What citation style does Cambridge require?

Cambridge allows flexibility in citation styles. Harvard, Oxford (footnote), and Chicago Manual of Style are common. Check your department's specific guidance.

What are the margin requirements for Cambridge theses?

Cambridge requires a minimum of 1.5 inches on the left margin (for binding) and 1 inch on the right, top, and bottom margins.

How do I submit my thesis at Cambridge?

Theses are submitted to the University Library's Apollo repository and through your college's graduate office. Digital submission is standard, with optional bound copies.

University of Cambridge Thesis Format Guide (2026)

University of Cambridge Thesis Format Guide

The University of Cambridge maintains specific formatting standards for all graduate theses and dissertations to ensure academic rigor, professionalism, and proper preservation of scholarly work. This guide provides comprehensive instructions for formatting your Cambridge thesis correctly.

Page Setup and Margins

All Cambridge theses must be formatted on standard A4 paper (210 × 297 mm or 8.27 × 11.69 inches). Some programs also accept US letter size (8.5 × 11 inches).

Margin requirements:

Left margin: Minimum 1.5 inches (4 cm) to accommodate binding
Right margin: 1 inch (2.5 cm)
Top margin: 1 inch (2.5 cm)
Bottom margin: 1 inch (2.5 cm)

The generous left margin is essential for Cambridge’s archival standards and allows for professional binding of physical copies held in the University Library.

Text should be left-aligned with a ragged right margin. Avoid justified text, which can create irregular spacing in academic writing.

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

Font Requirements

Cambridge requires clear, professional fonts suitable for academic work and long-term digital archiving.

Approved fonts: Times New Roman, Garamond, Palatino, or Cambria at 12 points. Georgia and similar serif fonts may be acceptable.

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

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

Consistency: Use your chosen font throughout the 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 order:

TITLE OF YOUR DISSERTATION (capital letters or title case, your choice)
by (lowercase)
Your Full Name (as registered at Cambridge)
A dissertation submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy [or appropriate degree] (or Master of Science/Arts)
[Your College] (name of your Cambridge college)
University of Cambridge (centered)
Year of submission (e.g., “2026”)

Use the same font as the body of your thesis. If your title spans multiple lines, single-space the title lines while maintaining the centered layout overall. Include adequate white space between sections.

Abstract

The abstract is a concise summary of your research, typically 200-300 words for a doctoral thesis.

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

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

Format: Double-space the abstract. Summarize your research question, methodology, main findings, and conclusions.

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

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

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

Spacing: Use 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 if applicable.

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

Different numbering systems distinguish front matter from body content.

Front matter (abstract through introduction): Use lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc.). The title page is not numbered; numbering begins with the abstract as page i.

Body and back matter (Chapter 1 onward): Use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.), beginning with the first page of Chapter 1.

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

Citation Styles and References

Cambridge allows flexibility in citation styles, with discipline-specific guidance preferred.

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

Oxford (footnote) style: Uses numbered footnotes with a bibliography.

Chicago Manual of Style: Notes and bibliography system acceptable in humanities.

Discipline-specific formats: Engineering, sciences, and other fields may have preferred styles.

Consistency: Apply your chosen style uniformly throughout your thesis.

Figures, Graphs, and Tables

All visual elements must be clear, properly labeled, and professionally formatted.

Figures: Include figure number (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.), descriptive title, and source citation. Place captions below figures.

Tables: Include table number (Table 1, Table 2, etc.) and title above the table. Include 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 when printed and fit within margins. Color is 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 in your thesis.

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

Organization: Arrange alphabetically by author’s last name, using hanging indents (first line left-aligned, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches).

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 the same formatting as the main body.

Documentation: List appendices in your table of contents.

Declaration of Original Authorship

Cambridge typically requires a declaration statement confirming that the work is your own original research and acknowledging any collaborations or previous publication of material.

Placement: Include this on a separate page, typically before the abstract or after the title page.

Language: Use Cambridge’s standard declaration language or check your college’s specific requirements.

Acknowledgments

An optional acknowledgments section may appear after the title page or before the abstract, thanking individuals and institutions that supported your research.

Format: Center “Acknowledgments” as a heading and use the standard double-spacing format.

Tone: Keep acknowledgments formal and professional while expressing genuine gratitude.

Electronic Submission

Cambridge requires submission through the Apollo repository and your college’s graduate office.

PDF submission: Convert your formatted Word document to PDF and review the entire PDF to verify that formatting, fonts, spacing, and page numbers are correctly preserved.

Required documents: Submission includes your thesis, a declaration of original authorship, and any other college-specific documents.

Archival preservation: Cambridge’s digital repository preserves theses long-term, so ensure your PDF is of high quality.

Deadline compliance: Submit by your department’s specified deadline.

Word Processing Tips

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

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

Configure page numbering: Use Insert > Page Number and set different numbering for front matter (Roman) and body (Arabic) 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 your Cambridge thesis:

Following these guidelines ensures your Cambridge thesis meets all institutional requirements and is ready for acceptance and archival preservation.