The Princeton University Archives in the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library is Princeton University’s central repository for senior theses submitted in fulfillment of the undergraduate degree requirements.
The collection dates back to 1924 and includes more than 70,000 theses. For the first 90 years, theses were collected in either bound, microfiche, or unbound formats and stored within Mudd Library. The library began collecting digital copies of senior theses with the Class of 2014.
Search the Digital Thesis Archive
The creation of a digital thesis archive enhanced the reach and utility of this important resource for undergraduate research. More than 38,000 theses are downloaded every year, mostly by fellow undergraduates embarking on their own thesis research. Students consult the archive to explore topics, gather ideas for possible faculty advisers, find sources, gain familiarity with disciplinary writing styles, develop research methodologies for their own thesis, and understand what makes a good thesis.
A catalog of all archived theses is publicly available through DataSpace and can be searched by author, faculty adviser, class year, or using keywords from thesis titles and, when present, abstracts.
Members of the Princeton University community (our students, faculty, staff) and other authorized users of our computing network can access copies of senior theses online, unless otherwise restricted. Subject to the limitations of copyright law, such authorized users may also make individual copies for private, scholarly purposes.
Members of the general public may request copies of individual theses by visiting Mudd Library or by registering for a Special Collections Research Account, completing the online Senior Thesis Order Form, and agreeing to follow the limitations of copyright law. Such requests are processed manually and may take up to 10 days to fulfill.
Archive your Thesis
Upon completion (and by your departmental thesis deadline), you will be required to upload a digital copy of your senior thesis to the Thesis Central website for departmental review and archiving at Mudd Library (scheduled to open on March 24, 2025). Although you will submit your thesis online, you will also remain responsible for following any additional requirements for your home department.
Given a number of sensitivities surrounding the circulation of copyrighted materials in digital form, it is important to understand the options you have for depositing your work:
- Standard Access: Unless you elect either or both of the options described below, your thesis will be automatically deposited in the digital archive and accessible online to authorized users of the Princeton University computing network. In addition, members of the general public may request copies as described above.
- Limited Access: This option limits access to your thesis to visitors of the Mudd Manuscript Library or remote registered users who agree to comply with U.S. copyright law.
- Embargo: To protect a compelling interest, you may request that your thesis be embargoed so that it remains completely inaccessible for a specific, limited period of time. For example, embargoing your thesis may be appropriate if its disclosure would compromise intellectual property or privacy interests, or if your thesis includes data that you or your faculty adviser are planning to publish at a later time. Please be sure to consult with your adviser if you have questions about the sensitivity of the data in your thesis. In addition, please note that embargoed theses are still listed in the online catalog. The University reserves its right to review any and all theses for administrative purposes. All embargo requests will be carefully reviewed.
If you wish to limit access to and / or embargo your thesis, please complete and submit the online Restricted Access Form (scheduled to open on March 24, 2025) before 11:55 p.m. on your commencement day. If you wish to publish your thesis independently upon graduation, we ask that you consult with your faculty adviser before taking that step to confirm that its publication will not compromise the interests of others.
If you have questions regarding the archiving process, please contact the Office of the Dean of the College or the University Archives.