How to Cite a Dissertation or Thesis in Harvard (Cite Them Right)
Learn how to cite doctoral dissertations and master's theses in Harvard format (Cite Them Right). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
Harvard Reference List Format
Here is the standard Harvard format for citing a dissertation or thesis in your reference list:
Author, A.A. (Year) Title of dissertation. Type. Institution Name.
Harvard Example for a Dissertation or Thesis
A complete Harvard reference for a dissertation or thesis, formatted by the official Harvard CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Vasquez, E. (2022) Reading practices in the digital archive. Doctoral dissertation. State University. Available at: https://www.example.org/theses/vasquez.
Matching in-text citation: (Vasquez, 2022)
Harvard In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Smith, 2024, p. 45)
Narrative
Smith (2024) found...
Key Harvard Formatting Rules
- Italicize the dissertation title.
- Give the degree type (PhD thesis, MSc dissertation) after the title.
- Name the awarding institution.
- For online theses, add 'Available at:' with the URL and the accessed date.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your dissertation or thesis.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Harvard (Cite Them Right) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Harvard requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.
CSL style record: harvard.csl
Metadata to collect
- author
- title
- degree type (doctoral dissertation or master's thesis)
- awarding institution
- year the degree was awarded
- database or repository name and identifier
- URL
Common metadata traps
- State whether the work is published in a database or repository or is unpublished; the formats differ.
- Use the year the degree was awarded, not the date the file was uploaded.
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a dissertation or thesis in Harvard?
- To cite a dissertation or thesis in Harvard (Cite Them Right), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the Harvard format for a dissertation or thesis citation?
- The Harvard format for a dissertation or thesis is: Author, A.A. (Year) Title of dissertation. Type. Institution Name.
- What does the in-text citation look like for a dissertation or thesis in Harvard?
- In Harvard, the in-text citation for the example above is (Smith, 2024, p. 45)
Generate This Citation Automatically
Skip the manual formatting. Paste a DOI, URL, or ISBN into CitationEasy and get a perfectly formatted Harvard citation in seconds.
Cite in Harvard Now →Generate this citation
Paste a URL, DOI, ISBN, or the source details and get a finished Harvard citation for a Dissertation or Thesis.
Open the Thesis & Dissertation Citation Generator →Bibliography Studio
Saved citations build a full bibliography in the Studio