University of Minnesota Dissertation Format
The rules University of Minnesota 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. Nothing (page numbers, text, tables, graphs, parts of illustrations) may appear in the margins. Landscape pages: all margins at least 1 inch, page numbers not in the top margin. (The 2021 edition required a 1.5-inch left margin; superseded.) |
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| Font | Standard fonts; recommended Times New Roman, Helvetica, Arial, Courier (confirm with adviser/DGS). Recommended minimum 10 pt. Footnotes, section headings and chapter titles may use different fonts/sizes but not smaller than 9 pt. |
| Spacing | Body double-spaced or 1.5-spaced. Long quotations, notes, and bibliography may be single-spaced unless the program requires otherwise. Appendix text and captions may be single-spaced. |
| Title Page Number | Not numbered and not counted. Copyright page (if any) also not numbered or counted. |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | Lowercase roman numerals beginning with i on the first page after the title/copyright pages (e.g. Acknowledgments); positions allowed: upper or lower right-hand corner or center (top or bottom); never on the left. |
| Body Page Numbers | Arabic numerals starting at 1 on the first page of the main text, consecutive through bibliography and appendices; upper/lower right corner or center, never left. |
| Chapter First Pages | Same as body (no separate rule). |
| Citation Style | No university style; follow the stylistic conventions/style manual of the graduate program/field (consult adviser or DGS). University sets formatting only. |
| Copyright Page | Optional (Jan 2023; the 2021 edition required it). If included: separate page after the title page, not numbered or counted; typically author's name, year of completion, and '©' or the word 'copyright' (e.g. '© [Full Name] [Year]'); may instead/also state an open license. |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. All centered. Title near top; gap; 'A Dissertation' / 'SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA' / 'BY' as a single-spaced block; gap; name; gap; 'IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS' / 'FOR THE DEGREE OF' / degree as a block; gap; adviser name(s); gap; year.
Title capitalization: Title as written; fixed statement lines in ALL CAPS..
Front Matter Order
- Title Page (required; not numbered or counted)
- Copyright Page (optional; not numbered or counted)
- Acknowledgments (optional, highly recommended; page i)
- Dedication (optional)
- Abstract (optional, highly recommended)
- Table of Contents (required)
- List of Tables (recommended if tables)
- List of Figures (recommended if figures)
- Other items (List of Abbreviations, Notations, etc.)
- Body
- Illustrations
- Bibliography
- Appendices
Rules Students Often Miss
- Acknowledgments and Dedication come BEFORE the Abstract and Table of Contents, and Acknowledgments precede Dedication.
- Front matter numbering starts at i on the first page after the title/copyright pages (title page is not counted).
- Adviser and co-adviser names appear on the title page.
- Title page statement lines are in ALL CAPS ('SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA', 'BY', 'IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF').
- Abstract is optional in the document and may appear at the beginning of each chapter instead.
- List of Tables/Figures recommended, not required.
- Bibliography may be at end of each chapter or a cumulative one before the appendices; appendices must be last.
- Page numbers may be upper right, lower right, or centered; never left; never in the margin itself.
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in University of Minnesota’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 Minnesota require?
1 inch on all sides. Nothing (page numbers, text, tables, graphs, parts of illustrations) may appear in the margins. Landscape pages: all margins at least 1 inch, page numbers not in the top margin. (The 2021 edition required a 1.5-inch left margin; superseded.).
Where do page numbers go in a University of Minnesota dissertation?
Front matter: Lowercase roman numerals beginning with i on the first page after the title/copyright pages (e.g. Acknowledgments); positions allowed: upper or lower right-hand corner or center (top or bottom); never on the left.. Main text: Arabic numerals starting at 1 on the first page of the main text, consecutive through bibliography and appendices; upper/lower right corner or center, never left.
What citation style does University of Minnesota use?
No university style; follow the stylistic conventions/style manual of the graduate program/field (consult adviser or DGS). University sets formatting only.
Can Style Guide Pro format my University of Minnesota dissertation?
Yes. Choose University of Minnesota 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
- One Stop: Thesis or dissertation submission (formatting requirements) (undated (accessed 2026-10-29))
- Formatting & Submission Guidelines: Master's Plan A Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation (linked from One Stop, Google Drive) (Updated: January 2023)
- Thesis formatting guidelines (older edition) (OTR206 8/3/21 (superseded))
Summarized from University of Minnesota’s official guide, which Graduate School / Graduate Student Services and Progress (GSSP) publishes. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.