Purdue University Dissertation Format
The rules Purdue 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. Title cover page and Statement of Committee Approval page require a 1.5 inch top margin (1 inch left/right/bottom). All other pages 1 inch on all sides. 8.5 x 11 page; portrait except wide tables/figures. |
|---|---|
| Font | Times New Roman 12 pt for body text. Footnotes Times New Roman 10 pt. Chapter headings 14 pt bold (template style). |
| Spacing | 1.5 line spacing for body. References and lists of abbreviations/symbols single-spaced. Dedication 1.5 spacing. Body text justified. Either indented (0.5 inch) or unindented (18 pt after) paragraphs, one method throughout. No extra blank paragraphs above/below headings, figures, tables (ADA). |
| Title Page Number | Not numbered (counted as page 1). |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | NO roman numerals: arabic numbering begins with 2 on the Statement of Committee Approval page and runs sequentially; bottom center of footer. |
| Body Page Numbers | Arabic, continuing sequentially from the front matter (does not restart), centered in the footer. Landscape pages: number centered in the left page margin, rotated. |
| Chapter First Pages | Same as body (center footer). |
| Citation Style | Students must work inside one of three official templates. Standard template: references use bracketed numbering [1], [2], [3] listed in numerical order, single-spaced, justified, 0.4-0.5 inch hanging indent, 12 pt after, website hyperlink required in every reference; either references at end of each chapter OR one References section at the back (not both). APA template (required for Engineering Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Studies, English, Psychological Sciences and some Technology programs) follows APA. |
| Copyright Page | Not part of the template/handbook (no copyright page described). |
| Contents Heading | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Chapter Headings | Numbered, ALL CAPS, '1. CHAPTER TITLE' (number, period, title on one line), centered, bold, 14 pt (template '1. Heading' style). Appendices 'A. APPENDIX TITLE'. No word 'Chapter'. |
| Bibliography Heading | REFERENCES |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. All centered, 1.5 inch top margin; formatting pre-set in template (do not change). Title at top; 'by' and name; 'A Dissertation' with 'Submitted to the Faculty...' and 'In Partial Fulfillment...' lines; degree; blank line; department, campus, and graduation term at the bottom.
Title capitalization: ALL CAPS for title; other lines as shown..
Front Matter Order
- Title Cover Page (unnumbered)
- Statement of Committee Approval (required, page 2)
- Dedication (optional; italic, centered horizontally and vertically, no heading)
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (optional)
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- LIST OF TABLES (if any)
- LIST OF FIGURES (if any)
- LIST OF SCHEMES (if any)
- LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS (optional)
- LIST OF SYMBOLS (optional)
- GLOSSARY (optional)
- ABSTRACT (required)
- Chapters (first = introduction, last = conclusion)
- Appendices (A., B.)
- REFERENCES
- PUBLICATIONS (if any)
- VITA (optional)
Rules Students Often Miss
- Must write inside an official Purdue template (Standard, APA, or LaTeX/Overleaf); recreating or overriding template formatting is not allowed.
- No roman numerals: title page unnumbered, committee page is 2, numbering continues in arabic through the whole document.
- Required 'THE PURDUE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL / STATEMENT OF COMMITTEE APPROVAL' page listing 'Prof. [Name], [Role]' with department, plus 'Approved by: Dr. [Thesis Form Head]'.
- Abstract is the LAST front-matter item; TOC lists itself.
- Chapter headings are '1. TITLE' (no word 'Chapter'); first chapter must be an introduction and last a conclusion.
- Body text 1.5-spaced and justified.
- Standard template uses bracketed numeric references with mandatory hyperlinks; APA template is mandated for certain programs.
- Footnotes numbered continuously through the document, 10 pt, must not break across pages.
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in Purdue 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 Purdue University require?
1 inch on all sides. Title cover page and Statement of Committee Approval page require a 1.5 inch top margin (1 inch left/right/bottom). All other pages 1 inch on all sides. 8.5 x 11 page; portrait except wide tables/figures.
Where do page numbers go in a Purdue University dissertation?
Front matter: NO roman numerals: arabic numbering begins with 2 on the Statement of Committee Approval page and runs sequentially; bottom center of footer.. Main text: Arabic, continuing sequentially from the front matter (does not restart), centered in the footer. Landscape pages: number centered in the left page margin, rotated.
What citation style does Purdue University use?
Students must work inside one of three official templates. Standard template: references use bracketed numbering [1], [2], [3] listed in numerical order, single-spaced, justified, 0.4-0.5 inch hanging indent, 12 pt after, website hyperlink required in every reference; either references at end of each chapter OR one References section at the back (not both). APA template (required for Engineering Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Studies, English, Psychological Sciences and some Technology programs) follows APA.
Can Style Guide Pro format my Purdue University dissertation?
Yes. Choose Purdue 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
- Purdue University Standard Thesis Handbook (Word) (August 2026 v.2 (file modified 2026-10-09))
- Thesis Templates page (Standard, APA, LaTeX/Overleaf) (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Thesis Requirements (deposit + WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility) (accessibility section last updated 2026-05-13)
- Purdue APA Thesis Handbook (not parsed) (August 2026 v.2)
Summarized from Purdue University’s official guide. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.