Library Catalogue Help: Search for Theses

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You can refine your search from the options on the left of your search results under the Refine by heading.

These will give you different options to limit your search results, like Availability, Format, Location and more.

After you have selected some of those options to refine your search, they will appear at the top left side of the screen under ​Current Refinements​. ​To remove them, simply click on the X​ button to the right of it.

Under the Refine by options there will be the Related Searches heading, where you will find Related topics, a list of topics related to your search, and Additional Suggestions to your search.

• Select the Books tab and do not change the default Keyword search. Search by Keyword(s)/Topic(s). Use the options on the left to limit your results to Theses only, under Format select STIRLING THESES This will display all theses on the topic(s) you searched. If you can't find the STIRLING THESES option under Format, then there were no theses found. Try again using different keywords.

• If you are looking for a specific Thesis search by title, author or both, and then select STIRLING THESES under Format.

You can also

• Browse by department: Select the Books tab and do not change the default Keyword search. Search for 'University of Stirling dept of xxx' eg 'University of Stirling dept of history'. Use the options on the left to limit your results, under Format select STIRLING THESES. This will display all theses from that department. Note: if this doesn't work, try 'University of Stirling department of xxx'

• Do a keyword search for the qualification you are looking for: Select the Books tab and do not change the default Keyword search. Search for ‘BA Hons xxx’ or ‘BSC xxx’ eg ‘ba hons history’, ‘bsc mathematics’. Use the options on the left to limit your results, under Format select STIRLING THESES.

Theses are reference only and they are held in the Basement store. To consult a thesis you will have to request it. To do that you have to view the items record in the classic catalogue.

• Open the detailed record of the thesis you want to request.
• Click View in classic catalogue on the right side of the record, under Other Sources.
• Select Request thesis from Stirling Store. 
• You will be directed to the Request an item from store page on your UniDesk Self-Service Portal,
  ​if you aren’t already logged in your portal you will be asked to do so.

You will have to fill in the form with the details of the thesis that you want to request. Select Thesis from the drop down menu under About the thesis / store item, fill in the details of the thesis you want to request and click Submit.

You will be notified with an email to your university email account and a message on your UniDesk Self-Service Portal when the Thesis is retrieved from Basement store (usually the same or next day). You should then be able to pick up the Thesis from the Lending Services desk for consultation within the library.

See a list of all the theses in the library (from both taught courses and research work). Use the options on the left to refine your results. Use the Advanced Search button to search within this list, e.g., for a student's name, thesis subject, or thesis title. 

STORRE: Stirling Online Research Repository contains electronic versions of research theses completed at the university. These can be viewed online instantly. Almost all research theses written after mid-2006 are available through this service, along with some older theses.

The Library should also have a paper copy of every University of Stirling research postgraduate thesis. See a list of all the theses in the library (taught and research). Use the options on the left to refine your results. Use the Advanced Search button to search within this list, e.g., for a student's name, thesis subject, or thesis title. 

Paper theses are kept in a store room. To view one of these theses you will have to request it. To do that you have to view the items record in the classic catalogue.

• Open the detailed record of the thesis you want to request.
• Click View in classic catalogue on the right side of the record, under Other Sources.
• Select Request thesis from Stirling Store. 
• You will be directed to the Request an item from store page on your UniDesk Self-Service Portal,
  ​if you aren’t already logged in your portal you will be asked to do so.

You will have to fill in the form with the details of the thesis that you want to request. Select Thesis from the drop down menu under About the thesis / store item, fill in the details of the thesis you want to request and click Submit.

You will be notified with an email to your university email account and a message on your UniDesk Self-Service Portal when the Thesis is retrieved from Basement store (usually the same or next day). You should then be able to pick up the Thesis from the Lending Services desk for consultation within the library. Occasionally, a thesis may be "embargoed" because it contains confidential or commercially sensitive information. Embargoed theses are not available for consultation.

If you are from another institution and wish to read a Stirling University thesis you should check to see if it is available via the STORRE. If it is not available electronically you could visit Stirling University Library to view the paper copy, or request the thesis through your own library's Inter Library Loan department. (If you plan to visit the library, please check our Opening Hours, and remember to request that the thesis be brought from the store room in advance of your visit.)