RESEARCH & LEARNING SERVICES
SMU Libraries are your first point of contact if you need assistance in finding resources, locating articles or accessing databases throughout your PhD journey.
Research Librarians conduct various learning programmes, such as searching and identifying the right sources for your research, using bibliographic management tools, mastering specific databases, workshops and much more.
You can also make an appointment with a Research Librarian who specializes in your subject for customized help. Your Research Librarians are:
Research guides as starting points
Curated guides on subject specific resources and databases to get you started on your research.
Access to digital resources 24/7
Library resources can be accessed online, 24/7 wherever you are from the Libraries’ website. You may be prompted to login with your SMU username and password. Do refer to the Appropriate Use of Electronic Resources Policy when using the library’s resources.
Search the library collection for articles, databases, e-books, media content and more.
Access databases directly by searching for the title in the library search or browse the A to Z database list.
Starting your search on the open web?
These tools will make accessing the Libraries’ subscribed resources easier.
Install the LibKey Nomad browser extension to get direct access to full text articles beyond paywalls
Browse, read and stay current with online journals. You can search and browse journals by subject area, download articles and export references to citation managers. BrowZine is available as a web interface and a mobile app.
RESEARCH DATA SOURCES
The Libraries provide various Research Data Sources. You can contact your Research Librarian if you need further assistance with datasets or data management.
LOAN PRIVILEGES
- How many? Total loan entitlement for PhD students is 100 items.
- How long? Different item types have different loan periods. All items on loan are subject to request by another user or recall by the Library.
- How much? Fines are instituted to encourage the prompt return of library items for the convenience of all our users.
MY LIBRARY ACCOUNT
GET IT FOR ME VIA INTERLIBRARY LOAN
Interlibrary loan (ILL) is a service that obtains books, book chapters, journal articles and other resources for university-related research and teaching that are not available in the SMU Libraries collection. The following group of users are eligible for this service:
- Faculty and administrative staff
- Postgraduate students
- Third and fourth year undergraduate students
(First and second year undergraduate students should contact their Research Librarian for assistance)
How to request an interlibrary loan:
- Submitting a form in your library account
- Using the Find It @ SMU Libraries button within library-subscribed databases
- Emailing library@smu.edu.sg with a complete citation of the book, book chapter or article required
Read the full interlibrary loan guidelines.
NEW RESOURCES RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommend new resources to the library for purchase considerations. Please provide as many details as possible about the request, such as journal title, book title, author's name, year of publication, publisher's name and ISBN.
LEARNING PROGRAMMES
Check the Library Learning Calendar for upcoming workshops and events.
PUBLISHING DISSERTATIONS
Dissertations by PhD Students will be uploaded in InK - Institutional Knowledge at SMU - for access by SMU community. To submit your dissertations, go to the IRIS website and login with your SMU ID, add a new publication, select the publication type as dissertation, complete the fields, and upload the final PDF version of your dissertation. For details of adding a record in IRIS, refer to this guide.
Need help in writing your dissertation? Visit our guide on "Dissertation / Thesis Research and Writing".
GRADUATE LOUNGES
Graduate Lounges are designated as multi-purpose learning spaces for post-graduate students. There are two Graduate Lounges on Level 5 of Li Ka Shing Library, and one Graduate Lounge on Level 4 of Kwa Geok Choo Law Library.