Embargo (Delay in Publication) Policy

UT Austin requires that all theses, reports, treatises and dissertations are submitted electronically and made publicly available through the Texas Digital Library (TDL). In some cases, students may request an embargo (delay in publication) so that their work is not released immediately. Such requests by the student require justification and supervisor approval. They must be submitted with the student’s thesis/report/dissertation submission paperwork by the submission deadline for the semester the student intends to graduate.

ProQuest: to disseminate its master’s theses/reports and doctoral dissertations. When students are uploading their document to TDL, they may choose whether to release their document to ProQuest. 

Learn more: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/navigating/graduation/digital-submission/embargo

Why Students May Request an Embargo

UT Austin supports broad public access to graduate research, and in most cases an embargo is not recommended.  However, in some circumstances students may need additional control when their work becomes publicly available. Students may therefore request an embargo for several scholarly, professional and intellectual property reasons (see below). 

Students should discuss whether an embargo is appropriate for their work with their faculty advisers. We also recommend contacting the University’s Ask a Librarian service to speak to a professional familiar with the discipline to discuss publishing goals.

• Protect Intellectual Property

• Protect Future Publication Rights

• Protect Sensitive Human-Participant Data

• Other Reasons

  • In rare cases, students may have compelling reasons for requesting a longer initial embargo or for continuing an existing embargo beyond the standard extension. The petition process allows the Graduate School to consider these unique situations—supported by the graduate adviser—when students face extraordinary research, personal or professional constraints that require more time.

    • Standard Duration

    • Extensions

    • Petitions for Longer Initial or Continuing Embargoes

    • Early Termination of Embargo

Learn more: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/navigating/graduation/digital-submission/embargo

Important Notes

• An embargo is not a substitute for obtaining copyright permissions. Any required permissions must be obtained before electronic thesis or dissertation submission.
   

• Restrictions or holds requested through ProQuest do not apply to the version archived in the TDL and should not be relied upon to control release of the UT Austin archived electronic thesis or dissertation. When students are uploading their document to TDL, they may choose whether to release their document to ProQuest. No form is required, and the student does not need supervisor approval for ProQuest embargoes.
   

• The Graduate School retains full authority to approve, deny or modify any request for embargo, including petitions outside the standard timeframe.