Harvard University Thesis Format Guide (2026)

Harvard University Thesis Format Guide

Writing a dissertation at Harvard University is a significant academic achievement, and proper formatting is essential for your submission to be accepted. This comprehensive guide covers all the formatting requirements you need to follow when preparing your thesis for submission to Harvard’s Graduate School.

Page Setup and Margins

Harvard University maintains strict formatting requirements to ensure consistency across all dissertations. Your thesis must be formatted on standard letter-size paper (8.5 × 11 inches).

All margins must be at least 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all four sides: left, right, top, and bottom. The left margin should accommodate binding if a bound copy is required. Text must be left-aligned, with a ragged right margin. Avoid using justified text alignment, as this can create uneven spacing between words.

Line spacing must be double-spaced throughout the main body of your thesis, including quotes, footnotes, and endnotes. Block quotations (quotes of more than 40 words in Chicago style or more than three lines in other formats) should also be double-spaced. Single spacing is acceptable for footnotes, endnotes, and references, though some schools prefer double-spacing throughout.

Font Requirements

Harvard requires clear, readable fonts that are appropriate for academic writing. The approved fonts are:

Serif fonts (recommended for readability): Times New Roman, Garamond, or Cambria at 12 points.

Sans-serif fonts (only if approved by your advisor): Arial or Helvetica at 12 points.

Consistently use the same font throughout your thesis except where emphasis is needed. Font size must remain 12 points for all body text. You may use smaller font for footnotes or endnotes (10 or 11 points is acceptable), but this should be consistent throughout.

Do not use colored text unless absolutely necessary for clarity (such as in maps or diagrams). Avoid decorative fonts, script fonts, or unusual typefaces.

Title Page

The title page is the first page of your thesis and should not be numbered. Include the following information in this order:

1. Title of your thesis (centered, using title case)
2. A thesis presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (centered, standard capitalization)
3. your full name (centered)
4. in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts/Doctor of Philosophy (centered, standard capitalization)
5. Harvard University (centered)
6. Month and Year of submission (centered)

Leave adequate white space between sections. The title should be in bold and in the same font as the rest of the document. Center all elements on the page. If your title is longer than one line, use single spacing between lines of the title while maintaining double spacing for the rest of the page.

Abstract or Summary

The abstract should be a concise summary of your thesis, typically 150-350 words for a Master’s thesis or 200-500 words for a doctoral dissertation. Begin the abstract on a new page, with “Abstract” as a centered heading in bold.

The abstract should be double-spaced and summarize your research question, methodology, major findings, and conclusions. Some Harvard programs prefer a structured abstract with subheadings such as Purpose, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. Check your program’s specific requirements.

Number the abstract page with lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc.). This is part of the front matter and should be included in your table of contents.

Table of Contents

The table of contents should list all major sections and chapters of your thesis with their corresponding page numbers. Begin on a new page with “Table of Contents” as a centered heading in bold.

List all chapters and major sections with their page numbers right-aligned. Use a period leaders (dots) connecting the heading to the page number. Include the abstract, introduction, body chapters, conclusion, bibliography, and appendices.

Format the table of contents using the same font and size as the body text (12-point Times New Roman or approved alternative). Use your word processor’s automatic table of contents feature to ensure accuracy and allow for easy updates.

The table of contents page itself should be numbered with a lowercase Roman numeral and included in the table of contents page count.

Chapter Headings and Section Structure

Organize your thesis into clear, logical sections using a consistent heading hierarchy.

Chapter headings (Level 1): Use bold, 12-point font, left-aligned or centered depending on your style preference. Chapter numbers may be included (e.g., “Chapter 1: Introduction”) or chapters may be titled without numbers (e.g., “Introduction”).

Section headings (Level 2): Use bold, 12-point font, left-aligned.

Subsection headings (Level 3): Use bold and italic, 12-point font, left-aligned, or regular font with bold text.

Ensure at least one line of body text follows each heading before a new section begins. Do not place headings at the bottom of a page if no text follows.

Page Numbering

Page numbering conventions differ between front matter and body content.

Front matter pages (title page through introduction) are numbered with lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, etc.). The title page is not numbered, so numbering begins with the abstract or preface as page (i) or (ii).

Body and back matter pages are numbered with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.), beginning with the first page of Chapter 1 or your introduction if chapters are not used.

Page numbers should appear in the top right corner of each page, or centered at the bottom of the page if you prefer, but be consistent throughout. Place page numbers 1 inch from the top or bottom edge of the page.

