The Dissertation Compass

Terms of Use

Terms of use for The Dissertation Compass website.

Last Updated: April 2026

By accessing and using The Dissertation Compass website, you agree to the following terms and conditions. Please read them carefully.

Educational Disclaimer

All content on The Dissertation Compass – including guides, templates, checklists, and articles – is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. This content is not a substitute for the specific guidance, policies, and requirements of your university, department, or academic program.

Dissertation and thesis requirements vary significantly across institutions, disciplines, and degree programs. You should always consult your academic advisor, committee members, and institutional guidelines before making decisions about your research process. The information on this site is intended to supplement, not replace, that institutional guidance.

No Institutional Affiliation

The Dissertation Compass is an independent educational resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any university, college, accreditation body, or degree-granting institution. References to general academic processes (such as IRB review, dissertation defense, or committee formation) reflect common practices but may not match the specific procedures at your institution.

About the Creator

The Dissertation Compass is created and maintained by Angel Reyes, the founder of Subthesis.com and related educational properties including Study Healthcare Theory, Grant Writing Consultant, Public Health Practicum, and CHES Study Guide.

Content License

All original content on The Dissertation Compass – including text, guides, graphics, and site design – is copyright Angel Reyes / Subthesis. All rights reserved unless otherwise noted.

Templates and Downloadable Resources

Templates, checklists, and other downloadable resources provided on this site are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. Under this license, you are free to:

  • Use the templates for your personal and academic work, including your dissertation or thesis.
  • Share the templates with fellow students, provided you give appropriate credit.
  • Adapt the templates to fit your specific needs.

Under the following conditions:

  • Attribution – You must give appropriate credit to The Dissertation Compass and link back to this website when sharing or redistributing templates.
  • NonCommercial – You may not use the templates for commercial purposes. This includes selling the templates, incorporating them into paid products or services, or using them in commercial training or consulting without written permission.

No Warranty

The content and resources on this site are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. Angel Reyes and Subthesis make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information provided.

Specifically:

  • No guarantee of academic outcomes. Using the guides and templates on this site does not guarantee approval by your committee, IRB, or institution.
  • No guarantee of accuracy. While we strive to provide current and accurate information, academic standards and institutional requirements change frequently. Always verify information against your own institution’s current policies.
  • No professional advice. Content on this site does not constitute professional, legal, medical, or academic advising.

You use the information and resources on this site at your own risk. Always follow your institution’s specific requirements and defer to the guidance of your academic advisor and committee.

This site contains links to external websites, including other properties in the Subthesis ecosystem. These links are provided for convenience and informational purposes. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or practices of external websites. The inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement of the linked site.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Angel Reyes, Subthesis, and The Dissertation Compass shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages arising from your use of or inability to use this website or its content.

Changes to These Terms

These terms may be updated from time to time. The revised version will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

Contact

If you have questions about these terms, you can reach Angel Reyes through Subthesis.com.