year. No comma between university and year. Do not end with a full stop.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not placing the thesis title in single quotation marks.

Using 'doctoral thesis' or 'PhD dissertation' instead of the OSCOLA convention 'PhD thesis'.

Adding a comma between the university and year inside the parenthetical.

Using full stops after initials in the author name.

Ending the citation with a full stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does OSCOLA italicise or quote thesis titles?

OSCOLA places thesis titles in single quotation marks, not italics. This follows OSCOLA's general rule that unpublished work titles are quoted rather than italicised.

Is there a comma between the university and year in the OSCOLA thesis parenthetical?

No. OSCOLA uses a space: (PhD thesis, Stanford University 2021). The comma appears only after the degree type, not before the year.