Thesis / Dissertation Formatting Manual (2024)

STEP 0 (Optional): Complete a pre-submission critique

You may submit a complete or in-progress manuscript and have a UCI Libraries staff member review it before you submit the final version. This is a service that is free of charge and available up to seven (7) days before the filing deadline. Allow two (2) business days for each review.

Request a pre-submission critique by uploading your thesis/dissertation to the Pre-Submission Request form.

STEP 1: Create an account in ProQuest

Click here to create a UCI ProQuest account 

• Ensure that you are on the UCI ProQuest page and not on another university's page.
• Create an account and complete all fields.
• Use an email address that you will check frequently, as this is the address to which your Acceptance email and/or Revision requests will be sent.

STEP 2: Enter thesis information in ProQuest and upload your document(s)

Take your time in entering the fields related to your thesis submission. There are many fields, but ProQuest provides comprehensive documentation for all fields. 

• Your manuscript must be a PDF when you upload. Your manuscript must comply with the Formatting Requirements specified in this manual and in ProQuest ETD publishing guide. 
• You will also have the option of uploading permission letters and other supplementary materials (e.g. data sets, multimedia files, etc.)
• Any errors or typos you make in your metadata fields (e.g. your name, your advisor's name, your abstract, etc) will be replicated in cataloging records. If you type your name in all caps, it will appear in all caps in all future records.
• If you have questions about any of the fields, please consult the Tutorials section of this Thesis manual, or email gradthesis@uci.edu

STEP 3: Wait and check your email

Once you upload and submit your manuscript, you will receive a verification email from ProQuest telling you that your submission went through. This is NOT your Acceptance Email.

Over the next two (2) business days (excluding weekends and holidays), a team from UCI Libraries will be reviewing your manuscript for basic formatting. We will be reviewing the manuscripts in the order that they are received. Within those two (2) business days, you will receive another email from ProQuest. This might be your Acceptance email. Or, it might be an email requesting revisions. If revisions are required, you must submit a revised document with corrections. Your updated resubmission is subject to the same two (2) business day wait time.

If your ProQuest account says that your manuscript has been accepted, but you did not receive an email, double-check that you are looking in the correct email account (many students check their UCI email, but forget that they set up their ProQuest account with their Gmail address). If you still cannot find an email, you can email gradthesis@uci.edu.

STEP 4: Turn in your Acceptance email with your final paperwork to Graduate Division

Save your Acceptance email as a PDF, and then include it with the final paperwork packet that you submit to Graduate Division before the filing deadline. Failure to meet this deadline may result in your degree being delayed one (or more) terms. All necessary paperwork and DocuSign forms are available on the Graduate Division Thesis Submission page.