The University of Texas at Austin Dissertation Format
The rules the University of Texas at Austin 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 | 1.25 inch on all sides. Guidelines only require margins to be consistent throughout (including appendix); no numeric minimum stated. The 1.25-inch values are the settings in the official Word templates (footer 1.2 inch). Tables/figures must fit within margins or go on landscape pages. |
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| Font | Size sufficient to read on a monitor; 12 pt recommended. Headings may be bold and normally no more than 2 pt larger than text. Templates use Times New Roman. |
| Spacing | Consistent throughout; 1.5 or double spacing recommended. Block quotations (prose over four lines) indented left, single- or double-spaced, no quotation marks. Captions may be single-spaced. Abstract must be 1.5 or double, not single. TOC entries generally double-spaced; multi-line entries single-spaced with second line indented. |
| Title Page Number | Counted and numbered in sequence (numbering begins at 1 on the first page of the document, the copyright page or committee page) |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | Arabic, continuous from 1 on the first page of the document, centered at bottom (no roman numerals) |
| Body Page Numbers | Arabic, continuing the same sequence, centered at bottom throughout |
| Chapter First Pages | Same as body (centered bottom) |
| Citation Style | Any standardized form for footnotes and bibliography is acceptable if used consistently and approved by the supervisor (Chicago Manual of Style, Turabian, Campbell cited as useful manuals). |
| Copyright Page | Optional but strongly encouraged; first page of document. Wording (centered): 'Copyright' / 'by' / '[Student's Official Name]' / '[Year]'. |
| Abstract | 350 words maximum. Word limit 350 from template (guidelines silent). Header: 'Abstract' / [Title, centered, double-spaced] / by (PDF sample) / '[Student Name], [Official Degree Abbreviation]' / 'The University of Texas at Austin, [Year]' / 'Supervisor: [Name, no titles]'; then indented continuous prose, 1.5 or double-spaced. Title must match exactly. |
| Contents Heading | Table of Contents |
| Chapter Headings | Per template, Heading 2 style: 'Chapter n: Chapter Title' (chapter number and title may be on same or separate lines); optional Heading 1 'Major Section' above chapters. Each chapter/major section starts a new page. Numbering style must match TOC exactly. |
| Bibliography Heading | 'Bibliography', 'References', or 'Works Cited' / 'Sources Cited'; last section before optional Vita |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. Title (double-spaced) at top; gap; 'by'; name; gap; document type; statement block single-spaced ('Presented to the Faculty of' through 'for the Degree of'); gap; degree name; gap; 'The University of Texas at Austin' and month/year at bottom. All centered.
Title capitalization: ALL CAPS or Title Case (template: 'may be in ALL CAPITALS or Upper and Lower Case').
Front Matter Order
- Copyright Page (optional, strongly encouraged)
- Committee Membership Page
- Title Page
- Dedication and/or Epigraph (optional)
- Acknowledgments and/or Preface (optional)
- Abstract
- Table of Contents
- List of Tables
- List of Figures
- List of Illustrations/Maps/Slides
- Glossary (optional; here or after appendix)
Rules Students Often Miss
- Page order starts with Copyright Page, then Committee Membership Page, then Title Page
- Single arabic page sequence from page 1 on the very first page; no roman numerals for front matter
- Committee Membership Page (unsigned) with typed names: 'The Dissertation Committee for [Name] certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation:' / [Title] / 'Committee:' / '[Name], Supervisor' / members
- Abstract header includes degree abbreviation after name and 'Supervisor:' line
- Appendix precedes Bibliography; optional Vita is the last page (email contact, no personal info)
- No fixed margin size in guidelines (consistency only); templates use 1.25 inch
- Four document types: dissertation, treatise, thesis, report
- Glossary may be placed after appendix or with front-matter lists
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in University of Texas at Austin’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 Texas at Austin require?
1.25 inch on all sides. Guidelines only require margins to be consistent throughout (including appendix); no numeric minimum stated. The 1.25-inch values are the settings in the official Word templates (footer 1.2 inch). Tables/figures must fit within margins or go on landscape pages.
Where do page numbers go in a University of Texas at Austin dissertation?
Front matter: Arabic, continuous from 1 on the first page of the document, centered at bottom (no roman numerals). Main text: Arabic, continuing the same sequence, centered at bottom throughout.
What citation style does University of Texas at Austin use?
Any standardized form for footnotes and bibliography is acceptable if used consistently and approved by the supervisor (Chicago Manual of Style, Turabian, Campbell cited as useful manuals).
Can Style Guide Pro format my University of Texas at Austin dissertation?
Yes. Choose University of Texas at Austin 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 Guidelines for Dissertations, Treatises, Theses and Reports (UT Box) (September 2026)
- Dissertation Templates (Word; 'Dissertation 2022 templates.zip', UT Box) (2022)
- Digital Submission Requirement (accessed 2026-10-29)
Summarized from The University of Texas at Austin’s official guide, which Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (OGPS) publishes. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.