Imperial College London Thesis Format Guide

Imperial College London maintains rigorous formatting standards for all graduate research theses and dissertations. This guide provides comprehensive information on Imperial’s formatting requirements across all faculties.

Page Setup and Margins

Imperial’s margin specifications ensure proper binding and professional presentation.

Left Margin: 40mm (approximately 1.57 inches) - Required for binding purposes.

Right Margin: 20mm (approximately 0.79 inches) - Standard margin providing adequate white space.

Top Margin: 20mm (approximately 0.79 inches) - Applied consistently across all pages.

Bottom Margin: 20mm (approximately 0.79 inches) - Maintains proper spacing for page numbers.

Paper Size: A4 (210mm x 297mm) is the standard.

Page Orientation: Portrait (vertical) orientation throughout.

Setting Margins in Word: Page Layout > Margins > Custom Margins (left: 40mm, right: 20mm, top: 20mm, bottom: 20mm).

Font Requirements

Imperial maintains clear font and spacing specifications for thesis preparation.

Body Text Font: Times New Roman in 12-point size is standard. Other serif fonts are acceptable.

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

Footnotes and Endnotes: May be single-spaced (1.5) 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 for clarity.

Title Page Format

Your title page is the formal introduction to your thesis.

Required Elements:

• Thesis title
• Author name
• Imperial College London
• Department
• Degree (e.g., Doctor of Philosophy)
• Date of submission

Layout: Center all elements. Place title prominently with author name and submission information appropriately positioned.

Page Numbering: The title page is not numbered, though it counts as page i.

Line Spacing: Single-spacing for the title page.

No Headers or Footers: Omit headers and footers from the title page.

Abstract Requirements

The abstract is a concise summary of your research and contributions.

Length: 300-500 words for most Imperial theses.

Content: Summarize your research problem, methodology, key findings, and significance using past tense and third person.

Page Placement: The abstract should appear on its own page following the title page.

Title: Center “ABSTRACT” at the top in capitals.

Page Numbering: Use lowercase Roman numerals (ii, iii, etc.) for the abstract page.

Formatting: Double-spaced, using the same font and size as body text.

Table of Contents

Your table of contents provides an overview of your thesis structure.

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

Page Numbers: Use lowercase Roman numerals for front matter and Arabic numerals for body pages.

Title: Center “CONTENTS” or “TABLE OF CONTENTS” in capitals.

Formatting: Double-spaced with dot leaders connecting headings to page numbers.

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

Heading Styles and Hierarchy

Consistent heading hierarchy improves readability and navigation.

Chapter Headings (Level 1): 14-point bold, all capitals or title case, centered. Begin each chapter on a new page.

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

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

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

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

Page Numbering

Proper page numbering follows Imperial conventions.

Front Matter: Use lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv). Title page not numbered but counts as page i.

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

Appendices: Continue Arabic numerals through appendices.

Page Number Location: Place in upper right corner or center at bottom. Be consistent.

Implementation: Use Insert > Page Numbers with Section Breaks between sections.

Citation Style Requirements

Imperial permits different citation styles depending on discipline.

Engineering: IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) style is preferred.

Sciences: IEEE, APA, or Harvard referencing is common.

Chemistry: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) style may be required.

Verification: Always check with your department for specific citation requirements.

Using GenText: GenText’s citation generator supports IEEE, APA, Chicago, Harvard, and other major formats.

Figure and Table Formatting

All figures and tables must be professionally formatted.

Table Titles: Place above tables in 12-point font. Number sequentially or by chapter.

Figure Captions: Place below figures in 12-point font.

Source Citations: Include sources for all data presented.

Sizing: Tables and figures must fit within margins.

Integration: Embed in text near where referenced.

Lists: Include lists of figures/tables if you have more than 5.

Bibliography and References

Your bibliography is a complete record of all sources cited.

Organization: Arrange alphabetically by author’s last name. Follow your chosen citation style precisely.

Completeness: Include all sources cited; include only sources referenced.

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

Formatting: Use hanging indentation. Double-space throughout.

Appendices

Appendices contain supplementary material supporting your thesis.

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

Page Numbering: Continue Arabic numerals from main text.

Table of Contents: Include in your table of contents.

Content: Include supplementary materials like data, detailed calculations, or equipment specifications.

Formatting: Apply same formatting as main text.

Electronic Submission Requirements

Imperial requires electronic submission through the research portal.

File Format: Submit as PDF with embedded fonts.

Accessibility: Ensure PDFs are accessible with proper heading hierarchy.

File Naming: Follow Imperial conventions, typically: LastName_FirstName_DPhil_2026.pdf

Metadata: Include thesis title, author, degree, and year.

Submission Deadline: Check the Registry website for term-specific deadlines.

Embargo Option: Request embargo periods if necessary to protect unpublished research.

Tips for Formatting in Microsoft Word

Create Custom Styles: Define styles before writing.

Use Section Breaks: Separate front matter from body text.

Configure Headers and Footers: Set different settings for different sections.

Insert Page Breaks: Use Ctrl+Enter for new chapters.

Manage Footnotes: Use References > Footnotes.

Generate Table of Contents: Use References > Table of Contents.

Verify Margins: Check via Page Layout > Margins before finalizing.

Related Resources and Tools

GenText provides resources for thesis formatting and citation management.

GenText Citation Generator: Supports IEEE, APA, Chicago, Harvard, and other formats.

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

Conclusion

Proper thesis formatting at Imperial demonstrates professionalism and scientific rigor. Use Word’s formatting tools effectively, create custom styles early, and reference this guide throughout your thesis.

For the most current information on Imperial thesis requirements, consult the Imperial College Registry website. Department-specific requirements may vary, so always verify with your supervisor.

With careful attention to these requirements, your thesis will meet all Imperial standards and present your research professionally.