Regulations for Doctoral Studies and Study Regulations

III.6. Publication of the doctoral thesis


134. The doctoral thesis is published on paper and electronically with the Creative Commons license CC BY NC ND 4.0, which allows the work to be reproduced, disseminated and directed to the public, and prohibits the creation and commercial use of the derived work. At least 15 paper copies of the doctoral thesis must be printed.

135. If the doctoral thesis is defended as an integrated collection of research publications, it must include the introductory chapter together with research publications. If the publications cannot be published due to proprietary rights of the author belonging to other persons, the doctoral thesis must contain a reference to the source of the publication along with the reference to the internet source. The author has the right to prohibit the electronic publication of a manuscript before its first publication.

In an annex to the agreement according to clause 138, it will be detailed how previously published articles or articles previously submitted for publication will be published in the printed and electronic versions, whether as consolidated texts or by way of a reference. The printed and electronic versions may differ in that regard. The permission for a printed version can be obtained more easily, but it is often not permitted to publish the full article in the electronic version. The author may prohibit the electronic publication of manuscript articles that have not been submitted for publication.

Asking the publisher for permission to publish previous publications in the dissertation

  • First, check the website of the publisher/magazine to see whether they have a special form for asking for permission to publish (often they do and it can be submitted electronically).
  • If the publisher/magazine has no special form, you will find a sample letter here. 

136. If the doctoral thesis is defended based on (a) published monograph(s), it must include a reference to the monographs(s).

137. If the publications or other parts of the doctoral thesis cannot be made publicly available due to the protection of personal data, a state secret, trade secret or other classified information, a list of such parts or publications drawn up by the author is published. The author submits a reasoned request to the council to establish restrictions on making the doctoral thesis publicly available. The vice rector for research establishes the restrictions on the proposal of the council.

138. The doctoral thesis is printed by the University of Tartu Press, unless the doctoral candidate chooses otherwise in exceptional cases. The author and the university conclude an agreement to have the doctoral thesis printed.

139. If the doctoral thesis is not printed by the University of Tartu Press, one paper copy and the electronic file of the doctoral thesis is submitted to the university library. If necessary, the conditions for publishing the doctoral thesis are agreed upon in an agreement.

140. The doctoral thesis is printed in compliance with the technical requirements established for manuscripts by the University of Tartu Press and with the cover design of the faculty.

141. At least seven weeks before the date of the defence, the author submits to the University of Tartu Press the electronic manuscript of the doctoral thesis, a brief popular science summary (up to 2,000 characters) aimed at a broad audience in Estonian and English, and the separates or PDF-files of the publications. The author submits to the University of Tartu Press an excerpt from the minutes of the council meeting on allowing the doctoral thesis to be defended, the publisher’s licence of the republication of a previously published article (if needed), and the copy of the directive of the vice rector for research in the case specified in clause 137.

142. The author is responsible for ensuring that the publication of the doctoral thesis does not violate the intellectual property rights of other persons, the requirements for the protection of personal data or other requirements arising from legislation.

143. The University of Tartu Press ensures the identity of the electronic and paper version of the doctoral thesis, taking the provisions of clauses 136 and 137 into account. The University of Tartu Press sends one paper copy to the Rector’s Office and the Office of Academic Affairs. If fewer than 50 paper copies of the doctoral thesis are printed, the University of Tartu Press sends one paper copy and the electronic version to the university library, the National Library of Estonia, the archive library of the Estonian Literary Museum and the Tallinn University Academic Library.

144. The university ensures the publication, preservation and availability of the electronic and paper version of the doctoral thesis.