What Is a Thesis and a Dissertation?
A thesis is a research document submitted for an undergraduate or master's degree. A dissertation is a doctoral-level research project requiring an original contribution to the field. The formatting requirements for both are largely the same, but scope, length, and depth differ significantly.
See our full thesis vs dissertation breakdown if you need to understand the difference before you start formatting.
How to Structure a Thesis
Every thesis follows the same three-part structure, regardless of your field or degree level. For a broader overview of the entire writing process, the thesis writing guide covers everything from picking a topic to your final submission.
Front Matter includes everything before your actual research begins: title page, abstract, table of contents, acknowledgments, and any lists of figures or tables if your thesis contains them.
Body is the research itself: introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. Each chapter typically starts on a new page.
End Matter covers everything after the conclusion: references or bibliography, appendices, and in some cases a vita (brief biography) if required by your institution.
Not sure how to plan the contents of each chapter? Check out our thesis paper outline guide for a chapter-by-chapter breakdown.
Thesis Formatting Guidelines
These are the rules that govern how your thesis looks, independent of what style you're using for citations.
Margins
The standard margin is 1 inch on all sides. Some institutions require a 1.5-inch left margin to allow space for binding. Always check your institution's graduate school handbook, because margin requirements are one of the most commonly failed formatting checks.
Font and Font Size
Body text should be in Times New Roman or Arial at 12pt. Chapter headings typically use 14pt to 16pt bold. Never use decorative or script fonts; they're unprofessional and often rejected outright.
Line Spacing
Double-space the body text throughout. Single-spacing is acceptable for block quotes (40 words or more), footnotes, and bibliography entries. Don't add extra spacing between paragraphs unless your institution's guidelines specifically call for it.
Page Numbering
Preliminary pages (your front matter) use lowercase Roman numerals: i, ii, iii. The body and end matter use Arabic numerals starting at 1. The title page is counted but not numbered; it doesn't display a page number. Numbers typically appear in the top-right corner or bottom-center, depending on your institution's preference.
Headers and Footers
If your institution requires a running header, it usually contains an abbreviated version of your thesis title. Keep it consistent throughout the document. Many programs now allow student papers without running headers; check before you add one.
Title Page Requirements
Your title page must include:
- Full thesis title
- Your full name as it appears on institutional records
- Degree name and department
- Institution name
- Submission date
- Advisor or supervisor name (if required)
Format the title page with everything centered. The title appears roughly one-third of the way down the page, with your name and institutional details positioned below.
Chapter Headings
Chapter titles should be centered, bold, and start on a new page. Second-level subheadings (H2 equivalent) are left-aligned and bold. Third-level subheadings can be italicized or indented depending on your style guide. Never skip heading levels, go H1 to H2 to H3 in order.
Ready to select a topic? Well, then, see our list of thesis topics to make matters easier for you.
APA Thesis Format
APA is the default style for social sciences, psychology, education, and nursing programs. Here's what APA formatting means specifically for your thesis.
In-text citations use the author-date format: (Smith, 2021). Your reference list appears at the end of the thesis (or at the end of each chapter, if your program requires it), alphabetized by author's last name with a hanging indent.
Your abstract should be 150 to 250 words, appear on its own page, and not include citations. It summarizes your research question, method, findings, and conclusions.
In the APA 7th edition, student thesis title pages no longer require a running head, just your title, name, institution, course, and date. This is a change from APA 6th, so if you're working from older resources, double-check you're using the current edition's rules.
The reference list follows specific formatting: each entry uses a hanging indent (second and subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches), double-spaced, and alphabetical order. URLs should be formatted as hyperlinks where possible.
MLA Thesis Format
MLA is used primarily in humanities disciplines: literature, languages, philosophy, and cultural studies. It handles formatting differently from APA in a few key ways.
MLA typically doesn't use a title page. Instead, the first page of your thesis opens with a header block in the top-left corner: your name, your professor's name, the course title, and the date, each on its own line. Your title appears centered, in regular font (not bold or italicized unless it contains a title that would normally be italicized).
In-text citations use parenthetical author-page format: (Smith 45). Your bibliography is called Works Cited and appears at the end of the document, alphabetized by the author's last name, double-spaced, with a hanging indent.
MLA doesn't use running heads in the traditional sense, just a header with your last name and the page number in the top-right corner of every page after the first.
Chicago Thesis Format
Chicago style is used in history, arts, and humanities. It comes in two systems.
Notes-Bibliography (used in humanities) uses footnotes or endnotes for citations, with a bibliography at the end. This is the more common system for thesis writing in history programs.
Author-Date (used in social sciences) functions similarly to APA, using in-text parenthetical citations and a reference list.
Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page where the citation occurs, in 10pt font, single-spaced. If you're using endnotes instead, they appear on a separate page before the bibliography. The bibliography is formatted with a hanging indent and alphabetized by author's last name.
Ask your advisor which system applies before you write a single footnote. Switching systems after the fact means reformatting every citation in the document, and that's a mistake that costs hours, not minutes.
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Thesis Format Sample
Here's what a well-formatted thesis opening looks like in practice.
Sample Title Page Layout
[Institution Name]
[Department Name]
THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master of Science in Psychology
By
Jane A. Smith
Supervisor: Dr. Robert Johnson
[City, State]
[Month, Year]
Sample Abstract Block
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between social media use and
academic performance in a sample of 300 undergraduate students at
[University Name]. Using a mixed-methods approach... [continues for
150-250 words]
Keywords: social media, academic performance, undergraduate students
Sample Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Abstract ........................................................ ii
Acknowledgments ................................................ iii
List of Tables .................................................. iv
List of Figures ................................................... v
Chapter One: Introduction ........................................ 1
1.1 Background of the Study .................................. 3
1.2 Research Questions ........................................ 5
1.3 Significance of the Study ................................. 6
Chapter Two: Literature Review ................................... 8
...
References ..................................................... 87
Appendices ..................................................... 94
A clean Table of Contents tells your committee you've organized your work clearly. Use Word's automatic TOC feature to generate it; it'll pull from your heading styles and update page numbers automatically.
Ready to begin? Start with our guide on writing a thesis introduction and move forward from there.
Thesis Formatting Checklist
Run through this before you submit.
- Margins set to 1 inch (or your institution's specified width)
- Font: Times New Roman or Arial, 12pt throughout
- Body text double-spaced
- Front matter pages numbered with lowercase Roman numerals
- Body and end matter pages numbered with Arabic numerals
- Title page complete with all required elements
- Abstract within word limit (typically 150–300 words)
- Table of Contents updated with correct page numbers
- Citations follow required style (APA, MLA, or Chicago)
- References or bibliography formatted correctly with hanging indents
- Appendices labeled correctly (Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.)
- Chapter headings centered, bold, on new pages
- Headers and footers are consistent throughout
Print one copy and do a physical page-by-page check. You'll catch things on paper that you miss on screen.
Already completed a thesis? Well, complete this checklist and then have a look at our thesis defense guide to prepare your defense.
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