Template Thesis - Academic Paper Template - Thesis/Dissertation Sections

Sep 2, 2026

Thesis and dissertation formatting template settings for Microsoft Word are provided, including recommended page layout, margin specifications, and style-based formatting workflows. The template outlines how to construct key front-matter sections such as the cover page, signature lines, institution block, copyright page, and abstract page with designated capitalization, spacing, alignment, and page breaks. It also defines styles for acknowledgments, chapter headings, chapter numbers, subheadings, and body text, and notes important limitations like the need to manually add page numbers and to apply Word styles correctly to match publication standards.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPaper Templates

FormatDOCX

Pages15

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Cover Page

Cover Title

Cover Text

Cover Names

Cover Institution

Abstract Page

ABSTRACT heading

Abstract text

Acknowledgments Page

CHAPTER heading style

Body text

This is a Word document that contains examples of some of the required sections of a thesis or dissertation. The document has the following settings, which should match those in your thesis or dissertation: Layout > Margins: Top, Bottom, and Right 1", left 1.5" Styles: styles are an efficient way to format text in a Word document. If you need to change the way a particular type of text is formatted, and if all examples of that type of text are assigned to the same style, then changing the style will automatically change the formatting of all of the text. Word has a number of default styles. In this document some of those styles are formatted to meet the style guidelines in the USU Publication Guide. Please note that use of this template still requires some knowledge of how to use Microsoft Word – this is NOT a template into which you can drop a bunch of text and have it automatically formatted to be consistent with the Publication Guide. If you do not know how to apply styles in Word, we recommend that you find someone who does to help you get started. Also note that this template does not apply page numbers, as required by the publication guide. You will have to add page numbering, which is typically placed in the footer of the document (the section at the bottom of the page, such as the line ‘Updated 20170418’ at the bottom of this page). In the sample pages that follow various styles were created to match the styles recommended in the Publication Guide. Cover Page COVER TITLE: Use this for the thesis or dissertation title on the cover page. [all upper case, Times New Roman 12 pt font, centered, double spaced, page break before] Cover Text 1: Use this for the text between the title and the signature section. Insert extra line spacing as needed. [Times New Roman 12 pt font, centered, single spaced] Cover Names: Use this for the signature section. [Times New Roman 12 pt font, single spaced, left indent at 0.2", left tab at 3.3" for right column] Cover Institution: Use this for the last three lines of text. Insert an extra line after 'Logan, Utah' and before the year. [Times New Roman 12 pt font, single spaced, centered] Regarding post-nominal letters after a professor’s name (ex. M.S., Ph.D., etc.), it is up to the committee/department to decide on whether or not they are required on the title page. However, it is always required to write the post-nominal letters after the Dean’s signature. The use of “Dr.” is not allowed. Copyright Page Copyright 1: Use this for the first line of text. [240 pt before, to leave blank space above this line, Times New Roman 12 pt font, centered, double spaced, page break before] Copyright 2: Use this for the second line of text ('All Rights Reserved'). [Times New Roman 12 pt font, centered, double spaced] Abstract Page ABSTRACT: Use this for the first line of text ('ABSTRACT'). [Times New Roman 12 pt font, all upper case, centered, double spaced, page break before] Abstract text: Use this for the title through the line naming the institution. [Times New Roman 12 pt font, centered, double spaced] Abstract advisor: Use this for the Major Professor and Department lines. [Times New Roman 12 pt font, single spaced] Body Text: Use this for the Abstract text. [Times New Roman 12 pt font, ragged right, double spaced] (this is also the style to use for the main text in the body of the document) Acknowledgment Page CHAPTER: Use this for the first line of text ('ACKNOWLEDGMENTS'). [Times New Roman 12 pt font, all upper case, centered, double spaced, page break before] Body Text: Use this for the Acknowledgments text. [Times New Roman 12 pt font, ragged right, double spaced] Note: right justify your name chapter I Use the 'CHAPTER' style for the chapter number. This style is: 12 pt Times New Roman, double spaced, centered, all upper case, with a page break inserted before the text (to start each chapter on a new page). chapter title Use the 'CHAPTER TITLE' style for chapter titles. This style is: 12 pt Ti

FAQs

What page layout and margin settings does the template specify?

It specifies top, bottom, and right margins of 1 inch and a left margin of 1.5 inches.

How should the cover page elements be formatted in the template?

The cover title should be uppercase, Times New Roman 12 pt, centered, double spaced, with a page break before; the cover text is centered with single spacing, while names use single spacing with left indent and tab settings for column alignment.

Does the template automatically include page numbers?

No. The template does not apply page numbers, so page numbering must be added manually, typically in the footer.

Sep 2, 2026

Upload by Bill Black