NUS Thesis Formatting Guide: Complete Requirements

Introduction

The National University of Singapore (NUS), one of Asia’s leading institutions, maintains comprehensive thesis formatting guidelines designed to ensure consistency and professionalism across all graduate programs. This guide provides detailed instructions for formatting Master’s theses and doctoral dissertations according to NUS standards.

Document Setup and Margins

Paper and Page Configuration

NUS requires A4 paper (210mm × 297mm) with the following margin specifications:

• Top margin: 25mm
• Bottom margin: 25mm
• Left margin: 40mm (for binding)
• Right margin: 20mm

These margins accommodate both electronic and printed submissions. The asymmetrical left margin allows space for binding while maintaining professional appearance.

Line Spacing Requirements

All text must use double spacing (2.0 line spacing) throughout the entire document, including quotations, footnotes, and references. This requirement extends to all preliminary pages and appendices.

Font and Typography Standards

Font Selection

• Body text: 12-point Times New Roman or Arial
• Headings: 12-point or larger, same font family as body text
• Footnotes and endnotes: Same font as body text, can be 10-point
• Captions: 10 to 12-point, single-spaced

Maintain consistent font throughout the document. Avoid mixing multiple font families unless distinguishing programming code or mathematical equations.

Text Formatting Guidelines

Use bold for chapter titles and major section headings. Italics are appropriate for book titles, journal names, and foreign language phrases. Underlining should be avoided in favor of italics or bold formatting.

Preliminary Pages

Title Page Format

Your title page must include:

1. University name: National University of Singapore
2. Degree level: Master of Science / Doctor of Philosophy
3. Department or school name
4. Complete thesis title
5. Your full name
6. Submission month and year

The title page is not numbered but counts as the first page of the document. Center all text on the page.

Abstract and Declaration

The abstract must be 250-500 words and provide a comprehensive summary of your research, methodology, and key findings. Include a separate abstract if you conducted research in another language.

Include a declaration stating that the work is original and hasn’t been submitted elsewhere. This declaration must be signed and dated.

Structure and Organization

Required Sections

Your thesis must include:

1. Title page
2. Declaration of originality
3. Acknowledgments (optional, 1-2 pages)
4. Table of contents
5. List of figures (if applicable)
6. List of tables (if applicable)
7. Main body chapters
8. References/Bibliography
9. Appendices (if applicable)

Chapter Organization

Each chapter should have a clear number and title. Organize chapters logically to guide readers through your research progression. Major sections within chapters should use consistent heading hierarchies.

Citation and References

Citation Styles

Harvard Style Example: Author, A. (Year). Title of book. Publisher Name.

Jensen, K. B. (2002). A handbook of media and communication research. Routledge.

IEEE Style Example: [#] Initial(s). Surname, “Title of article,” Abbreviated Journal Title, vol. #, no. #, pp. page range, Month Year.

[1] K. B. Jensen, “Communication studies,” IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 245–257, Mar. 1997.

Reference List Formatting

All references must be arranged alphabetically by author surname. Ensure complete publication information for all sources. For electronic sources, include access dates and URLs.

Tables and Figures

Table and Figure Captions

Tables must have a caption above the table, while figures have captions below. Use consistent numbering: Table 1, Table 2, etc., or number sequentially within chapters (Table 1.1, Table 1.2).

Quality and Integration

Ensure all figures are clear and high-resolution (minimum 300dpi). Tables should be professional in appearance with clear borders and consistent formatting. All tables and figures must be referenced in the text and appear near their first mention.

List of Illustrations

If your thesis contains more than five figures or tables, include comprehensive lists after the table of contents.

Page Numbering and Headers

Numbering Conventions

Front matter uses lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii). Main body and appendices use Arabic numerals starting from 1 (Chapter 1). Page numbers appear in the bottom right corner of every page.

Header and Footer Information

Include your last name and a short version of your thesis title in the header. Maintain consistent header formatting throughout the document.

Submission and Binding

Format Requirements

Submit two printed copies in professional binding. The spine should clearly display:

• Your surname
• Short thesis title
• Year of submission

Bind pages securely using comb binding, spiral binding, or case binding. Additionally, submit one electronic PDF copy with bookmarks and searchable text.

Digital Submission Guidelines

PDF files must be:

• Searchable text (not scanned images)
• Complete with all pages, figures, and appendices
• Under 50MB in size
• Properly formatted with active hyperlinks

File naming: YourName_Degree_Year_ThesisTitle.pdf

Using GenText for NUS Thesis Formatting

GenText streamlines the complex formatting requirements of NUS theses through automated style management. This tool ensures your document meets every specification without manual formatting corrections.

GenText helps you:

• Maintain double spacing automatically across all sections
• Generate correctly formatted tables of contents and figure lists
• Apply consistent heading styles throughout
• Manage citations in Harvard or IEEE formats
• Handle page numbering transitions between front matter and main text
• Create professional tables and figure captions
• Track all formatting elements for final compliance

By using GenText from your first draft, you eliminate countless hours of manual formatting and ensure your thesis meets all NUS requirements.

Frequently Encountered Formatting Issues

1. Inconsistent spacing: Verify double spacing is applied to entire document, not just body text
2. Figure quality: Ensure all images meet the 300dpi resolution minimum
3. Citation inconsistencies: Check that every reference in text matches bibliography exactly
4. Missing page numbers: All pages except title page should be numbered
5. Improper margins: Double-check binding margin is 40mm on left side

Pre-Submission Verification

Before submitting your thesis, confirm:

• ✓ All text uses 12-point Times New Roman or Arial
• ✓ Double spacing throughout (including footnotes and quotations)
• ✓ Proper margins: 40mm left, 25mm top/bottom/right
• ✓ Page numbers in bottom right corner (Arabic for main body)
• ✓ All chapters begin on new pages
• ✓ All tables and figures have appropriate captions
• ✓ References list is complete and consistently formatted
• ✓ Declaration of originality is signed and dated
• ✓ Two printed copies and one PDF copy prepared
• ✓ PDF is searchable with active bookmarks

Conclusion

Adhering to NUS formatting guidelines demonstrates your commitment to academic excellence. With careful attention to these requirements and the support of formatting tools like GenText, your thesis will present your research in the professional manner expected at one of Asia’s premier universities.