University of Manchester Thesis Format Guide (2026)

University of Manchester Thesis Format Guide

The University of Manchester maintains comprehensive formatting standards for all graduate theses and dissertations to ensure academic excellence, consistency, and proper preservation of scholarly work. This guide provides complete instructions for formatting your Manchester thesis according to institutional requirements.

Page Setup and Margins

All Manchester theses must be formatted on standard A4 paper (210 × 297 mm or 8.27 × 11.69 inches). US letter size (8.5 × 11 inches) is also acceptable.

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 larger left margin accommodates binding and archival preservation requirements. Ensure all text, including headers and footers, remains within the specified margins.

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

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

Font Requirements

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

Approved fonts: Times New Roman, Garamond, Palatino, Cambria, or Georgia at 12 points.

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

Text color: Use black text for all body content. Colored text is acceptable only in figures, diagrams, maps, or technical illustrations when necessary for clarity.

Consistency: Use your selected 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 this order:

1. TITLE OF YOUR THESIS (capital letters or title case)
2. by (lowercase)
3. Your Full Name (as registered at Manchester)
4. A thesis submitted to the University of Manchester (centered)
5. for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in [Discipline] (or appropriate degree)
6. Month and Year of submission (e.g., “June 2026”)

Use the same font as your body text. If your title spans multiple lines, use single spacing between title lines while maintaining the overall centered layout. Leave adequate white space between sections.

Abstract

The abstract provides 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 and present a clear summary of your research question, methodology, key findings, and conclusions.

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

Declaration and Copyright

Manchester typically requires a declaration confirming that the work is your own original research and noting any collaboration or previous publication.

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

Language: Use Manchester’s standard declaration language; check your school’s specific requirements.

Table of Contents

The table of contents lists all major sections, chapters, and appendices 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 of headings 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

Different numbering systems apply to front matter and 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.).

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

Manchester allows flexibility in citation styles with department-specific guidance available.

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, particularly in 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 the 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 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.

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.

Electronic Submission

Manchester requires submission through the eScholar repository and your school’s research office.

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

Required documents: Submit your thesis along with the required declaration.

Deadline: 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”, 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 (1.5” left, 1” others)
• 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
• Declaration is included
• Supervisor has approved
• PDF preserves all formatting
• Submission is by the deadline

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