EThOS scope
The aim of EThOS is to give access to all doctoral theses from all UK institutions whether paper based or
electronic.
You can easily search and browse the records and see information about each thesis.
Where electronic copies of the full text theses already exist, you can access them for
free either by direct download from the EThOS database (login required) or by clicking a link
to the digital repository of the awarding university (no login needed).
If no digital copy exists, you can usually order a scanned copy. The system will manage this process;
there will be a delay while the paper thesis is scanned and there may be a charge.
You will be informed when the thesis becomes available for download. You can track the progress of your order by
viewing the Order History.
EThOS Toolkit
The EThOS Toolkit is a resource which aims to support UK Higher Education institutions in participating in
EThOS.
Information in the EThOS Toolkit can now be found at https://www.bl.uk/ethos-and-theses.
Here you can find detailed information about thesis metadata, digitisation, author rights and other legal issues.
It also explains how the service operates and the variation in coverage, full text availability and access options
that users might experience between universities - and indeed between different records from the same university.
Search tips
New search
The New search is for quick and easy searching.
Type your keywords into the Search box. If you want to search for a specific phrase, type it within double quotes, e.g. "Somerset levels".
Click on the Go button and all records containing all of your keywords are displayed, in order of most relevant first.You can reorder the list by year of award, title or author’s name by selecting from the dropdown box provided.
Click on the checkbox "Limit search to items available for immediate download" to search only for documents that are held in electronic format and are therefore available as immediate downloads. You also have an option to include restricted or embargoed theses in your results. Although these theses are not available immediately, the university record might offer an option to “Request a copy” directly from the author, or you can see when an embargo will expire and make yourself a note to return to the record after that date.
Advanced Search
Advanced searching works in the same way as the "New search", except that you can specify how and where EThOS applies your keywords. Type a word or phrase into the box in each row. If a box contains more than one word there is no need to surround the words with quotes: the text will automatically be treated as a phrase to search for.
You can alter the way each of your search terms is applied by selecting a different search operator from the drop-down box to the left:
- AND - The default setting. Will only display records containing this term.
- OR - Will display records containing this term or the previous term.
- AND NOT - Will only display records that do not contain this term.
You can use the drop-down boxes on the right to specify the exact type of information from which you want EThOS to find your keyword, e.g. search for Baker as an author rather than as a word in the title. The default setting, Any word, will search for the keyword across all fields.
If you want to create a search using more than three keywords, click the Add Term button for as many additional keywords you need.
More search tips
- Try not to use words with apostrophes in your search – the search function does not always respond as expected.
- Try not to use other punctuation in your search, e.g. hyphens in date ranges, words in brackets.
- Avoid accents, mathematical symbols and other diacritics.
- Always try more than one search, e.g. if a search by title is unsuccessful, try search the author’s last name plus the name of the awarding university.
Search results
The results of your search will be displayed in order of relevance. Above your table of results you will see the query you used for your search and the total number of matching records.
No results
If you receive no results from your search, you could check the spelling or try amending your search terms.
If you have the bibliographic details of a thesis which is not recorded in EThOS, you can submit the details using the link to the Speculative request form. Here you can enter brief details of the thesis, and our support team will search for the thesis using the various tools at our disposal.
Once we have confirmed the thesis details (UK doctoral theses only), you will be contacted with an EThOS record ID which will allow you to go to the newly created record for the thesis. You will then be able to download it or submit an order for digitisation.
If we cannot find any record for the thesis we will let you know.
Navigating your results
Ten results are displayed on each screen and you can move
between screens by clicking on the numbers at the top of the list.
You can also click on the navigation
arrows 
or 
to go straight to your first or last page of
results.
Icons displayed in the Search Results
A green open padlock means the thesis is available for immediate download either
direct from EThOS or by
following a link to the institution’s own copy.
A picture of a scanner indicates the thesis can be ordered for digitisation from
print.
In this case, there may be a charge to cover the scan process and you will need to wait several weeks for the
thesis to be copied.
This icon indicates that the thesis is under an embargo or access is
restricted in another way. You will not be able to download the thesis immediately nor order a scan from the
paper copy. Some universities allow you to visit the library to view the print copy. Others may offer a “Request
a copy” option - a digital copy may be supplied to you once the thesis author has given permission. Many theses
will not be available at all if restricted by the author. If an item is embargoed, make a note of the embargo
date and check back once this date is reached.
Titles with no icon are simple bibliographic records with no information about the availability of the full
thesis. Remember that availability can change, for example if older theses are digitised or if embargoes are
added or removed.
Full record
If you click on a thesis title in the search results, you will go to a page containing the full bibliographic data for the thesis.
On this page you can check the availability of the thesis, download it, follow a link to the university repository, or order a copy for digitisation. Any digitisation charges and turnaround times where applicable are provided on this page. All digitisation charges are made in Sterling (GBP).
You will need to login to download from the EThOS database but not to follow links to copies held in university repositories. You also need to login to order an item for digitisation.
Identifiers
All EThOS records have a unique and persistent EThOS identifier, beginning with uk.bl.ethos. The number following this (e.g. uk.bl.ethos.235656) is a unique identifier for the EThOS record and quoting this number will allow us to find the specific thesis you are interested in.
