University of Michigan Dissertation Format
The rules University of Michigan 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 page top margin at least 2 inches. First page of each chapter and each major section (Acknowledgements, List of Figures, Bibliography, etc.) has a 2-inch top margin. Follow the chosen style guide for any additional margin rules. |
|---|---|
| Font | Legible font, 12 pt, black for body text; Times/Times New Roman or Arial recommended. Headings may be bolder/larger but no larger than 16 pt. Footnotes, endnotes, captions, tables, figures, equations may be smaller but at least 9 pt. Same-kind text uniform (all Heading 1s match, etc.). Fonts must be embedded in the PDF. Web URLs blue and underlined; internal TOC links not underlined. |
| Spacing | 1.5 or double spacing for all body text (front matter and main text). Single spacing (recommended) for tables, lists, footnotes/endnotes, captions and bibliographic entries, with a blank line between entries. Title-page degree statement and committee list single-spaced. |
| Title Page Number | No page number and not counted (there is no page i). |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | Identifier/copyright page is counted but shows no number; numbering shown from page ii (first page after the identifier page, e.g. Dedication) in lowercase roman numerals, centered in footer (bottom center). Frontispiece (optional) has no number and is not counted. |
| Body Page Numbers | Arabic numerals starting at 1 on the first page of Chapter 1, centered in footer (bottom center); continues through appendices and bibliography. |
| Chapter First Pages | Same as body (bottom center); positions consistent throughout. |
| Citation Style | No single style required; bibliography/references formatted in the format of the student's discipline/program, complete and consistent. May be placed at the end of each chapter or at the end of the dissertation. |
| Copyright Page | Required 'Identifier/Copyright Page' (no number shown, but counted). Each item centered on its own line, in order: [Full legal name]; [uniqname]@umich.edu; 'ORCID iD: [0000-0000-0000-0000]' (required except A.Mus.D students; profile URL recommended); copyright notice recommended in the form '© [Full Name] [Year]'. In the 2023 sample these sit in the lower part of the page. |
| Abstract | 550 words maximum. 550-word maximum per the 2023 Handbook and checklist. Abstract text (no special characters) must also be entered in the online submission system. Must be in English even if dissertation is in another language. |
| Contents Heading | Table of Contents |
| Chapter Headings | Chapters numbered consecutively and titled 'Chapter [#] [Title]' (e.g. 'Chapter 1 Introduction'); styled as Heading 1. 2023 sample shows 'Chapter 1' centered on one line and the chapter title centered below it, 2-inch top margin. In TOC shown as 'Chapter 1. The Dissertation'. |
| Bibliography Heading | 'Bibliography' or 'References' (per discipline format); starts on a new page with 2-inch top margin. |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. Top margin at least 2 inches; title (centered); gap; 'by' centered, name on next line; larger gap; degree statement block centered and single-spaced, broken exactly as shown (5 lines + year); gap; 'Doctoral Committee:' left-justified with members indented and single-spaced at bottom.
Title capitalization: Title Case.
Front Matter Order
- Title Page (required)
- Frontispiece (optional)
- Identifier/Copyright Page (required)
- Dedication (optional)
- Acknowledgements (optional)
- Preface (optional)
- Table of Contents (required)
- List of Tables (if more than one)
- List of Figures (if more than one)
- List of Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
- List of Appendices (if more than one)
- List of Abbreviations/Acronyms/Symbols (optional)
- Abstract (required)
- Dissertation Text with optional Appendices
- Bibliography or References (required; may instead be at end of each chapter)
Rules Students Often Miss
- Committee members are listed on the title page in a specific format (chairs first with role, rest alphabetical, titles before names).
- Required Identifier page with legal name, umich.edu email and ORCID iD.
- Abstract comes at the END of the front matter (after all lists), not near the beginning.
- No page i: the title page is not counted; the identifier/copyright page is counted but unnumbered, so the first visible number is ii.
- Bibliography may be placed at the end of each chapter instead of at the end.
- List of Tables/Figures/Appendices required only when there is more than one item.
- Heading font size capped at 16 pt; footnotes/captions minimum 9 pt.
- Accessibility requirements: PDF Document Title property, document language, alt text, real Word heading styles and table tools.
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in University of Michigan’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 University of Michigan require?
1 inch on all sides. Title page top margin at least 2 inches. First page of each chapter and each major section (Acknowledgements, List of Figures, Bibliography, etc.) has a 2-inch top margin. Follow the chosen style guide for any additional margin rules.
Where do page numbers go in a University of Michigan dissertation?
Front matter: Identifier/copyright page is counted but shows no number; numbering shown from page ii (first page after the identifier page, e.g. Dedication) in lowercase roman numerals, centered in footer (bottom center). Frontispiece (optional) has no number and is not counted.. Main text: Arabic numerals starting at 1 on the first page of Chapter 1, centered in footer (bottom center); continues through appendices and bibliography.
What citation style does University of Michigan use?
No single style required; bibliography/references formatted in the format of the student's discipline/program, complete and consistent. May be placed at the end of each chapter or at the end of the dissertation.
Can Style Guide Pro format my University of Michigan dissertation?
Yes. Choose University of Michigan 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
- Rackham Formatting Guidelines (web page) (undated (page footer (c) 2026; accessed 2026-10-29))
- The Dissertation Handbook (sample title, identifier, front matter pages) (July 2023)
- Dissertation Formatting Checklist (older) (3.17 (March 2017))
- DMA Formatting Guidelines (2022-11 (not fetched))
Summarized from University of Michigan’s official guide, which Rackham Graduate School (Rackham Academic Records and Dissertations / OARD) publishes. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.