Thesis Embargoes

To seek an embargo on a research thesis, you apply to the Graduate Research Board (GRB) via this (opens in a new window)Google Form, prior to the research thesis being submitted for examination, providing supporting documentation that gives evidence that the research thesis contains personal, security or commercially sensitive information or the thesis contains material intended for future publication and the publishers specifically require that the thesis is restricted.

Procedure for Placing an Embargo on a Research Degree Thesis

In order to take into account the amount of time that may elapse between submitting your thesis and thesis examination, the embargo end date typically includes an additional 3 months which is added onto the period of time of your request.

The embargo expiry end date will not automatically change, for example if there are any changes to the originally planned thesis submission date. If you think that you may need to change the expiry date of your embargo, then please email (opens in a new window)grb@ucd.ie.

Please note that an embargo on a thesis should be sought prior to submission of the thesis for examination, normally three months in advance of the expected thesis submission date.

An embargo will prevent the transfer of your thesis to the Research Repository UCD (RRU).  If your degree has been awarded then your thesis may have already been transferred to the UCD RRU and an embargo will not automatically remove it from this archive.  If this situation has arisen then please contact (opens in a new window)grb@ucd.ie.

If an embargo has been approved, the embargo expiry date will be recorded on the University Student Information System and the thesis will not be transferred to the Research Repository UCD until the approved expiry date. 

Once the expiry date is reached the thesis will be made accessible on the (opens in a new window)RRU.

Please note that a citation to an embargoed thesis will always remain visible on the RRU.

In certain circumstances, an application to extend the initial embargo beyond the period approved will be considered. This request must be submitted by the School of the graduated author, and sent at least one month before the original embargo end date is due to expire. This can be the author’s Principal Supervisor or the relevant Head of the School where the graduated student had been registered. The application must be accompanied by substantive supporting documentation. Evidence must be provided that the research thesis contains personal, security or commercially sensitive information or the thesis contains material intended for future publication and the publishers specifically require that the thesis is restricted.

Procedure for Extending Thesis Embargo

If you are a current student and you think that the end date of your previously granted embargo needs to be changed please contact (opens in a new window)grb@ucd.ie.

UCD promotes compliance with Irish copyright law as regulated by the (opens in a new window)Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000 and the (opens in a new window)Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Law Provisions Act 2019. However, in accordance with the Thesis Embargo Policy if the owner of the copyrighted material in a research degree thesis in the UCD RRU does not consent to the use of their work, they can seek a takedown of the relevant thesis by submitting a request to UCD Library, who will withdraw the material immediately. Subsequently, the Library will carry out an investigation to ascertain if there has been a breach of copyright and provide a recommendation to the Graduate Research Board (GRB) to uphold the request or otherwise.

Procedure to Request Rapid Takedown of UCD Thesis