BYU Thesis Format Guide

Brigham Young University maintains comprehensive formatting standards for all graduate research theses and dissertations. This guide covers BYU’s specific formatting requirements across all colleges and departments.

Page Setup and Margins

BYU’s margin specifications accommodate binding and ensure professional presentation.

Left Margin: 1.5 inches - Provides space for binding.

Right Margin: 1 inch - Standard margin.

Top Margin: 1 inch - Applied consistently across all pages.

Bottom Margin: 1 inch - Ensures proper spacing for page numbers.

Paper Size: Standard letter size (8.5” x 11”) is required.

Page Orientation: Portrait (vertical) orientation is standard.

Setting Margins in Word: Page Layout > Margins > Custom Margins (left: 1.5”, right: 1”, top: 1”, bottom: 1”).

Font Requirements

BYU maintains clear font specifications for thesis preparation.

Body Text Font: Times New Roman in 12-point size is standard.

Line Spacing: Double-spacing (2.0) is required for all body text.

Footnotes and Endnotes: May be single-spaced in 10-point font.

Font Consistency: Use the same font throughout body text.

Headings: Chapter headings in 14-point bold, section headings in 12-point bold, subsection headings in 12-point bold italic.

Tables and Figures: May use fonts as small as 10-point if necessary.

Title Page Format

Your title page is the first formal introduction to your thesis and must conform precisely to BYU specifications. The title page serves as an official document identifying your work and author.

Required Elements:

• Thesis title (prominent, centered)
• Author name (full legal name as registered with BYU)
• Degree (e.g., Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Engineering)
• Major/Department (your specific academic program)
• Brigham Young University
• Date of submission (month and year you’ll graduate)

Layout: Center all elements horizontally on the page. Place your thesis title approximately one-third down from the top of the page. Position your name in the middle section, with degree and program information below. Place the university name and submission date near the bottom. Maintain balanced white space throughout for a professional appearance.

Page Numbering: The title page is not numbered, though it counts as page i in the front matter sequence. This convention distinguishes the title page as a preliminary element.

Line Spacing: Use single-spacing for the title page only, despite the double-spacing required for all other thesis sections. This creates visual distinction and is standard academic practice.

No Headers or Footers: Omit headers and footers from the title page. The title page should be a clean, formal introduction to your academic work.

Formatting Consistency: Do not use bold formatting, italics, or other text modifications on the title page unless specifically required by your program. Keep the presentation simple and professional.

Abstract Requirements

Length: 150-350 words for most BYU theses.

Content: Summarize your research problem, methodology, findings, and significance.

Page Placement: On its own page following the title page.

Title: Center “ABSTRACT” in capitals.

Formatting: Double-spaced, same font as body text.

Table of Contents

Format: Include chapter titles and major sections with page numbers.

Title: Center “TABLE OF CONTENTS” in capitals.

Formatting: Double-spaced with dot leaders.

Automatic Generation: Use Word’s References > Table of Contents.

Heading Styles and Hierarchy

Chapter Headings (Level 1): 14-point bold, centered, begin on new page.

Section Headings (Level 2): 12-point bold, left-aligned.

Subsection Headings (Level 3): 12-point bold italic, left-aligned.

Paragraph Headings (Level 4): 12-point bold, run-in style.

Consistency: Use Word’s Styles gallery for all headings.

Page Numbering

Front Matter: Use lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii).

Body Text: Begin Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) with introduction.

Appendices: Continue Arabic numerals.

Page Number Location: Upper right corner or centered at bottom.

Implementation: Use Insert > Page Numbers with Section Breaks.

Citation Style Requirements

BYU permits different citation styles by college and major.

Engineering: IEEE style is typical.

Sciences: APA or CSE is common.

Humanities: Chicago Manual of Style is typical.

Social Sciences: APA or Harvard is acceptable.

Verification: Check with your department for specific requirements.

Using GenText: GenText supports IEEE, APA, Chicago, CSE, Harvard, and other major formats.

Figure and Table Formatting

Table Titles: Above tables in 12-point font.

