University of Pennsylvania Dissertation Format
The rules University of Pennsylvania 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. 1 inch on every page (updated Dec 2022). Absolutely nothing in the margin, page numbers, footnotes, headers, tables/figures must all stay inside; set footer/header distance to 1 inch. No running heads. |
|---|---|
| Font | 10–12 pt, black; recommended Arial 10, Calibri 11, Georgia 11, or Times New Roman 12. Footnotes, figures, citations, charts and graphs 8 pt or larger. Non-italic body font; italics allowed for quotations, foreign words, emphasis, book titles, subheadings. Fonts embedded. |
| Spacing | Double-spacing recommended throughout (including preliminary pages and bibliography). Required single-spacing: footnotes and long quotations (>4 lines prose / >3 lines verse). Lists of tables/figures may be single or double. Bibliography double, may be single. Abstract double-spaced. |
| Title Page Number | Counted as i, not printed |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | Lowercase roman; copyright page (optional) counted ii not printed; numbering shows from the next page (iii, or ii if no copyright page). Template: bottom center. |
| Body Page Numbers | Arabic from first page of Chapter 1/Introduction through bibliography/index; bottom recommended (top allowed), inside the 1 in margin. Template: bottom center. |
| Chapter First Pages | Same as body |
| Citation Style | 'Use the style of citation (APA, MLA, etc.) required by your graduate group.' Table/figure numbering must match chosen citation style. |
| Copyright Page | Optional. Counted ii, not printed. Lines: [DISSERTATION TITLE IN ALL CAPS] / COPYRIGHT / [Year] / [Full legal name with full middle name]; do not use the © symbol; optional Creative Commons note below. |
| Abstract | 350 words maximum. 350 words max INCLUDING title and names. Top lines (centered): 'ABSTRACT' / TITLE IN ALL CAPS / author name / supervisor name / co-supervisor name (no titles like Dr., Professor, Ph.D.). Double-spaced, normally one paragraph. |
| Contents Heading | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Chapter Headings | Chapter number and title in ALL CAPS on first page of each chapter, e.g. 'CHAPTER 1: TITLE OF CHAPTER' (template) or 'CHAPTER 2' / 'AN EXAMPLE OF A CHAPTER TITLE' centered on two lines (guide example); all chapters must be numbered |
| Bibliography Heading | BIBLIOGRAPHY |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. Title centered 1 inch from top (double-spaced if multi-line); gap; author name; gap; 'A DISSERTATION' / 'in' / graduate group; gap; 'Presented to the Faculties…' through 'Degree of Doctor of Philosophy'; gap; year; gap; left-aligned signature/name blocks (Supervisor and Co-Supervisor side by side, then Graduate Group Chairperson, then Dissertation Committee).
Title capitalization: ALL CAPS (title); other lines as written.
Front Matter Order
- Title Page
- Copyright Notice (optional)
- Dedication (optional)
- Acknowledgment (optional)
- Abstract
- Table of Contents
- List of Tables (if tables)
- List of Illustrations / List of Figures (if figures)
- Preface (optional)
Rules Students Often Miss
- Nothing at all may sit in the 1 in margin, page numbers must be at least 1 in from edge
- Copyright page wording uses the word COPYRIGHT and no © symbol
- Abstract 350-word limit counts title and names
- All committee members with full faculty titles on title page
- Dedication must be italic with no heading
- Footnotes numbered continuously through the whole dissertation (no restart per chapter); endnotes (if used instead) restart per chapter; cannot mix
- Appendices labeled 'APPENDIX A: TITLE'; index required for certain graduate groups
- No blank pages; no running heads
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in University of Pennsylvania’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 Pennsylvania require?
1 inch on all sides. 1 inch on every page (updated Dec 2022). Absolutely nothing in the margin, page numbers, footnotes, headers, tables/figures must all stay inside; set footer/header distance to 1 inch. No running heads.
Where do page numbers go in a University of Pennsylvania dissertation?
Front matter: Lowercase roman; copyright page (optional) counted ii not printed; numbering shows from the next page (iii, or ii if no copyright page). Template: bottom center.. Main text: Arabic from first page of Chapter 1/Introduction through bibliography/index; bottom recommended (top allowed), inside the 1 in margin. Template: bottom center.
What citation style does University of Pennsylvania use?
'Use the style of citation (APA, MLA, etc.) required by your graduate group.' Table/figure numbering must match chosen citation style.
Can Style Guide Pro format my University of Pennsylvania dissertation?
Yes. Choose University of Pennsylvania 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
- Dissertation Formatting Guide for PhD Students (Word) (Updated 2023-01-18 (Spring 2023))
- Dissertation Template in Word (2023-02 (Spring 2023))
- Pre-Deposit Checklist for PhD Students (Updated 2023-01-30)
- Dissertation Formatting (Provost web page) (accessed 2026-10)
Summarized from University of Pennsylvania’s official guide, which Office of the Provost, Graduate Degrees (PhD dissertations) publishes. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.