MIT Thesis Format Guide (2026)

MIT Thesis Format Guide

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) requires all graduate theses and dissertations to follow specific formatting standards to maintain consistency and ensure quality preservation of academic work. This guide covers all essential formatting requirements for your MIT thesis submission.

Page Setup and Margins

MIT theses must be formatted on standard letter-size paper (8.5 × 11 inches) with a white background. All text must fit within the printable area of the page.

Margin requirements: A minimum of 1 inch on all sides (top, bottom, left, right). If you plan to bind your thesis, you may increase the left margin to 1.5 inches to accommodate the binding. This extra space does not reduce the text area for your content.

Text should be left-aligned with a ragged right margin. Avoid justified text, which can create uneven spacing in technical writing with long technical terms and equations.

Line spacing: Use double spacing in the main body of your thesis. This includes all paragraphs, block quotations, and most front matter elements. Single spacing is acceptable for footnotes, endnotes, captions, and the reference list, though double spacing is also acceptable and sometimes preferred for consistency.

Font Requirements

MIT has specific font requirements to ensure readability and professional appearance.

Approved fonts: Times New Roman, Palatino, Computer Modern (for mathematical texts), or other standard serif fonts at 10, 11, or 12 points. Arial or Helvetica (sans-serif) may be used but is not preferred for the main body text.

Font size: Use 12-point font for body text. Smaller font sizes (10 or 11 points) are acceptable for footnotes, endnotes, captions, and figure labels, but must be used consistently throughout.

Consistency: Use the same font throughout your thesis except for emphasis or special purposes. Do not use colored text unless absolutely necessary (such as in figures or technical diagrams). Avoid decorative or unusual fonts.

Title Page

The title page should be the first page of your thesis and is not numbered. Include the following elements, centered on the page:

1. Title of your thesis (in capital letters or title case, as preferred)
2. by (in lowercase)
3. Your Full Name (as it appears in MIT records)
4. Submitted to the Department of [Your Department] (state the specific department)
5. in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science [or Doctor of Philosophy]
6. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (or simply “MIT”)
7. Month and Year of submission (spelled out, e.g., “September 2026”)

All elements should be centered. Use the same font as the body of your thesis. The title may be in capital letters or standard title case. Leave adequate white space between sections for visual clarity.

Abstract or Summary

The abstract should provide a concise overview of your thesis research, typically 150-250 words for a Master’s thesis and 200-500 words for a Ph.D. dissertation.

Begin the abstract on a new page with “Abstract” as a centered heading. The abstract should be double-spaced and should summarize your research question, methodology, key findings, and contributions to the field.

Number the abstract page with lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc.) as part of the front matter. Include the abstract in your table of contents.

Table of Contents

The table of contents lists all major sections and chapters with their corresponding page numbers. Begin on a new page with “Table of Contents” as a centered heading.

List all chapters, sections, and supplementary materials (appendices, bibliography) with page numbers right-aligned, separated by leader dots. Use your word processor’s automatic table of contents feature to ensure accuracy.

Format the table of contents using double spacing and the same font as the body text. The table of contents page should be numbered with a lowercase Roman numeral.

Headings and Section Structure

Maintain a clear hierarchy of headings throughout your thesis.

Chapter headings (if used): Bold, 12-point font, centered or left-aligned consistently. May include chapter number.

Section headings (first level): Bold, 12-point font, left-aligned.

Subsection headings (second level): Bold or bold-italic, 12-point font, left-aligned.

Each heading should be followed by at least one line of body text before the next heading or section break. Do not place headings at the page bottom without subsequent text.

Page Numbering

Front matter and body content use different numbering systems.

Front matter (title page through introduction): Use lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc.). The title page is not numbered, so numbering begins with the second page (often the abstract or acknowledgments page as i).

Body and back matter: Use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.), starting with the first page of Chapter 1 or your introduction.

Page numbers should appear in the top right corner of each page, 1 inch from the top edge, or centered at the bottom of the page (choose one format and use it consistently). Do not place page numbers in headers or footers if they interfere with your thesis content.

Citation and Reference Format

MIT allows flexibility in citation styles, but you must be consistent throughout your thesis.

IEEE Style (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): Common in engineering and technology fields. Uses numbered citations [1], [2], etc., with a numbered reference list.

Harvard Style: Uses author-date citations (Author Year) in parentheses with an alphabetical reference list.

Chicago Manual of Style: Acceptable, particularly for humanities and social science theses. Uses footnotes or endnotes with a bibliography.

