McGill University Thesis Format Guide

McGill University maintains comprehensive formatting standards for all graduate theses and dissertations. This guide covers McGill’s specific formatting requirements across all faculties.

Page Setup and Margins

McGill’s margin requirements balance readability with accommodation for binding and archival storage.

Left Margin: 1.5 inches - Provides space for binding without obscuring text.

Right Margin: 1 inch - Standard academic right 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. Landscape pages may be used for oversized content.

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

Font Requirements

McGill maintains clear font specifications to ensure readability and professionalism.

Body Text Font: Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier in 12-point size. Times New Roman is most widely accepted.

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

Font Size Consistency: All body text should be 12-point. Footnotes, endnotes, and figure captions may be 10-point if necessary.

Font Uniformity: Do not mix fonts within sections. Choose one font and apply consistently throughout your thesis.

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

Tables and Figures: May use smaller fonts (minimum 10-point) if necessary for clarity.

Title Page Format

Your title page is the formal introduction to your thesis.

Required Elements:

• Thesis title
• Your name
• Degree (e.g., Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy)
• Faculty/Department
• McGill University
• Date (month and year of graduation)

Layout: Center all elements. Place the title in the upper portion, your name and degree information in the middle, and the date at the bottom. Create visual balance with adequate white space.

Page Numbering: The title page is not numbered, though it counts as page i in the front matter sequence.

Line Spacing: Single-spacing for the title page only.

No Headers or Footers: Do not include headers or footers on the title page.

Abstract Requirements

The abstract is a concise summary of your thesis research and findings.

Length: 150-350 words for most McGill theses. Check with your faculty for specific word limits.

Content: Include your research question, methodology, key findings, and implications of your work. Write in third person, using past tense for completed research.

Page Placement: The abstract should appear on its own page following the title page in your front matter.

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

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

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

Table of Contents

Your table of contents provides readers with a roadmap through your thesis.

Format: Include all chapter titles and major section headings with corresponding page numbers. Subsections may be included.

Page Numbers: Use lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii) for front matter pages and Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) for body pages.

Title: Center “TABLE OF CONTENTS” at the top in capitals.

Formatting: Double-spaced. Use dot leaders connecting headings to page numbers for easy reading.

Automatic Generation: Use Word’s References > Table of Contents feature to automatically generate your table of contents.

Heading Styles and Hierarchy

Clear, consistent heading hierarchy helps readers navigate your thesis.

Chapter Headings (Level 1): 14-point bold, all capitals or title case, centered on the page. 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 format (at the beginning of a paragraph), followed by a period.

Consistency: Use Word’s Styles gallery to define and consistently apply styles for each heading level.

Page Numbering

Proper page numbering is essential and follows McGill conventions throughout your thesis.

Front Matter: Use lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, etc.) for title page, abstract, acknowledgments, and table of contents. The title page itself is not numbered but counts as page i.

Body Text: Switch to Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.) beginning with your introduction or first chapter. Continue through your conclusion and bibliography.

Appendices: Continue with Arabic numerals through all appendices without resetting.

Page Number Location: Place page numbers in the upper right corner of each page (except the title page) or center them at the bottom. Be consistent throughout.

Implementation: Use Insert > Page Numbers to add automatic numbering. To change numbering style mid-document, use Section Breaks (Page Layout > Breaks).

Citation Style Requirements

McGill allows different citation styles depending on your discipline and faculty.

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

Sciences: APA or CSE (Council of Science Editors) style is common.

Humanities: Chicago Manual of Style (Notes-Bibliography system) is typical.

Social Sciences: APA or Harvard style is acceptable.

Faculty Verification: Always check with your faculty and major advisor for specific citation requirements before beginning your thesis.

Using GenText: GenText’s citation generator supports IEEE, APA, Chicago, CSE, Harvard, and other major citation formats, ensuring your citations conform to your chosen style.

Figure and Table Formatting

Figures and tables must be professionally formatted and properly integrated into your thesis.

Table Titles: Place above the table in 12-point font. Number tables sequentially (Table 1, Table 2) or by chapter (Table 3.1).

Figure Captions: Place below figures in 12-point font. Number figures sequentially (Figure 1, Figure 2) or by chapter.

Source Information: Include the source of data in tables and figures. Include citations as footnotes to the table/figure or in the caption.

Sizing: All tables and figures must fit within document margins. Oversized items may be placed on landscape pages.

Text Integration: Embed figures and tables in the text near where they are referenced, not grouped separately.

