Q. I want to restrict access to my thesis. What are the qualifying reasons?

If you wish to restrict access to the electronic version of your thesis you should state this in the embargo comments box when uploading your thesis via Liverpool Elements. If you do not provide a reason for the embargo we cannot accept the thesis. If the reason for restricting access is a concern for your personal safety, access can be restricted permanently or indefinitely. For any of the other reasons below, access can be restricted for up to five years.

• Publication of the thesis is planned
• Releasing the thesis would prejudice the commercial interests of the author, the University or another external party
• The thesis includes material that was obtained under the promise of confidentiality
• The thesis details methods/procedures which could affect the competitiveness of a line of research if made available online
• The thesis contains material where copyright is owned by a third party, and it would be expensive or onerous to seek permission to make it available as part of the thesis. Removal of this material, or abridgement of the thesis would compromise the thesis
• The student intends to publish the thesis as a monograph or series of articles and electronic publication could compromise opportunities for publication

If the reason for which you wish to restrict access is not included on the above list, you should notify the Open Research Team immediately so that a discussion can be held with regard to restricting access to your thesis.

If you are depositing your thesis voluntarily and wish to restrict access to the printed copies of your thesis you must submit a letter from your Head of Department (HoD) to the Acquisitions Team in the Sydney Jones Library.