Citation and Reference Format

Harvard accepts multiple citation styles depending on your field of study and advisor preference:

Chicago Manual of Style (Notes and Bibliography): Commonly used in humanities. This style uses footnotes or endnotes with a corresponding bibliography.

Harvard Referencing: Uses author-date citations in parentheses (Author Year) with a reference list at the end.

APA Style: Appropriate for social sciences and psychology. Uses author-date citations with a Reference section.

Other disciplinary styles: Some fields use MLA (literature), IEEE (engineering), or other specialized formats. Confirm with your advisor.

Whichever style you choose, use it consistently throughout your thesis. Include a complete bibliography or reference list at the end, formatted according to your selected style guide.

Figures and Tables

All figures, graphs, charts, and tables must be clear and properly labeled.

Figures: Include a figure number (e.g., “Figure 1:”), title, and source citation below the figure. Use the caption format: “Figure 1: Description of the figure.” Figures should be referenced in the text before they appear.

Tables: Include a table number and title above the table (e.g., “Table 1: Title”). Place source information and any notes below the table.

Number figures and tables consecutively throughout the thesis (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.; Table 1, Table 2, etc.) or separately within each chapter if your thesis uses chapters (Figure 1.1, Figure 1.2, etc.).

Ensure all figures and tables fit within your margins and are legible. Color figures are acceptable but should also be understandable if printed in black and white, as some digital archives render images in grayscale.

Include a list of figures and list of tables in your front matter if you have more than five of each.

Bibliography and References

Your bibliography or reference list should be organized according to your selected citation style. It should include all sources cited in your thesis and be placed after the conclusion or final chapter.

Begin the bibliography on a new page with “Bibliography,” “References,” or “Works Cited” as a centered heading in bold. Entries should be in alphabetical order by author’s last name and use a hanging indent (the first line is left-aligned, and subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches).

Use the same font and size (12-point Times New Roman or approved alternative) as the body text. Single spacing within entries is acceptable, but double spacing between entries is required to maintain consistency with the rest of your thesis. Some programs prefer double spacing throughout.

Appendices

If your thesis includes appendices, number them consecutively (Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.). Start each appendix on a new page with “Appendix A:” and its title centered in bold.

Appendices should be listed in your table of contents. Follow the same formatting requirements for margins, fonts, spacing, and page numbering as the main body of your thesis.

Electronic Submission

Harvard requires submission of your dissertation through the Graduate School’s online submission system. You will typically submit a PDF version of your formatted thesis.

Before submission, convert your Word document to PDF to preserve formatting. Review the PDF carefully to ensure that all text, figures, tables, and page numbers display correctly. Check that margins, fonts, and spacing remain consistent after conversion.

Most Harvard programs require that you obtain approval from your advisor and committee before submission. You will receive specific submission deadlines and procedures from your graduate program’s office.

Keep a backup copy of your original Word file (.docx or .doc) in case revisions are needed before the final submission date.

Word Processing Tips for Harvard Formatting

Use styles: Create or use built-in styles for headings, body text, and captions. This makes formatting consistent and allows for automatic table of contents generation.

Set up page margins correctly: In Word, go to Layout > Margins and set all margins to 1 inch. Create different sections for front matter (Roman numerals) and body (Arabic numerals) to use different page numbering formats.

Insert page numbers: Use Insert > Page Numbers and configure numbering separately for front matter and body sections.

Create automatic table of contents: Use References > Table of Contents to insert an automatic table that updates as you modify your headings.

Use line spacing: Select all text and set line spacing to exactly 2.0 (double spacing). Do this after completing your draft to avoid spacing issues.

Check for formatting consistency: Use Find & Replace (Ctrl+H) to ensure consistent spacing after periods, punctuation, and paragraph marks throughout your document.

Enable Track Changes: While revising with your committee, use Review > Track Changes to document all modifications.

Save in multiple formats: Save your final version as both .docx and .pdf to ensure compatibility and preserve formatting if further edits are needed.

Final Submission Checklist

Before submitting your thesis to Harvard:

• All margins are set to 1 inch on all sides
• Font is 12-point Times New Roman or approved alternative throughout
• Double spacing is used in main text; single spacing in notes is acceptable
• Page numbering is correct (Roman numerals for front matter, Arabic for body)
• Title page does not have a page number
• All chapters and sections are listed in the table of contents with correct page numbers
• All figures and tables are numbered and have captions
• Bibliography or reference list is complete and properly formatted
• Advisor and committee have approved your final draft
• PDF has been reviewed and all formatting is preserved
• Submission is made through the Graduate School portal by the deadline

Following these guidelines will ensure that your Harvard thesis meets all formatting requirements and is ready for acceptance by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.