Skip Navigation

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

  • Apply Online

Office of Graduate Studies

Apply. Enroll. Enrich.

Electronic Dissertations
Introduction | Formatting: Pages, Front, Body, Back | Submission

Steps of the ETD Submission Process


Steps Preceding the Final Oral Examination

1. The abstract and dissertation must be approved by the Supervisory Committee Chair and the readers prior to filing the Application for the Final Oral Examination or Waiver in the Office of Graduate Studies. The application, signed by the readers and supervisory committee chair, must be presented for approval to the Doctoral Programs Specialist in the Office of Graduate Studies at least three weeks prior to the date of the oral examination. If the oral examination is waived, the deadline is three weeks prior to the last published date for holding oral examinations.

2. At the time your application is submitted, a preliminary review of the title page and abstract from copies provided by the student is made by the Doctoral Programs Specialist. Your final oral examination instructions will be given to you when the application is received. The instructions will include directions on how to retrieve the Report of Completion of the Doctoral Degree form, Signature Page form, Survey of Earned Doctorates, a link to the UNL Exit Survey, the Electronic Dissertation Information Form, Submitting Dissertation Online to Proquest Instructions and the University Microfilms International Dissertation Agreement form.

The Supervisory Committee has the right to recommend changes in the abstract and the dissertation at the time of the final oral examination. Such changes, should they be requested, normally are made by the student in consultation with the Supervisory Committee Chair and are incorporated in the final versions of the abstract and dissertation that will be deposited in Love Library.


Steps Following the Final Oral Examination

Following the final oral examination, the student should submit the CD back up of the final electronic version of the dissertation, two additional paper copies of the abstract, and two extra paper title pages to the Doctoral Programs Specialist in the Office of Graduate Studies for stamping before going to the Library. Only title pages, abstracts and dissertations that meet all published requirements can be approved and stamped for depositing in 318 Love Library. (The Library accepts only copies that carry the Office of Graduate Studies stamp of approval.) The Doctoral Programs Specialist will also check to make sure all your paperwork is complete and signed by those attending the oral examination.

Once this check is completed, you may download your dissertation to Proquest at any time. You should do so within a short period of time so that the possibility of omission of this step is less likely. Instructions are found on the website in the final instructions.

Each student also should check with the Supervisory Committee Chair and departmental office regarding any additional copies of the dissertation that must be prepared. The student must make arrangements for these additional copies.

Following approval by the Office of Graduate Studies, the student deposits the final electronic version of the dissertation and needed paperwork in the Dean's Office at Love Library, Room 318. The following items are required:

  1. Electronic dissertation on CD/DVD/diskette in PDF format in one file which should include the title page, abstract, and complete dissertation, including references, charts, and figures. If the dissertation does not fit on one disk or disc, the student is to contact the University Libraries' Automated Systems Office (472-2526) to review the technical options for depositing the electronic dissertation.
  2. Paperwork for University Microfilms International (UMI)
        a. Completed University Microfilms International Dissertation Agreement form
        b. Reprint permission letters, if required
        c. Electronic Dissertation Information Form
  3. Report on Completion of the Doctoral Degree form
  4. Signature page

A staff member in the Dean's Office collects the CD/DVD/diskette and paperwork for UMI and signs the Report of Completion of the Doctoral Degree form. If the dissertation is to be held pending patent issuance, etc., a letter of request from the author's advisor must accompany the dissertation. The letter should state why the dissertation is to be held and the specific date it can be released.

Following the above, the student will take the Final Report on Doctoral Degree form and go to the Cashier Window (Room 121 Canfield Administration Building) to pay the required fees. These fees include:
    ETD Service Fee — $25.00
    Abstract — $60.00
    Copyright — $75.00 (optional)

Each doctoral student must pay $85 for the abstract and processing fees. If authorized, University Microfilms will apply for copyright in the name of the author for an additional fee of $75. These fees, which are subject to change, are payable to the Cashier after the copies are deposited in Love Library.

As the final step following payment of fees, the student should take the Final Report on Doctoral Degree form, with proof of payment and the completed Survey of Earned Doctorates, to the Office of Graduate Studies, 1100 Seaton Hall.


Summary of Submission Steps

  1. Obtain Abstract and Dissertation approval from Supervisory Committee Chair and Readers.

  2. File the Application for the Final Oral Examination or Waiver in the Office of Graduate Studies.
    The Application must be approved by the doctoral degree assistant in the Office of Graduate Studies at least three weeks prior to the date of the oral examination or, if the oral examination is waived, the deadline is three weeks prior to the last published date for holding oral examinations.

  3. Present one copy of the Abstract and Title Page to the doctoral degree assistant in the Office of Graduate Studies at the time of completion of Step 2, and pick up your Final Oral Examination Instructions. This may be done as an email attachment.

  4. Following the Final Examination make any changes in the dissertation recommended by the Examining Committee and approved by the Supervisory Committee Chair.
    Be certain that the electronic version of your dissertation is exactly as you wish it. ETDs are not checked for formatting, pagination, spelling, grammar, or typos by anyone other than the author.

  5. Submit two additional paper copies of the abstract and two extra paper title pages to the doctoral degree assistant in the Office of Graduate Studies for stamping before going to the Library with your ETD.
    Only abstracts and title pages that meet all published requirements can be approved and stamped for depositing in 318 Love Library. The Library accepts only copies that carry the Office of Graduate Studies stamp of approval.

  6. Check with the Supervisory Committee Chair and departmental office regarding any additional copies of the dissertation that must be prepared.

  7. Carry your competed ETD to 318 Love Library in PDF format on CD/DVD/diskette. A library staff member will place your ETD on the Graduate School server and forward it to University Microfilms International (UMI).

  8. A staff member in the Dean's office will sign the Report of Completion of the Doctoral Degree and give it to the student to take to the Cashier Window (Room 121 Canfield Administration Building) to pay the required fee. Remember, the cashier accepts only cash or check.

  9. As the final step following payment of fees, the student should take the Report of Completion of the Doctoral Degree form, with proof of payment, and the completed Survey of Earned Doctorates to the Office of Graduate Studies, 1100 Seaton Hall.