Font Size
Must be a minimum of 10 points. You may use a smaller font size for graphs, formulas, footnotes, and appendices; avoid italics.
Line Spacing
Must be at least one-and-a-half spaces, except for the thesis abstract, which should be double-spaced. Single spacing may be used for long quoted passages and footnotes.
Footnotes, References, Bibliography and Heading Styles
Different disciplines and graduate units will have their own preferred practices. Please follow the styles that are preferred in your discipline and graduate unit. If you are unsure, consult your supervisory committee. Generally the preferred location for footnotes is either at the bottom of the page or at the end of the chapters to which they refer. Consistency is important.
Page & Margin Sizes
Page size should be 8 1/2″ x 11″ (21.5 cm x 28 cm) with the text reading across the 8 1/2″ (21.5 cm) dimension. If you are planning on having the thesis printed and bound (for a unit requirement, or your supervisor), the left margin should be at least 1 1/4″ (32 mm), and the remaining three margins should be at least 3/4″ (20 mm) to the main text. Margin sizes are not as critical in digital formats.
Page Numbering
Each and every page in the thesis must be numbered with the exception of the title page. The preliminary portion of the thesis should be numbered with small Roman numerals placed in the centre of the page, about half an inch from the bottom. Numbering begins with the Abstract as page ii. The Title Page is considered as page i, but must not show a page number.
Page Order
Title page
Abstract
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1 – Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Company/Industry
1.3 Objective(s)
1.4 Layout of Report
Chapter 2 – Literature Review
Chapter 3 – Methodology
Chapter 4 – Results
Chapter 5 – Analysis of Results
Chapter 6 – Discussion
Chapter 7 – Conclusions
Appendices
References
Bibliography
Title Page
The title page should show:
- the words “A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of (state full name of degree), Graduate Department (state name of graduate department)”
- the thesis title (capitalize the content words)
- student’s name
- the universal copyright notice (the date should be the year the degree is conferred); the universal copyright notice must appear on one line
Abstract
All theses must include an abstract.
- Font size must be a minimum of 10 points.
- Lines of text must be double-spaced.
- Abstract must not exceed 350 words for a doctoral thesis or 150 words for a master’s thesis.
- Left margin should be at least 1 1/4″ (32 mm); the remaining three margins should be at least 3/4″ (20 mm) to the main text.
- The student’s thesis title, degree and year of convocation, full name, name of graduate department, and name of university must appear on the top of the abstract’s first page. This information is not included in the 350-/150-word count.
- Symbols, as well as foreign words and phrases, must be clearly and accurately displayed.
- Graphs, charts, tables, and illustrations are not included.