Stanford University Dissertation Format
The rules Stanford 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. Inner margin 1.5 in (left edge if single-sided; for double-sided, left on odd pages and right on even pages); all other margins 1 in. Applies to entire document including title page. Page numbers/headers/footers may sit in the margin but no closer than 0.5 in from the edge. |
|---|---|
| Font | Main text 10, 11, or 12 pt; smaller allowed in tables, captions, etc. Black. Standard fonts: Times New Roman (preferred), Courier, Helvetica, Times, Symbol, Computer Modern. No script, ornamental, or proprietary fonts. Embed non-Symbol math fonts. |
| Spacing | Main body 1.5 or double spaced, except where convention calls for single spacing (footnotes, indented quotations, tables, appendices, etc.). |
| Title Page Number | Counts as i, not physically numbered |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | Lowercase roman. Physical numbering begins on the Abstract as 'iv' (copyright page ii and signature page iii are auto-inserted by the system and must NOT be in the PDF). Position: consistent, at least 0.5 in from edge (location not prescribed). |
| Body Page Numbers | Arabic starting at 1 with Introduction/Chapter 1 and continuous through appendices and bibliography; consistent placement, at least 0.5 in from edge (location not prescribed) |
| Chapter First Pages | Same as body (every page, including blank pages, must be assigned a number) |
| Citation Style | 'Select a standard style approved by your department or dissertation advisor and use it consistently.' Suggested: Turabian; MLA Handbook. |
| Copyright Page | Not allowed in the uploaded PDF, created automatically by the submission system and inserted as page ii. |
| Bibliography Heading | 'Bibliography' or 'List of References' (per order list; exact heading not mandated) |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. Title at top; gap; degree statement block (A DISSERTATION through DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY, lines double-spaced); gap; candidate name; month year directly below. Entire block centered vertically and horizontally within margins.
Title capitalization: ALL CAPS.
Front Matter Order
- Title Page (i, not shown)
- [Copyright page ii, auto-inserted, omit]
- [Signature page iii, auto-inserted, omit]
- Abstract (iv)
- Preface, Acknowledgment, or Dedication (optional)
- Table of Contents
- List of Tables (optional)
- List of Illustrations (optional)
- Text (Introduction/Main body)
- Appendices (optional)
- Bibliography or List of References
Rules Students Often Miss
- Left (inner) margin 1.5 in; mirrored for double-sided layouts
- Do not include copyright or signature pages, physical numbering starts at 'iv' on the Abstract; most common formatting error is leaving pages ii/iii in
- If formatted double-sided with sections starting on right pages, pagination begins on a blank page iv and Abstract becomes v
- Title page date is the month/year of electronic submission (not conferral)
- Spell out URLs in full rather than embedding links in text
- Approved non-English dissertations need a 15–20 page English summary as a supplemental file
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in Stanford 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 Stanford University require?
1 inch top, 1 inch right, 1 inch bottom, 1.5 inch left. Inner margin 1.5 in (left edge if single-sided; for double-sided, left on odd pages and right on even pages); all other margins 1 in. Applies to entire document including title page. Page numbers/headers/footers may sit in the margin but no closer than 0.5 in from the edge.
Where do page numbers go in a Stanford University dissertation?
Front matter: Lowercase roman. Physical numbering begins on the Abstract as 'iv' (copyright page ii and signature page iii are auto-inserted by the system and must NOT be in the PDF). Position: consistent, at least 0.5 in from edge (location not prescribed).. Main text: Arabic starting at 1 with Introduction/Chapter 1 and continuous through appendices and bibliography; consistent placement, at least 0.5 in from edge (location not prescribed).
What citation style does Stanford University use?
'Select a standard style approved by your department or dissertation advisor and use it consistently.' Suggested: Turabian; MLA Handbook.
Can Style Guide Pro format my Stanford University dissertation?
Yes. Choose Stanford 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
- Format Requirements for Your Dissertation or Thesis (undated web page, accessed 2026-10)
- Title Page for Ph.D. Dissertation (sample title pages) (undated web page, accessed 2026-10)
- Sample Ph.D. title page — department or program (PDF, Google Drive linked from registrar) (undated)
Summarized from Stanford University’s official guide, which Office of the University Registrar (Student Services), Dissertations and Theses publishes. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.