Virginia Tech Dissertation Format
The rules Virginia Tech 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 top, 1.25 inch right, 1 inch bottom, 1.25 inch left. No margin rule stated in text; values from the official 2026 front-matter Word template (1 in top/bottom, 1.25 in left/right). Manuscripts must 'fit within the margins acceptable by the Graduate School'. |
|---|---|
| Font | Template default Calibri 12 pt; other readable standard serif or sans serif fonts may be used; maintain at least 12-point font size and consistent formatting (Title II accessibility guidance in template). |
| Title Page Number | counted as i, number not shown (template) |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | lowercase roman starting ii, bottom center (template) |
| Body Page Numbers | arabic starting at 1 at Chapter 1, bottom center (template); guide: 'Use continuous pagination throughout the document.' |
| Citation Style | No citation style specified by the Graduate School (left to discipline/committee; ETD guide has a separate Citations help page). |
| Copyright Page | No separate copyright page; optional copyright statement (© or Creative Commons license) is placed at the bottom of the title page. |
| Chapter Headings | Chapters in logical order, each with its own title, as Heading 1 (Word built-in heading styles required for accessibility). |
| Bibliography Heading | References (guide lists 'references' as back matter; not mandated) |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. All centered (template Normal style). Title; blank; name; blank; submission statement (one paragraph, wraps); blank; degree / 'In' / major; blank; committee names (single-spaced list); blank; defense date; city/state; keywords; then copyright statement at bottom of the same page.
Title capitalization: as written.
Front Matter Order
- Title Page (incl. keywords and optional copyright statement)
- Abstract (academic)
- General Audience Abstract
- Preface/Attribution (manuscript format, required only if co-authored)
- Dedication (optional)
- Acknowledgements (optional)
- Table of Contents
- List of Figures (optional)
- List of Tables (optional)
- List of Abbreviations (optional)
- Chapters
- References
- Appendices
Rules Students Often Miss
- General Audience Abstract required after the academic abstract.
- Title page includes defense date, campus city/state, and 1-5 keywords, plus the copyright statement.
- Committee names with middle initials, without 'Dr.'.
- Very few Graduate School formatting rules: margins/fonts/spacing largely left to the student, committee and templates.
- Manuscript (article) format: at least one manuscript for master's, two for doctoral; Preface/Attribution if co-authored.
- iThenticate report must be under 25% overall and under 4% per match.
- Title II (ADA) accessibility required: tagged PDF, alt text, built-in headings, header rows.
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in Virginia Tech’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 Virginia Tech require?
1 inch top, 1.25 inch right, 1 inch bottom, 1.25 inch left. No margin rule stated in text; values from the official 2026 front-matter Word template (1 in top/bottom, 1.25 in left/right). Manuscripts must 'fit within the margins acceptable by the Graduate School'.
Where do page numbers go in a Virginia Tech dissertation?
Front matter: lowercase roman starting ii, bottom center (template). Main text: arabic starting at 1 at Chapter 1, bottom center (template); guide: 'Use continuous pagination throughout the document.'.
What citation style does Virginia Tech use?
No citation style specified by the Graduate School (left to discipline/committee; ETD guide has a separate Citations help page).
Can Style Guide Pro format my Virginia Tech dissertation?
Yes. Choose Virginia Tech 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 Front Matter Template_Title II_September2026 (.docx) (2026-09-15)
- Items the Graduate School Look for in Thesis/Dissertation Reviews for Approval (Revised 9/8/2023)
- VT Libraries ETD Guide: Formatting (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Virginia Tech ETD Resources collection (VTechWorks) (accessed 2026-10-29)
Summarized from Virginia Tech’s official guide, which The Graduate School (ETD review), with University Libraries ETD guide publishes. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.