E-Thesis Submission Process (Electronic Thesis Acceptance)

As of April 15, 2025, the thesis submission process at the Middle East Technical University (METU) Library has been updated.

In accordance with the new procedure, the METU Library will no longer accept printed theses; only electronic submissions through OpenMETU will be accepted. In this process, students are no longer required to submit their theses directly to the library. Instead, the submission of the electronic copy and related documents will be processed solely through the relevant Institute.

This change has been implemented in line with the digitalization of processes, the enhancement of accessibility, and sustainability goals, and it has been enacted with the approval of the METU Senate Decision No. 2025/4-3, dated April 15, 2025.

You can access the METU Graduate Thesis Electronic Submission, Storage, and Access Directive here.

For detailed information and a step-by-step guide on the thesis submission process, please refer to the instructions below.

Student Procedures:

1. Thesis Format Check and Signatures: After the thesis format check is approved, the student must have printed and bound copies of the thesis signed by the jury members and, if applicable, the co-supervisor. The signed copies must be returned to the Institute, with the student’s own signature.

    

2. Publication and Statement Signature: The student signs the "Publication, Intellectual Property Rights, and Accuracy Statement."

    

3. Electronic Thesis Upload: The student uploads the PDF of the thesis, which must be identical to the printed version, along with the relevant metadata to the OpenMETU system. The printed and electronic versions of the thesis must match in all respects. Personal information (e.g., identity number, phone number, email, etc.) must not be included in the PDF.

    

4. YÖK Data Entry Form: Upon thesis approval, the student submits the YÖK Data Entry Form to complete the thesis submission process.

Institute Procedures:

1. Thesis Review and Approval: The thesis uploaded by the student appears in the OpenMETU task pool for the Institute responsible. The Institute checks the printed thesis against the electronic copy, and if they match, it is approved. If the thesis is set to be restricted, the access decision is communicated to the Library via the EBYS system.

    

2. Signature Process: The department chair and the institute director sign the printed thesis.

    

3. Scanning of Thesis Documents: The Institute responsible scans the jury signature page and the page signed by the student from the printed thesis, and sends them along with the "Publication, Intellectual Property Rights, and Accuracy Statement" as a single PDF via EBYS to METU Library.

    

4. Thesis Upload: The Institute responsible uploads the approved PDF to the YÖK National Thesis Center.

Library Procedures:

1. Archiving of Signed Thesis Documents: The library responsible records the signed PDF document sent via EBYS. Pages with original signatures will remain permanently closed to access.

    

2. OpenMETU Access and Metadata Control: The library ensures the OpenMETU thesis PDF, metadata, and access conditions are properly checked.

    

3. Approval Email: An approval email is sent to the Institute.

    

4. Thesis Catalog Record: The thesis is added to the library's automation system, and a catalog record is created.

In Case of a Request for Thesis Modification:

In case a modification request is made for a thesis that has been approved and added to OpenMETU:

1. Modification requests are only considered by the Institutes in exceptional cases. The requested modification, along with its justification, must be submitted to the Institute via a petition.

2. Upon approval of the modification by the Institute, the Institute informs the library via EBYS.

    

3. Library makes the necessary changes on OpenMETU and informs the Institute.