Figure Captions: Below figures.

Source Citations: Include sources for all data.

Integration: Embed in text near references.

Lists: Include if you have more than 5 figures or tables.

Bibliography and References

Organization: Alphabetical by author’s last name.

Title: Center “BIBLIOGRAPHY” or “REFERENCES” in capitals.

Formatting: Use hanging indentation, double-spaced.

Appendices

Labeling: Label as “Appendix A,” “Appendix B,” etc.

Page Numbering: Continue from main text.

Content: Include supplementary materials.

Electronic Submission Requirements

File Format: Submit as PDF with embedded fonts to BYU’s repository.

File Naming: Follow BYU conventions.

Submission Deadline: Check your graduate program for deadlines.

Tips for Formatting in Microsoft Word

Create Custom Styles Before Writing: Define custom styles for body text, all heading levels, block quotations, and footnotes before you begin writing. This ensures consistent formatting throughout your document and allows global formatting changes. Access Styles via Home > Styles > Styles Pane or Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S.

Use Section Breaks Strategically: Insert Section Breaks to separate front matter from body text, enabling different page numbering in each section. Go to Page Layout > Breaks > Section Break (Next Page). Configure page numbering separately for each section.

Generate Table of Contents Automatically: Use Word’s automatic Table of Contents feature rather than creating one manually. This ensures accuracy and enables automatic updates. Go to References > Table of Contents.

Verify Margins Before Finalizing: Check all margins via Page Layout > Margins > Custom Margins to ensure exact compliance with BYU requirements.

Manage Footnotes Consistently: Use References > Footnotes to insert footnotes consistently throughout your thesis. Configure numbering format and positioning appropriately.

Use the Navigation Pane: Access View > Navigation Pane to see your document structure and navigate between sections quickly.

Save and Backup Frequently: Save every 15-30 minutes. Maintain backup copies on external drives or cloud storage.

Common Formatting Issues and Solutions

Inconsistent Heading Styles: Use only Word’s Styles gallery for headings. Define styles before writing and apply uniformly.

Page Numbers Not Resetting: Insert Section Breaks (not regular page breaks) between sections. Configure numbering separately for each section.

Margins Applied Inconsistently: Select all text (Ctrl+A) before applying margins to ensure they apply throughout the document.

Table of Contents Wrong: Update your table of contents after editing. Right-click and select “Update Field.”

Formatting Checklist Before Submission

• Margins: 1.5” left, 1” right/top/bottom
• Body text: Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced
• All headings properly formatted via Styles gallery
• Page numbering: Roman numerals for front matter, Arabic for body
• Abstract: 150-350 words, properly formatted
• All tables/figures have titles with sources cited
• Bibliography: Alphabetical, properly formatted, complete
• Title page: Centered, includes all required elements
• Table of contents: Complete and accurate
• PDF: Fonts embedded, properly named
• No spelling or grammatical errors
• Formatting consistency throughout document

Related Resources and Tools

GenText Citation Generator: Supports IEEE, APA, Chicago, CSE, Harvard, and other major citation formats. Generate accurate citations and build your bibliography automatically.

Word Formatting Tutorials:

• How to Format a Thesis in Word
• How to Create and Update a Table of Contents
• How to Use Section Breaks for Different Page Numbering
• How to Create Custom Heading Styles
• How to Manage Footnotes and Endnotes in Word

Other University Guides: Review other universities’ thesis formatting guides to understand universal formatting principles versus institution-specific requirements.

Conclusion

Proper thesis formatting at BYU demonstrates professionalism and academic integrity. Breaking requirements into manageable components and using Word’s built-in tools effectively makes the process straightforward.

Creating custom styles before you begin writing is the most important step for ensuring consistent formatting. This upfront investment saves substantial time during final preparation and makes maintaining uniform formatting throughout your thesis effortless.

For the most current information on BYU thesis requirements, consult your graduate program or the BYU website. Program-specific requirements may vary, so verify with your advisor before beginning.

With careful attention to these requirements and this guide, your thesis will meet all BYU standards and present your research professionally and accessibly.