List of Figures/Tables: If your thesis contains more than 5 figures or tables, include a list in your front matter following the table of contents.

Bibliography and References

Your bibliography is a complete and accurate record of all sources cited in your thesis.

Format: Arrange entries alphabetically by author’s last name. Follow your chosen citation style (IEEE, APA, Chicago, CSE) precisely.

Completeness: Include all sources cited in your thesis. Include only sources actually referenced in your work.

Title: Center “BIBLIOGRAPHY” or “REFERENCES” at the top in capitals. Use “Bibliography” for Chicago style, “References” for APA, CSE, or IEEE.

Formatting: Use hanging indentation (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inch). Double-space between entries and within entries.

Appendices

Appendices provide supplementary material that supports your thesis without disrupting the main narrative.

Labeling: Label appendices as “Appendix A,” “Appendix B,” etc. If you have only one appendix, simply title it “APPENDIX.”

Page Numbering: Continue Arabic numeral page numbering from the body text through appendices without resetting.

Table of Contents: Include all appendices in your table of contents.

Content: Include relevant supplementary materials such as raw data, detailed calculations, survey instruments, interview transcripts, or extended literature reviews.

Formatting: Apply the same formatting rules (margins, font, spacing, headings) to appendices as you do to the main body.

Electronic Submission Requirements

McGill requires electronic submission of theses through the MSpace institutional repository.

File Format: Submit your thesis as a PDF file. Ensure all fonts are embedded in your PDF.

Accessibility: Make your PDF accessible by using proper heading hierarchy and alternative text for images.

File Naming: Follow McGill’s conventions, typically: LastName_FirstName_MSc_2026.pdf or LastName_FirstName_PhD_2026.pdf

File Size: Keep your PDF file size reasonable (under 100MB). Compress images if necessary.

Metadata: Add descriptive metadata including your name, thesis title, degree, faculty, and year.

Submission System: Submit through the MSpace portal at the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies office.

Deadlines: Submit by the published deadline for your term. Check the GPSD website for specific dates.

Embargo Period: If you need to protect unpublished research, request an embargo period during submission (typically 6 months to 2 years).

Tips for Formatting in Microsoft Word

These practical tips will help you efficiently format your thesis according to McGill requirements.

Use Styles: Define custom styles for each heading level and body text before beginning. This ensures consistency and enables global formatting changes.

Create Section Breaks: Use Section Breaks to separate front matter (Roman numerals) from body text (Arabic numerals). Go to Page Layout > Breaks > Section Break.

Set Up Headers and Footers: Use different headers/footers for different sections. Configure page numbering separately for front matter and body text.

Manage Page Breaks: Use Ctrl+Enter to insert manual page breaks before chapter headings.

Double-Check Margins: Before finalizing, verify margins in Page Layout > Margins > Custom Margins.

Use the Navigation Pane: View > Navigation Pane shows your document structure and allows quick jumps between sections.

Automate Table of Contents: Use References > Table of Contents to generate your table of contents. Update after all editing is complete.

Common Formatting Issues

Problem: Page Numbers Not Resetting Solution: Ensure you’ve inserted a Section Break (not just a page break) between front matter and body text.

Problem: Inconsistent Heading Formatting Solution: Use Word’s Style gallery exclusively for headings. Avoid manual formatting.

Problem: Margins Not Applied Consistently Solution: Select all text (Ctrl+A) and apply margins to the entire document.

Related Resources and Tools

GenText provides comprehensive tools to help you format your thesis correctly.

GenText Citation Generator: Our platform supports IEEE, APA, Chicago, CSE, and other major citation formats, generating accurate citations in seconds.

Word Formatting Tutorials:

• How to Format a Thesis in Word
• How to Create and Update a Table of Contents in Word
• How to Add and Format Page Numbers Across Sections
• How to Create Custom Heading Styles

Related University Guides: Browse other university thesis formatting guides to understand universal formatting principles and institution-specific variations.

Conclusion

Proper thesis formatting at McGill demonstrates attention to detail and respect for academic standards. Breaking the requirements into components—page setup, font choices, heading hierarchy, and citation style—makes the process manageable. Use Word’s built-in tools effectively, create custom styles early, and refer back to this guide throughout your thesis.

For the most current information on McGill thesis requirements, consult the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies office or your faculty graduate advisor. Faculty-specific requirements may vary, so always verify with your advisor before beginning.

With proper formatting, your thesis will present your research professionally and meet all McGill requirements for successful submission.