University of British Columbia Thesis Format Guide (2026)

University of British Columbia Thesis Format Guide

The University of British Columbia maintains comprehensive formatting standards for all graduate theses and dissertations to ensure consistency, professionalism, and quality preservation of academic work. This guide provides complete instructions for formatting your UBC thesis according to institutional requirements.

Page Setup and Margins

All UBC theses must be formatted on standard letter-size paper (8.5 × 11 inches).

Margin requirements:

• Left margin: 1 inch (can be increased to 1.5 inches for binding)
• Right margin: 1 inch
• Top margin: 1 inch
• Bottom margin: 1 inch

If you plan to bind your thesis, you may increase the left margin to 1.5 inches to accommodate the binding while keeping the text area consistent. Ensure all content remains within the specified margins.

Text should be left-aligned with a ragged right margin. Avoid justified text alignment, which can create irregular spacing, particularly with citations and technical terminology.

Line spacing: Your thesis must be double-spaced throughout the main body text, including paragraphs and block quotations. Single spacing is acceptable for footnotes, endnotes, captions, and the bibliography, though double spacing is also acceptable for consistency.

Font Requirements

UBC requires clear, professional fonts suitable for academic work and long-term digital preservation.

Approved fonts: Times New Roman, Garamond, Palatino, Cambria, or other standard serif fonts at 12 points.

Font size: Body text must be 12-point font. Footnotes and endnotes may be smaller (10 or 11 points) if necessary, but must be applied consistently throughout.

Text color: Use black text throughout. Colored text is acceptable only in figures, diagrams, or maps when necessary for clarity.

Consistency: Use the same font throughout your entire thesis. Do not change fonts between chapters or sections.

Title Page

The title page is the first page and should not be numbered. Center all content on the page.

Include the following elements in this order:

1. TITLE OF YOUR THESIS (capital letters or title case)
2. by (lowercase)
3. Your Full Name (as registered at UBC)
4. B.A. [or appropriate credential], [University], [Year] (previous degree information)
5. A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
6. [DEGREE NAME] (e.g., MASTER OF SCIENCE)
7. in (lowercase)
8. [SUBJECT/PROGRAM]
9. THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (in capital letters)
10. [Month and Year] (e.g., August 2026)

Use the same font as your body text. If your title spans multiple lines, single-space the lines of the title. Leave adequate white space between sections for visual clarity.

Abstract

The abstract provides a concise summary of your research, typically 150-250 words for a Master’s thesis and 250-350 words for a doctoral dissertation.

Placement: Begin the abstract on a new page immediately following the title page.

Heading: “Abstract” centered at the top in bold.

Format: Double-space the abstract. Provide a clear overview of your research question, methodology, major findings, and conclusions.

Numbering: Number the abstract page with lowercase Roman numerals as part of your front matter pagination.

Table of Contents

The table of contents lists all major sections and chapters with their page numbers.

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

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

Generation: Use your word processor’s automatic table of contents feature.

Spacing: Format with double spacing and the same font as body text. Number this page with a lowercase Roman numeral.

Headings and Section Structure

Maintain a clear hierarchical structure throughout your thesis.

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

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 (abstract through introduction): Use lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc.). Title page not numbered; numbering begins with abstract as page i.

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

Placement: Position page numbers in the top right corner, 0.5 inches from the top, or centered at the bottom (apply one method consistently).

Citation Styles and References

UBC allows flexibility in citation styles with department-specific preferences available.

Chicago Manual of Style: Notes and bibliography system common in humanities and social sciences.

Harvard style: Uses author-date citations in parentheses with alphabetical reference list.

APA Style: Appropriate for social sciences and psychology.

MLA Style: Used in literature and humanities.

Consistency: Apply your chosen style uniformly throughout your thesis.

Figures, Graphs, and Tables

All visual elements must be clearly labeled and professionally presented.

Figures: Include figure number (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.), title, and source citation. Place captions below figures. Reference each figure in text before it appears.

Tables: Include table number (Table 1, Table 2, etc.) and title above the table. Place source information below.

Numbering: Number consecutively throughout (Figure 1, Figure 2, Table 1, Table 2) or by chapter if applicable.

Legibility: Ensure figures and tables are legible and fit within margins. Color acceptable.

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

Bibliography and References

Your bibliography appears after your conclusion and includes all sources cited.

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

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

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

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

Appendices

Appendices present supplementary material supporting your thesis.

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

Format: Begin each appendix on a new page with “Appendix A: Title” centered in bold. Apply same formatting as main body.

Documentation: List appendices in table of contents.

Electronic Submission

UBC requires submission through the cIRcle repository and the Graduate School.

PDF submission: Convert formatted Word document to PDF and review to ensure formatting is preserved.

Required documents: Submit thesis along with required submission forms.

Deadline: Submit by your program’s specified deadline.

Word Processing Tips

Use styles: Apply Word’s built-in styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, Body Text) for consistency.

Set margins: In Layout > Margins, set Left 1” (or 1.5” if binding), Right 1”, Top 1”, Bottom 1”.

Configure page numbering: Use Insert > Page Number and set different numbering for front matter and body using section breaks.

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

Apply line spacing: Select all text and set to 2.0 (double spacing).

Track changes: Use Review > Track Changes while working with your 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

Before submitting:

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

Following these guidelines ensures your UBC thesis meets all institutional requirements.