How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in Vancouver

This guide explains how to format a thesis or dissertation citation in Vancouver. 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 Vancouver:

Template

Author. Title of thesis [type of thesis]. Place: University; Year.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(1)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Williams TR. Machine learning approaches to early detection of neurodegenerative diseases [dissertation]. Stanford (CA): Stanford University; 2021.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author
Write the author's surname followed by initials (no full stops).
2
Write the title
Write the full title in sentence case. Do not italicise.
3
Add the thesis type
In square brackets, write the type: [dissertation] for doctoral, [master's thesis] for master's degrees.
4
Include the location and university
Write the city (and state for US locations in parentheses), a colon, and the university name.
5
Add the year
Write a semicolon followed by the year. End with a full stop.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not including the thesis type in square brackets.
Using 'PhD thesis' instead of 'dissertation' (Vancouver uses 'dissertation' for doctoral and 'master's thesis' for master's).
Omitting the university location.
Italicising the title (Vancouver does not use italics).
Using a comma between the author surname and initials.

Frequently Asked Questions

What term does Vancouver use for a doctoral thesis?

Vancouver uses '[dissertation]' in square brackets for doctoral work. For master's work, use '[master's thesis]'. These go after the title.

How do I cite a thesis accessed online in Vancouver?

Add '[Internet]' after '[dissertation]' or '[master's thesis]', then include '[cited Year Mon Day]. Available from: URL' at the end.

Do I include the department in a Vancouver thesis citation?

The department is not a required element in Vancouver style, though you may include it for specificity. The university name is sufficient.

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

Identify the author

Write the author's surname followed by initials (no full stops).

Write the title

Write the full title in sentence case. Do not italicise.

Add the thesis type

In square brackets, write the type: [dissertation] for doctoral, [master's thesis] for master's degrees.

Include the location and university

Write the city (and state for US locations in parentheses), a colon, and the university name.

Add the year

Write a semicolon followed by the year. End with a full stop.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not including the thesis type in square brackets.

Using 'PhD thesis' instead of 'dissertation' (Vancouver uses 'dissertation' for doctoral and 'master's thesis' for master's).

Omitting the university location.

Italicising the title (Vancouver does not use italics).

Using a comma between the author surname and initials.