Confirm with your department which style is preferred or required. Whichever style you choose, apply it consistently throughout your thesis, including all citations, footnotes, and references.

Figures, Graphs, and Tables

All figures, graphs, charts, and tables must be clearly labeled and properly referenced in your text.

Figures: Include a figure number (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.), title, and source citation. Format as “Figure 1: Description of the figure.” Place the caption below the figure. Reference each figure in the text before it appears.

Tables: Include a table number (Table 1, Table 2, etc.) and title above the table. Format as “Table 1: Title of the table.” Place source information and notes below the table.

Numbering: Number figures and tables consecutively throughout the thesis (Figure 1, Figure 2, Table 1, Table 2) or by chapter if your thesis has multiple chapters (Figure 1.1, Figure 1.2, Table 2.1, etc.).

All figures and tables must fit within your margins and be legible when printed. Color figures are acceptable. Create a list of figures and list of tables in your front matter if you have more than five of either.

Bibliography and References

Your bibliography or reference list should appear after the conclusion of your thesis and include all sources cited in your work.

Formatting: Begin on a new page with “Bibliography,” “References,” or “Works Cited” as a centered heading. Entries should be alphabetically ordered by author’s last name and use a hanging indent (first line left-aligned, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches).

Use the same font and size (12-point) as your body text. Single spacing within entries and double spacing between entries is standard. However, some MIT departments prefer double spacing throughout the reference list for consistency.

Completeness: Ensure that all sources cited in the text appear in your bibliography and vice versa. Format all entries consistently according to your chosen citation style.

Appendices

Appendices should be placed after the bibliography and numbered consecutively (Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.).

Start each appendix on a new page with “Appendix A: Title” centered in bold. Apply the same formatting rules (margins, font, spacing, page numbering) to appendices as to the main body of your thesis.

List all appendices in your table of contents with their page numbers.

Equations and Mathematical Notation

For theses containing significant mathematical content, equations should be clearly formatted and numbered.

Display equations: Place important equations on separate lines, centered on the page. Number them consecutively (Equation 1, Equation 2, or (1), (2), etc.) with numbers aligned to the right margin.

Inline equations: Equations within sentences should use the same font and notation as display equations and be legible.

Ensure all equations are properly formatted and that notation is defined before use. Use your word processor’s equation editor (or LaTeX if appropriate for your field) for mathematical content.

Electronic Submission

MIT requires submission of your thesis through the DSpace@MIT institutional repository. Your department will provide specific submission procedures and deadlines.

PDF submission: You will submit a PDF version of your formatted thesis. Before submission, convert your Word document to PDF and carefully review the output to ensure all formatting, fonts, spacing, and page numbers are preserved.

Required documents: In addition to your thesis, you may need to submit a copyright release form, abstract approval form, or other documentation depending on your department’s requirements.

Backup copies: Keep your original Word file in addition to the PDF. If revisions are required before final acceptance, you’ll need the editable document.

Word Processing Tips

Styles and formatting: Use built-in Word styles for all headings, body text, and other elements. This ensures consistency and allows for automatic table of contents generation.

Margins and page setup: Set all margins to 1 inch in Layout > Margins. For binding, increase left margin to 1.5 inches if needed.

Page numbering: Use Insert > Page Number and configure numbering separately for front matter (Roman numerals) and body (Arabic numerals) using section breaks.

Automatic table of contents: Use References > Table of Contents to generate an automatic table that updates when you modify heading text or page numbers.

Line spacing: Select all body text and set line spacing to 2.0 (double spacing). Apply this after finishing your draft to avoid spacing inconsistencies.

Equation formatting: Use the Equation Editor (Insert > Equation) for mathematical expressions and ensure they are legible and properly formatted.

Headers and footers: If using headers or footers, ensure they do not interfere with your page number placement or thesis content.

Final Submission Checklist

Before submitting your MIT thesis:

• All margins are 1 inch (or 1.5 inches for left margin if binding)
• Font is 12-point (or acceptable size for notes and captions) throughout
• Double spacing is used in body text; single spacing acceptable for notes and references
• Page numbering is correct (Roman numerals for front matter, Arabic for body)
• Title page does not have a page number
• All chapters, sections, and appendices are in the table of contents
• All figures and tables are numbered and have titles/captions
• All citations are complete and formatted consistently
• Bibliography or reference list is complete and properly formatted
• Department advisor has approved the thesis
• PDF has been reviewed for formatting accuracy
• Submission is through DSpace@MIT by the deadline

Following these guidelines will ensure your MIT thesis meets all institutional requirements and is ready for submission and archiving.