Q. How do I submit my thesis or dissertation to the library?

Congratulations on finishing your thesis or dissertation! We know a lot of work went into this, and you should be proud of your achievement.

Submitting your thesis to the library is just one part of the graduation process, so visit the University's Dissertation & Thesis Guidelines for more information about requirements. We also recommend checking the Graduate Academic Calendar or the submission deadline FAQ page to find the correct semester’s deadlines for submitting your intent to graduate, submitting a draft of your thesis, defending your thesis to your department, and submitting the final version of your work.

You should also make sure that your document is correctly formatted. Visit the library Guide on formatting your thesis or dissertation for more information.

Both the draft and the final version of your document must be submitted online through UML’s Electronic Theses and Dissertations portal (ETD), which is operated by ProQuest. The library does NOT accept paper copies or email attachments for thesis or dissertation for submissions.

Before you submit your product, visit the library ETD guide to make sure you have all the required elements ready. You will also need a credit or debit card to pay processing fees through the UMass Lowell e-commerce page and through the ETD portal. Currently, students must pay separate fees when submitting the draft and the final copy of their work. Check the Dissertation & Thesis Charges page for more information.

To start the submission process, visit the online ETD portal and log in or create an ETD account. Once logged in, you can select publishing options, upload files, register for copyright, order department copies, and pay for your order. You must order any personal bound copies you want when setting up your account. Once you submit your draft you can NOT change your order.

Make sure to specify whether you are submitting a draft or the final version by including a message in the "Notes to the ETD administrator" section of the online form. Your submission will not be published until your degree is conferred.

You can find complete instructions for submitting your thesis and access the ETD portal by visiting The UML Guide to Uploading Electronic Theses and Dissertations.

We also encourage you to watch our recorded livestream session about submitting your thesis or dissertation for answers to the most common questions about this process.

If you have any questions, please send an email to etdadmin@uml.edu.