Duke University Dissertation Format
The rules Duke 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 top, 1 inch right, 1 inch bottom, 1.5 inch left. 1.5 in left; 1 in top, right, bottom on all pages. Bottom 1 in measured below the page number. Landscape pages: top 1.5 in, left/bottom/right 1 in. |
|---|---|
| Font | Commonly accepted font in the field (typically Times Roman, Garamond, Arial, or Helvetica), used consistently. Bold only for chapter/section headings, figure/table titles, equations, within tables/figures. Italics only per common practice. No color/underline/highlight in text; web links black, not underlined. |
| Spacing | All text including abstract double-spaced. Single-spaced: multi-line entries in TOC/lists/references (within entry), titles on title and abstract title pages, bottom paragraph on those pages, copyright page, multi-line chapter headings/subheadings, indented quotations, footnotes, captions. Bibliography single within, double between references. |
| Title Page Number | Not numbered (Title Page, Abstract Title Page, Copyright Page have no numbers; abstract begins at iv, implying these three count as i–iii) |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | Lowercase roman starting with the abstract as iv; bottom center between the margins, just above the 1 in bottom margin |
| Body Page Numbers | Arabic starting at 1 on first page of Introduction; bottom center (centered between 1.5 in left and 1 in right margins), 1 in below; no dashes or symbols around number |
| Chapter First Pages | Same as body |
| Citation Style | 'The bibliography can be in the format that is appropriate for the specific discipline: APA, MLA, AMA, Chicago, etc.' Single bibliography for entire manuscript (no per-chapter bibliographies). |
| Copyright Page | Included in required order (no page number, not in TOC). Wording: 'Copyright by' / '[Full Name]' / '[Current Year]', single-spaced, centered, positioned just above the 1 in bottom margin. |
| Contents Heading | Table of Contents |
| Chapter Headings | Not prescribed beyond consistency with TOC; Introduction titled 'Introduction', conclusion 'Conclusion[s]'; appendices e.g. 'Appendix A' |
| Bibliography Heading | References, Bibliography, or Works Cited (consistent with TOC) |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. Title at top (single-spaced); by/name/department/Duke University/defense date block; 'Approved:' with committee names (each followed by a signature-style line in template); bottom paragraph 'Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment…' through year, single-spaced, centered, positioned just above the 1 in bottom margin. The bottom paragraph wraps naturally (single-spaced, centered) with 'Duke University' and '[Current Year]' on their own lines.
Title capitalization: Title Case (headline capitalization: lowercase articles, coordinating conjunctions, prepositions under four letters; first and last words capitalized).
Front Matter Order
- Title Page
- Abstract Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Abstract (iv)
- Dedication (optional)
- Table of Contents
- List of Tables (if any)
- List of Figures (if any)
- List of Schemes (if any)
- List of Abbreviations (if any)
- Acknowledgements (optional)
Rules Students Often Miss
- Two title pages: Title Page and a separate Abstract Title Page (with committee 'Approved:' block)
- Copyright page placed AFTER the abstract title page; text positioned just above bottom margin
- Abstract numbered iv
- Acknowledgements come AFTER the lists (just before Introduction)
- Footnotes restart at 1 in each chapter
- No blank pages, bookmarks, internal links, or hyperlinks allowed in the PDF
- Optional Biography is the very last page (third person, max ~1 page)
- No color, underlining or highlighting in text; links black
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in Duke 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 Duke University require?
1 inch top, 1 inch right, 1 inch bottom, 1.5 inch left. 1.5 in left; 1 in top, right, bottom on all pages. Bottom 1 in measured below the page number. Landscape pages: top 1.5 in, left/bottom/right 1 in.
Where do page numbers go in a Duke University dissertation?
Front matter: Lowercase roman starting with the abstract as iv; bottom center between the margins, just above the 1 in bottom margin. Main text: Arabic starting at 1 on first page of Introduction; bottom center (centered between 1.5 in left and 1 in right margins), 1 in below; no dashes or symbols around number.
What citation style does Duke University use?
'The bibliography can be in the format that is appropriate for the specific discipline: APA, MLA, AMA, Chicago, etc.' Single bibliography for entire manuscript (no per-chapter bibliographies).
Can Style Guide Pro format my Duke University dissertation?
Yes. Choose Duke 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
- Guide for Electronic Submission of Theses and Dissertations (Last update 10/2025)
- Defense and Submission (Theses and Dissertations page; links Word/LaTeX templates) (accessed 2026-10)
Summarized from Duke University’s official guide, which The Graduate School publishes. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.