Princeton University Thesis Format Guide (2026)

Princeton University Thesis Format Guide

Princeton University maintains comprehensive formatting standards for all graduate theses and dissertations. These guidelines ensure consistency, professionalism, and proper archival preservation of all academic work. This guide provides complete instructions for formatting your thesis according to Princeton’s requirements.

Page Setup and Margins

All Princeton theses must be prepared on standard letter-size paper (8.5 × 11 inches) in a standard format suitable for reading, copying, and archival storage.

Margin requirements:

• Left margin: 1 inch standard, or 1.5 inches if the thesis will be bound
• Right margin: 1 inch
• Top margin: 1 inch
• Bottom margin: 1 inch

The left margin can be increased to accommodate binding of physical copies, which may be retained in the Princeton Library system. Ensure all text, including headers and footers, falls within the specified margins.

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

Line spacing: All text must be double-spaced, including the body of your thesis, block quotations, and most front matter elements. Single spacing is acceptable for footnotes, endnotes, captions, and the bibliography, though consistency is preferred throughout the document.

Font Requirements

Princeton requires clear, legible fonts appropriate for professional academic work and long-term digital preservation.

Approved fonts: Times New Roman, Garamond, Palatino, Cambria, or Georgia at 12 points. Other standard serif fonts may be acceptable if they meet readability standards.

Font size: Body text must be 12-point font. Smaller fonts (10 or 11 points) are acceptable for footnotes, endnotes, figure captions, and table labels, but must be applied consistently throughout.

Text color and styling: Text should be black. Colored text is acceptable only in figures, diagrams, or maps and only when necessary for clarity. Do not use underlining for emphasis; use bold or italic instead.

Consistency: Use the selected font throughout your entire thesis. Do not change fonts between chapters or sections except for specialized content.

Title Page

The title page is the first page of your thesis and should not be numbered. Center all text on the page.

Include the following elements in order:

1. TITLE OF YOUR THESIS (in capital letters or title case)
2. by (lowercase)
3. Your Full Name (as registered at Princeton)
4. A Dissertation [or Thesis] (capitalize D or T)
5. Presented to the Faculty (capitalize P and F)
6. of Princeton University (capitalize P and U)
7. in Candidacy for the Degree (capitalize C and D)
8. of Doctor of Philosophy [or Master of Arts/Science] (as appropriate)
9. Month Year (e.g., “June 2026”)

Use the same font as your body text. If your title is longer than one line, single-space the lines of the title itself while maintaining the overall centered layout. Leave adequate white space between sections.

Abstract

The abstract provides a concise summary of your thesis, typically 150-300 words.

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, major findings, and conclusions.

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

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 to ensure accuracy and allow for easy updates.

Spacing: Use double spacing and the same font as your body text. Number this page with a lowercase Roman numeral.

Headings and Section Organization

Create a clear hierarchical structure using consistent heading formatting.

Chapter headings: Bold, 12-point font, centered or consistently left-aligned. May 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. Do not place headings at the page bottom without subsequent content.

Page Numbering

Different page numbering systems apply to front matter and body content.

Front matter (from 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 (from Chapter 1 onward): Use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.), beginning with the first page of Chapter 1.

Placement: Position page numbers in the top right corner, 0.5 inches from the top, or centered at the bottom of the page (use one method consistently).

Citation and Reference Styles

Princeton allows flexibility in citation styles but requires consistent application throughout your thesis.

Chicago Manual of Style (Notes and Bibliography): Common in humanities. Uses footnotes or endnotes with a bibliography.

Harvard Referencing: Uses author-date citations in parentheses with a reference list.

APA Style: Appropriate for social sciences and psychology. Uses author-date format with a reference section.

Discipline-specific styles: Some departments may have preferred formats. Confirm with your department and advisor.

Consistency: Apply your selected style uniformly throughout your thesis.

Figures, Graphs, and Tables

All visual elements must be clear, properly 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 (Figure 1.1, Figure 2.1, etc.).

Legibility: Ensure figures and tables are legible when printed and fit within your margins. Color is acceptable.

Lists: Include a list of figures and list of tables in your front matter if you have more than five of each.

Bibliography and References

Your bibliography or reference list appears after your conclusion and includes all cited sources.

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 (first line left-aligned, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches).

Formatting: Use 12-point font consistent with body text. Single spacing within entries and double spacing between is standard, though double spacing throughout is also acceptable.

Completeness: Ensure all cited sources appear in the bibliography and no uncited sources are included.

Appendices

Appendices contain supplementary material supporting your main argument.

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 your main body.

Documentation: List appendices in your table of contents with page numbers.

Equations and Mathematical Content

Theses with substantial mathematical content should format equations clearly.

Display equations: Center important equations on separate lines and number them consecutively: (1), (2), (3), etc., with numbers at the right margin.

Inline equations: Format equations within sentences using consistent notation and ensure legibility.

Clarity: Define all notation and symbols before first use. Use equation editors for professional formatting.

Electronic Submission

Princeton requires submission through the Graduate School’s online portal.

PDF submission: Convert your formatted Word document to PDF and review the entire PDF to ensure formatting, fonts, spacing, and page numbers are preserved correctly.

Required documents: Submit your thesis along with any required approval forms, abstract, and copyright information.

Backup files: Keep your original Word document in case revisions are needed.

Deadlines: Submit by your program’s specified deadline.

Word Processing Tips

Use styles: Apply Word’s built-in styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, Body Text) to maintain consistency and enable automatic table of contents generation.

Set margins: In Layout > Margins, set Left 1” (or 1.5” if binding), 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 advisor.

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 submission:

• All margins are set correctly (1” standard or 1.5” left for binding)
• 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
• Advisor and committee have approved
• PDF preserves all formatting
• Required submission documents are completed
• Submission is by the program deadline

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