Columbia University Dissertation Format
The rules Columbia University sets for thesis or dissertation, summarized from the official guide, plus a formatter that applies them to your Word file for you.
Try It Free on Your Paper →The Rules at a Glance
| Margins | 1 inch on all sides. At least 1 in. on all four sides; left and right must be equal (no extra binding margin). Everything (figures, tables, headers, footers, footnotes) inside margins except page numbers, which may sit in the margin but at least 0.75 in. from the page edge. Landscape pages keep page number upright and bottom-center as viewed in portrait. |
|---|---|
| Font | Preferred 12 pt Times New Roman or 10 pt Arial; any legible standard serif or sans-serif of roughly equivalent size accepted; no script/ornamental fonts. One font consistently in text; a different font or smaller size allowed for footnotes, tables, graphs, appendices, page numbers, abstract and TOC. All fonts embedded in PDF. |
| Spacing | Double-spaced: body, abstract, dedication, acknowledgments, table of contents. Quotations of 8+ lines indented and single-spaced. Footnotes, endnotes and bibliography entries single-spaced with a double space between entries. Captions may be single-spaced (template). |
| Title Page Number | not numbered and not counted (title, copyright and abstract pages are all uncounted cover pages) |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | lowercase roman starting at i on the Table of Contents, centered at bottom |
| Body Page Numbers | arabic starting at 1 (on Preface/Introduction if present, else Chapter 1), centered at bottom; top right also accepted |
| Chapter First Pages | same as body (bottom center) |
| Citation Style | Confirm with advisor/department; follow the leading style manual of the field unless it conflicts with GSAS rules. GSAS recommends the latest Turabian, MLA, Chicago Manual of Style, or APA Publication Manual. Notes may be footnotes, chapter endnotes, or endnotes before the bibliography. |
| Copyright Page | Required as a cover page (immediately after title page), unnumbered and uncounted. Otherwise blank page with three centered lines at the bottom: '© [Year]' / '[Legal Name]' / 'All Rights Reserved'. Year = calendar year manuscript completed (may differ from title-page degree year). Creative Commons license allowed as an option. |
| Contents Heading | Table of Contents |
| Chapter Headings | Template: 'Chapter 1: Name of Chapter' as Heading 1, centered, bold, 16 pt; subsections numbered '1.1 Sub Section' as Heading 2 left bold 13 pt (template suggestion, not a written rule) |
| Bibliography Heading | References or Bibliography (per field) |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. Title at top; ~3 blank lines; name; large gap (~4-5 blank lines in sample, ~18 single lines in Word template); five-line degree statement single-spaced; ~3 blank lines; COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY; ~2 blank lines; year. All centered.
Title capitalization: Title Case for title (as written; italics for titles of works and scientific names; spell out symbols/Greek letters); university in ALL CAPS.
Front Matter Order
- Title Page (uncounted)
- Copyright Page (uncounted)
- Abstract (uncounted)
- Table of Contents (i)
- List of Charts, Graphs, Illustrations
- Acknowledgments (optional)
- Dedication (optional)
Rules Students Often Miss
- Title, copyright and abstract pages are all unnumbered AND uncounted; roman numerals start at i on the Table of Contents
- Copyright page is mandatory in the cover pages; its year can differ from the title-page degree year
- Front matter order puts Acknowledgments and Dedication AFTER the Table of Contents and lists
- Abstract has no word limit and its header repeats the title and author name
- No 'by' on title page; title page names the 'Executive Committee of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences'
- Preface/Introduction counts as main body and starts arabic page 1
- Page numbers may sit in the margin but at least 0.75 in. from edge
- Reproduced published articles must be renumbered continuously
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in Columbia University’s wording, order, and spacing.
- Sets the margins and puts page numbers where the guide asks, with roman numerals in the front matter when required.
- Builds the contents page with dot leaders and the real page numbers filled in.
- Styles every heading level, block quotation, footnote, and bibliography entry.
- Gives you a short list of what only you can fix, like signature pages.
- Formatting software only. It never writes or rewrites a word of your paper.
Format Your Dissertation in About a Minute
Pick your school, drop in your Word file or PDF, and see your own title page done to these rules before you pay. Your paper never leaves your computer.
Common Questions
What margins does Columbia University require?
1 inch on all sides. At least 1 in. on all four sides; left and right must be equal (no extra binding margin). Everything (figures, tables, headers, footers, footnotes) inside margins except page numbers, which may sit in the margin but at least 0.75 in. from the page edge. Landscape pages keep page number upright and bottom-center as viewed in portrait.
Where do page numbers go in a Columbia University dissertation?
Front matter: lowercase roman starting at i on the Table of Contents, centered at bottom. Main text: arabic starting at 1 (on Preface/Introduction if present, else Chapter 1), centered at bottom; top right also accepted.
What citation style does Columbia University use?
Confirm with advisor/department; follow the leading style manual of the field unless it conflicts with GSAS rules. GSAS recommends the latest Turabian, MLA, Chicago Manual of Style, or APA Publication Manual. Notes may be footnotes, chapter endnotes, or endnotes before the bibliography.
Can Style Guide Pro format my Columbia University dissertation?
Yes. Choose Columbia University when you upload your Word file or PDF. Style Guide Pro rebuilds it with the title page, margins, page numbers, contents, headings, footnotes, and bibliography laid out the way the guide asks, then lists anything only you can fix. You can preview your own title page free before you pay.
Sources
- Formatting Guidelines and Dissertation Template (current, undated (accessed 2026-10))
- GSAS Dissertation Main Template (Word) (2023-12)
- PhD title page sample (undated)
- Abstract example (undated)
- Copyright page example (undated)
Summarized from Columbia University’s official guide, which Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), Dissertation Office publishes. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.