Registration and Login
You can search the database and click through to external repositories without logging in or registering. You only need to login / register when you want to download documents from the EThOS database or order a thesis for digitisation.
Why register?
EThOS supports the open access commitment of UK Higher Education. In order to protect the thesis author's rights and to minimise opportunities for plagiarism, EThOS requires users to register on the system and log in so that we can track when, where and by whom a thesis is downloaded. Please note the terms and conditions of supply which you have to agree to before you can access a thesis.
Email address
The email address you provide will be used to communicate with you and, particularly, to let you know when a digitised thesis you have ordered is available for download. It is therefore important to check the email address supplied carefully.
Password
The password you enter is case-sensitive. Make sure that you keep your password details safe. If you forget your password, click on Reset Password and a new password will be sent to your registered email address.
Address details
EThOS also allows users to order printed or CD/DVD copies of digital theses. For this reason you are asked to provide your postal address. When you need a document sent to a different postal or email address, you can override your registered details during the order process.
Credit / debit card information
We do not ask for any credit or debit card information during the registration process. You only need to enter credit / debit card information when you submit an order that requires payment. This data is sent directly to Netbanx, our payment provider, not to the British Library. This information is not stored by us in any way and you will need to re-enter it each time you order.
Terms and Conditions
We cannot create your account unless you agree that you have read and accepted our Terms and Conditions. This agreement forms part of the process of registration and you will need to agree to the terms and conditions of supply every time you order a thesis.
Data Protection
We may occasionally want to email you about British Library products, services and events. We will not disclose your details to any third party, within the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998. The British Library's privacy policy is available on our website.
Updating your registration details
If your contact, delivery or email address changes, or you want to change your password, you can amend your registration details by visiting the Login page and clicking Amend Details.
Digitisation
Where digitisation is required, follow the "Add to basket" process. You will be informed of the cost (if any)
and turnaround times before you add the item to the basket. Once your order is placed, you will be informed by
email when the item becomes available.
To remove an item from your list, select the records you want to take out of
your list, then click on the Delete selected items button. To clear the entire list,
click on Delete all items.
To search for more items to put into your basket, use the New search and Select more items links at the bottom
of the page to either begin a new search or to return to your latest search and select further records.
If you want to make any changes to your order when adding items to your basket, you must delete the item from
the basket, return to search, reselect the item and choose the new delivery method. You cannot change the
delivery options within the shopping basket.
When you are happy with your list of documents to be digitised, click on Checkout to go to the
payment screen and pay by credit or debit card (where applicable).
Once you have been through Checkout and confirmed your order, you cannot cancel your request, so be sure
to check your list thoroughly before going to the Checkout.
Current digitisation prices are always displayed on the Order screen.
Where an institution has allocated a budget to support the cost of digitising its theses, there will be no charge for digitisation for the end-user. Where an institution cannot fund the cost of digitisation, the first researcher to order the thesis will pay for the digitisation.
Once an item has been digitised EThOS makes the digital version of the thesis available for others to access without charge.
Turnaround time
This is the time taken to process the thesis for digitisation.
The time shown on the screen is the time taken by the British Library to make the digital copy; this process is often much faster than the time shown. In addition, time needs to be allowed for the institution to retrieve the paper thesis, make checks on its suitability for scanning, and send it by post to the British Library. Users ordering an item for digitisation can therefore expect a significant time delay before the digital copy becomes available.
If a printed or CD/DVD copy has been ordered, users should expect an additional delay to allow for postage time depending on the location of the person ordering the thesis.
Using the thesis for research
You should not download a thesis for someone else. Each person wishing to access a thesis must accept the terms and conditions of supply and you would be breaking these terms and conditions should you supply the thesis to someone else.
You may not store and make a thesis available to readers in a library in either electronic or printed format. If a reader wishes to view a thesis they must download it themselves. They may do it from a library PC or any other PC, but they must login and download it themselves so that they accept the terms and conditions of supply.
Hard copy delivery
We can also supply a thesis on CD/DVD as an alternative to immediate download.
We also print and bind theses on request. A high quality colour printer is used and the theses can be supplied loose-leaf, soft-bound or hard-bound. Hard-binding takes place off-site, so this takes a little longer.
Payment/Credit Card Questions
Payment method
Payment for digitisation is by credit or debit card only, and we accept MasterCard, Maestro and Visa. The EThOS
ordering process arranges for authorisation to charge your credit / debit card. We will only charge once your
order has been satisfied. You will not be charged for unsatisfied orders.
Pricing and VAT
All charges are made in
Credit card authorisation
All credit card authorisation is carried out by NetBanx,
a leading secure on-line payment solution for credit, debit and charge cards. NetBanx carries out all card
authorisation and will debit your account. NetBanx uses SSL technology with 128 bit encryption on their
secure server. The British Library does not receive your credit card details when you order through EThOS.
Confirmation
NetBanx will send you an email containing a unique reference number once your card has been authorised and again
when payment has been taken. This email is your firm tax invoice. The British Library does not receive your
credit card details when you order through EThOS.