University of Pittsburgh Dissertation Format
The rules University of Pittsburgh 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. All 1 in; tables and figures same margins. Exceptions require written approval from school/department. Page numbers centered 0.5 in from bottom edge. |
|---|---|
| Font | 10 pt or larger, fully legible font; script fonts not acceptable. |
| Spacing | Body double-spaced or one-and-one-half spaced. Long quotations, footnotes, bibliographic references and index may be single-spaced. Avoid widows/orphans: at least two lines after a subheading or at page break. |
| Title Page Number | counted as i, number not shown |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | lowercase roman (ii, iii, ...), centered 0.5 in from bottom edge |
| Body Page Numbers | arabic starting at 1 on first page of Introduction, centered 0.5 in from bottom edge, through figures, appendices, bibliography, index; no punctuation with numbers |
| Chapter First Pages | same as body (bottom center) |
| Citation Style | One citation style used consistently; follow the discipline's style manual if one is specified; individual departments may have their own formats. Footnotes on the citing page or at end of manuscript per discipline/department. Bibliography required for all theses and dissertations; footnote section optional. |
| Copyright Page | Optional; if used, immediately after the Committee Membership Page, numbered iii, text: 'Copyright © by [Name of Author]' / '[Year]' (guide text: 'Copyright by [Name of Author] 20 [year of publication]'). |
| Abstract | 350 words maximum. In English, max 350 words; problem, methodology, major findings/conclusions; no illustrations or tables. Layout: mixed-case title centered 1 in from top; student's name and degree centered two spaces below; 'University of Pittsburgh, [Year]' centered two spaces below name; text begins at left margin three spaces below the date. No 'Abstract' heading described in text. |
| Contents Heading | Table of Contents |
| Chapter Headings | Each chapter on a new page; mixed-case chapter heading centered about 1 in from top, text four spaces below. Numbering either decimal (1.0, 1.1, 1.1.1) or I./A./1./a. |
| Bibliography Heading | Bibliography (centered 1 in from top, listing begins four spaces below) |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. Per SPH sample: title near top; gap; 'by' and name with prior degrees; gap; four-line submission statement; gap; 'University of Pittsburgh' and year at bottom. All centered.
Title capitalization: ALL CAPS (guide: title in English, all capitals; words instead of formulas/symbols).
Front Matter Order
- Title Page (i, not shown)
- Committee Membership Page (ii)
- Copyright Page (optional, iii)
- Abstract
- Table of Contents
- List of Tables
- List of Figures
- Preface (optional)
- Introduction / Chapters (arabic 1)
- Appendices
- Bibliography
- Index (if any)
Rules Students Often Miss
- Separate Committee Membership Page (ii) after the title page listing committee and director.
- Title page lists author's previous degrees, institutions and years.
- Headings in mixed case (not all caps), centered 1 in from top.
- 1.5 line spacing allowed for body.
- Bibliography comes after appendices.
- Preface (optional) comes AFTER the lists of tables and figures, and is the place for acknowledgments.
- PDF must have bookmarks and linked TOC/list entries.
- Master's thesis: if only the advisor is listed on committee page, omit 'and approved by'.
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in University of Pittsburgh’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 Pittsburgh require?
1 inch on all sides. All 1 in; tables and figures same margins. Exceptions require written approval from school/department. Page numbers centered 0.5 in from bottom edge.
Where do page numbers go in a University of Pittsburgh dissertation?
Front matter: lowercase roman (ii, iii, ...), centered 0.5 in from bottom edge. Main text: arabic starting at 1 on first page of Introduction, centered 0.5 in from bottom edge, through figures, appendices, bibliography, index; no punctuation with numbers.
What citation style does University of Pittsburgh use?
One citation style used consistently; follow the discipline's style manual if one is specified; individual departments may have their own formats. Footnotes on the citing page or at end of manuscript per discipline/department. Bibliography required for all theses and dissertations; footnote section optional.
Can Style Guide Pro format my University of Pittsburgh dissertation?
Yes. Choose University of Pittsburgh 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
- ETD Format Guidelines: Document Preparation (current (post-Nov 2018 guidelines), accessed 2026-10-29)
- ETD Format Guidelines: Preliminaries (accessed 2026-10-29)
- ETD Format Guidelines: Body (chapters and headings) (accessed 2026-10-29)
- ETD Format Guidelines: Reference Materials (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Learn to Use the ETD Templates (Word template v2.2, updated 3/6/2024) (2024-03-06)
Summarized from University of Pittsburgh’s official guide. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.