How to Cite a PhD Dissertation in APA Style (7th Edition Guide)

How to Cite a PhD Dissertation in APA Style (7th Edition Guide)

Citing a PhD dissertation correctly is important in academic writing because it shows where your information comes from and ensures your work meets scholarly standards. APA style (7th edition) has clear rules for how to reference dissertations, whether they are published online or unpublished.

This guide explains how to cite a PhD dissertation in APA style with examples you can copy and adapt.

1. Basic APA Format for a PhD Dissertation

The general format for a dissertation in APA reference style is:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation (Publication No. if available) [Doctoral dissertation, Institution Name]. Database or Archive Name. URL

2. Citing a Published Dissertation (Database)

If the dissertation is published in an academic database such as ProQuest, use this format:

Example:

Smith, J. A. (2022). The relationship between academic stress and coping strategies in doctoral students (Publication No. 12345678) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Manchester]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

3. Citing an Online Dissertation (Institutional Repository)

If the dissertation is freely available on a university website or repository:

Format:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation [Doctoral dissertation, Institution Name]. Website Name. URL

Example:

Brown, L. M. (2021). Mindfulness interventions in higher education settings [Doctoral dissertation, University of Leeds]. University of Leeds Research Repository. https://example-url.com

4. Citing an Unpublished Dissertation

If the dissertation is not published in a database or online:

Format:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Institution Name.

Example:

Jones, R. T. (2020). Emotional resilience in healthcare professionals [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Birmingham.

5. In-Text Citation for a Dissertation

APA in-text citations are simple:

Paraphrasing:

• (Smith, 2022)

Narrative citation:

• Smith (2022) found that academic stress significantly impacts doctoral students’ wellbeing.

6. Citing a Specific Page or Section

If you are quoting directly, include a page number:

• (Smith, 2022, p. 45)

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting to italicize the dissertation title

• Leaving out the institution name

• Not specifying “doctoral dissertation” in brackets

• Confusing thesis (master’s) and dissertation (doctoral) formatting

• Omitting database or URL when available

8. Dissertation vs Thesis (Important Distinction)

In APA style:

• Doctoral dissertation → PhD or EdD level

• Master’s thesis → lower degree level

Make sure you label it correctly in the reference.

9. Quick Reference Examples

Published (ProQuest):

Smith, J. A. (2022). Title (Publication No. XXXXXXX) [Doctoral dissertation, University Name]. ProQuest.

Institutional repository:

Smith, J. A. (2022). Title [Doctoral dissertation, University Name]. University Repository. URL

Unpublished:

Smith, J. A. (2022). Title [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University Name.

Final Thoughts on How to Cite a PhD Dissertation in APA Style (7th Edition Guide)

Citing a PhD dissertation in APA style is straightforward once you know the format. The key elements are the author, year, italicized title, designation as a doctoral dissertation, institution, and source (database or URL if available).

By following APA 7th edition rules carefully, you ensure your academic writing is credible, consistent, and properly referenced.