University of Bristol Thesis Format Guide (2026)

University of Bristol Thesis Format Guide

The University of Bristol maintains comprehensive formatting standards for all graduate theses and dissertations to ensure consistency, quality, and proper preservation of scholarly work. This guide provides complete instructions for formatting your University of Bristol thesis according to institutional requirements.

Page Setup and Margins

All University of Bristol theses must be formatted on standard A4 paper (210 × 297 mm or 8.27 × 11.69 inches). US letter size is also acceptable.

Margin requirements:

• Left margin: 1.5 inches (4 cm) for binding
• Right margin: 1 inch (2.5 cm)
• Top margin: 1 inch (2.5 cm)
• Bottom margin: 1 inch (2.5 cm)

Text should be left-aligned with ragged right margin. Avoid justified text.

Line spacing: Double-spaced throughout main body text. Single spacing acceptable for footnotes, endnotes, captions, and bibliography.

Font Requirements

University of Bristol requires clear, professional fonts suitable for academic work and digital preservation.

Approved fonts: Times New Roman, Garamond, Palatino, Cambria, or Georgia at 12 points.

Font size: Body text must be 12-point. Footnotes and endnotes may be 10 or 11 points.

Text color: Use black text. Colored text acceptable only in figures when necessary.

Consistency: Use same font throughout entire thesis.

Title Page

Center all content. Include:

1. TITLE OF YOUR THESIS (capital letters or title case)
2. by (lowercase)
3. Your Full Name (as registered at University of Bristol)
4. A thesis submitted in fulfillment of requirements for the degree of
5. [Degree Name] (e.g., Doctor of Philosophy)
6. University of Bristol (centered)
7. [Year] (e.g., 2026)

Use same font as body text. If title spans multiple lines, single-space title lines. Include adequate white space.

Abstract

Concise summary, typically 200-300 words for doctoral thesis.

Placement: Begin on new page after title page.

Heading: “Abstract” centered in bold.

Format: Double-spaced with clear summary of research, methodology, findings, and conclusions.

Numbering: Number with lowercase Roman numerals as part of front matter.

Declaration of Original Authorship

Include declaration confirming original authorship.

Placement: Separate page after title page or before abstract.

Language: Use University of Bristol’s standard declaration language.

Table of Contents

Format: Begin on new page with “Table of Contents” centered in bold.

Content: List all chapters, sections, appendices, and bibliography.

Generation: Use automatic table of contents feature.

Spacing: Format with double spacing and same font as body text.

Headings and Section Structure

Chapter headings: Bold, 12-point font, centered or left-aligned consistently.

Section headings (Level 1): Bold, 12-point font, left-aligned.

Subsection headings (Level 2): Bold or bold-italic, 12-point font, left-aligned.

Ensure at least one line of body text follows each heading.

Page Numbering

Front matter: Lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc.). Title page not numbered.

Body and back matter: Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.).

Placement: Top right corner or centered at bottom (use one method consistently).

Citation Styles and References

University of Bristol allows flexibility with school-specific guidance.

Harvard style: Author-date citations with alphabetical reference list.

Chicago Manual of Style: Notes and bibliography system.

APA Style: Appropriate for social sciences.

Consistency: Apply chosen style uniformly throughout thesis.

Figures, Graphs, and Tables

Figures: Include figure number, title, and source citation. Place captions below.

Tables: Include table number and title above table. Place source information below.

Numbering: Consecutively throughout or by chapter if applicable.

Legibility: Ensure legible and fit within margins. Color acceptable.

Lists: Include list of figures and list of tables if more than five of each.

Bibliography and References

Placement: Begin on new page with “Bibliography,” “References,” or “Works Cited” centered in bold.

Organization: Alphabetical by author’s last name, using hanging indents.

Formatting: 12-point font. Single spacing within entries and double spacing between is standard.

Completeness: Include all cited sources; do not list uncited sources.

Appendices

Organization: Number consecutively (Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.).

Format: Begin each appendix on new page with “Appendix A: Title” centered in bold.

Documentation: List in table of contents.

Electronic Submission

University of Bristol requires submission through their research repository and school’s graduate office.

PDF submission: Convert formatted Word document to PDF and review for formatting preservation.

Required documents: Submit thesis with required submission forms and declaration.

Deadline: Submit by program’s specified deadline.

Word Processing Tips

Use styles: Apply Word’s built-in styles for consistency.

Set margins: In Layout > Margins, set Left 1.5”, Right 1”, Top 1”, Bottom 1”.

Configure page numbering: Use Insert > Page Number with different numbering for front matter and body.

Create automatic table of contents: Use References > Table of Contents.

Apply line spacing: Set to 2.0 (double spacing).

Track changes: Use Review > Track Changes while working with supervisor.

Block quotations: Indent 0.5 inches on both sides and maintain double spacing.

Save multiple formats: Keep both .docx and .pdf versions.

Final Submission Checklist

• Margins set correctly (1.5” left, 1” others)
• Font is 12-point serif throughout
• Double spacing applied to body text
• Page numbering correct (Roman for front matter, Arabic for body)
• Title page not numbered
• Table of contents lists all sections with correct page numbers
• All figures and tables numbered and captioned
• All citations complete and consistent
• Bibliography complete and properly formatted
• Declaration included
• Supervisor approved
• PDF preserves all formatting
• Required submission forms completed
• Submission by deadline

Following these guidelines ensures your University of Bristol thesis meets all institutional requirements.