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Academy · Concepts & Definitions · Reusing a thesis figure Q&A
Reuse of a Figure from the Author’s Own Thesis in a Journal Article: Copyright and Acknowledgement
Reuse is usually permitted, but the answer depends on who holds the copyright and on the provisions of the university’s own thesis policy.
Reuse of a figure from the author’s own thesis in a subsequent journal article is usually permitted, but the specific answer depends on who holds copyright in the thesis (commonly the author under many university policies, although this varies), whether the thesis has already been formally published in a manner that assigns rights elsewhere, and what acknowledgement the new journal expects.
Learning objectives
- Why thesis copyright ownership should be verified first rather than assumed.
- What acknowledgement a journal typically expects when reusing thesis material.
- The more complex case of a thesis chapter already published as a journal article.
Common misconceptions
- “A thesis is automatically subject to the same copyright rules as a journal article.” University policies on thesis copyright vary; many leave copyright with the student-author, but this is not universal, and the position should therefore be checked against the specific institution’s policy rather than assumed.
- “Authors may reuse their own work anywhere without acknowledgement.” Even where the author holds copyright, good practice and the policies of many journals still require the thesis to be cited and acknowledged as the original source of the figure, consistent with standard practice for the reuse of an author’s own prior work.
Determination of copyright ownership
University policies on thesis copyright vary by institution: many leave copyright with the student-author by default, but this is not universal, and some institutions or specific funding agreements may affect ownership. The first step is therefore to consult the specific university’s thesis and intellectual property policy rather than assuming either outcome.
Expected forms of acknowledgement
Even when the author clearly holds copyright and reuse is permitted, standard academic practice, and the author guidelines of many journals, require the thesis to be cited as the original source of the figure (for example, in the figure caption or a footnote). This is consistent with general good practice for the reuse of an author’s own previously published or presented material, including avoiding the appearance of presenting the same content as entirely new without acknowledgement.
Thesis chapters previously published as journal articles
If the thesis chapter containing the figure has already been published as a journal article (a common practice in some fields, known as a “thesis by publication”), the relevant copyright holder may be that journal’s publisher rather than the university or the author, depending on the publishing agreement signed at the time. In this case, the publisher’s reuse policy (and, if necessary, formal permission) governs, not the thesis policy.
Key points
Key points
Reuse of a figure from the author’s own thesis is usually permitted. The university’s thesis copyright policy should nevertheless be checked first, and the thesis should be acknowledged as the source in either case. If the relevant chapter has already been published as a journal article, that publisher’s reuse policy should be checked instead, since the publisher may hold the relevant rights.
Practical application
Practical application
- Check the university's thesis copyright policy before assuming that reuse is unrestricted. Policies vary by institution and sometimes by funding source.
- Cite and acknowledge the thesis as the original source regardless of the ownership outcome. This is standard good practice even when formal permission is not technically required.
- If the relevant content was already published as a journal article, check that publisher's specific reuse policy. The thesis policy should not be assumed to govern in that case.
Frequently asked questions
The same logic of verifying ownership applies, although text reuse (particularly extensive verbatim text) raises additional self-plagiarism considerations that a journal’s editor may wish to see addressed directly, even where copyright is not a barrier.
The university library or research office typically maintains current information on thesis copyright and deposit policy.
It may be relevant: some repository deposit agreements include specific terms concerning subsequent reuse, and it is therefore advisable to check the deposit agreement itself, not only the general university policy.
References
- Based on general university thesis copyright and intellectual property policy conventions; always confirm the specific policy with the relevant institution's library or research office before relying on general practice. read 10 October 2026.
Every source above is a peer-reviewed article, a publisher’s record of one, or a standard issued by the body that owns it. Each carries the date it was last read. Where a standard moves, this article is revised rather than left up with a note.
How to cite this article
Pick your referencing style and copy it. Your university or target journal may vary the punctuation — check its guide if it has one.
Pubrica Academy. (2026, October 10). Reuse of a Figure from the Author’s Own Thesis in a Journal Article: Copyright and Acknowledgement. Pubrica. https://pubrica.com/academy/qa/reusing-a-figure-from-your-own-thesis-qa/
Pubrica Academy. “Reuse of a Figure from the Author’s Own Thesis in a Journal Article: Copyright and Acknowledgement.” Pubrica, 10 Oct. 2026, pubrica.com/academy/qa/reusing-a-figure-from-your-own-thesis-qa/.
Pubrica Academy (2026) Reuse of a Figure from the Author’s Own Thesis in a Journal Article: Copyright and Acknowledgement. Pubrica. Available at: https://pubrica.com/academy/qa/reusing-a-figure-from-your-own-thesis-qa/ (Accessed: 15 October 2026).
Pubrica Academy. “Reuse of a Figure from the Author’s Own Thesis in a Journal Article: Copyright and Acknowledgement.” Pubrica. October 10, 2026. https://pubrica.com/academy/qa/reusing-a-figure-from-your-own-thesis-qa/
Pubrica Academy, ‘Reuse of a Figure from the Author’s Own Thesis in a Journal Article: Copyright and Acknowledgement’ (Pubrica, 10 October 2026) <https://pubrica.com/academy/qa/reusing-a-figure-from-your-own-thesis-qa/> accessed 15 October 2026.
Pubrica Academy. Reuse of a Figure from the Author’s Own Thesis in a Journal Article: Copyright and Acknowledgement. [Internet]. Pubrica; 2026 Oct 10 [cited 2026 Oct 15]. Available from: https://pubrica.com/academy/qa/reusing-a-figure-from-your-own-thesis-qa/
Pubrica Academy, “Reuse of a Figure from the Author’s Own Thesis in a Journal Article: Copyright and Acknowledgement,” Pubrica, Oct. 10, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://pubrica.com/academy/qa/reusing-a-figure-from-your-own-thesis-qa/
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title = {Reuse of a Figure from the Author’s Own Thesis in a Journal Article: Copyright and Acknowledgement},
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year = {2026},
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}This article is written to be learned from. Cite it if you are referring to what it says; if you are using the evidence behind it, cite the sources listed above instead.
Thesis figure reuse quick-check
Work through in order.
1. Check the specific university's thesis copyright policy 2. Confirm whether the relevant thesis chapter was already published as a journal article 3. If already published, check that publisher's specific reuse policy instead 4. Either way, cite and acknowledge the thesis as the original source of the figure
Pubrica AcademyWritten and maintained by Pubrica’s subject matter experts. Articles are revised when the underlying standards change, and each article states the date on which it was last reviewed.
How Pubrica can help
Pubrica assists authors in checking thesis and prior-publication reuse rights before figures are resubmitted, and drafts the appropriate acknowledgement wording for the new manuscript.