Thesis Support

Go to Digital Commons@risd and upload your thesis PDF by May 22, 2026 (or before). The electronic thesis (which does not have to include signatures) will be cataloged by the Library and will also be posted to RISD’s Digital Commons.

A complete set of submission instructions can be found in Fleet Library's Research Guides.

Library requirements for cataloging:

• Official title page that includes your full name, the names of all thesis committee advisors, department, year, etc. Use this sample page for guidance. Thesis committee signatures would be added in the bound copy, typically during final critique.
• Title
• Copyright page
• Abstract
• Table of contents
• Captions or list of illustrations (including image credits as needed)
• Footnotes/endnotes and bibliography (source citation)
• Page numbers

Your thesis will be recorded in both the Fleet Library’s online catalog and the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC)—an international bibliographic database.

Making your master’s thesis available to the RISD community and future grad students, and to artists, designers, scholars and employers worldwide is an important and valuable part of higher education. However, you may not want to have your thesis available online for reasons of publishing agreements, patents or other intellectual property issues.

To opt out or if you have questions, please contact the library’s Technical Services department.

If you would like to submit a bound, physical copy of your thesis to the RISD Library, check with your department or contact the library's Technical Services department to make arrangements.

The physical copy must be the same content as the digital version. Your thesis is a snapshot of a moment in time, the library cannot accept re-edited or substantially different versions. All materials must be archivally sound (acid-free paper, sturdy binding, etc.). If your thesis is bound unconventionally and/or includes original artwork such as prints or loose pages, please include an appendix describing the materials and/or process to ensure accurate library cataloging, and please note it will be housed in Special Collections (viewable by appointment), rather than on the open, accessible shelves.