Purdue University Thesis Format Guide

Purdue University maintains comprehensive formatting standards for all graduate research theses and dissertations. This guide provides detailed information on Purdue’s formatting requirements across all colleges.

Page Setup and Margins

Purdue’s margin specifications ensure proper binding and professional appearance.

Left Margin: 1 inch, or 1.25 inches if binding on left - Check with your college.

Right Margin: 1 inch - Standard 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.

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

Font Requirements

Purdue maintains clear font specifications for thesis preparation.

Body Text Font: Times New Roman or similar serif font in 12-point size.

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

Footnotes and Endnotes: May be single-spaced in 10-point font.

Font Consistency: Use the same font throughout body text.

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

Tables and Figures: May use fonts as small as 10-point if necessary.

Title Page Format

Your title page must include:

Required Elements:

• Thesis title
• Author name
• Degree (e.g., Doctor of Philosophy)
• Major/Department
• Purdue University
• Date of submission

Layout: Center all elements with balanced spacing.

Page Numbering: Not numbered but counts as page i.

Line Spacing: Single-spacing for title page.

Abstract Requirements

Length: 150-350 words for most Purdue theses.

Content: Summarize your research problem, methodology, findings, and significance.

Page Placement: On its own page following the title page.

Title: Center “ABSTRACT” in capitals.

Formatting: Double-spaced, same font as body text.

Table of Contents

Format: Include chapter titles and major sections with page numbers.

Title: Center “TABLE OF CONTENTS” in capitals.

Formatting: Double-spaced with dot leaders.

Automatic Generation: Use Word’s References > Table of Contents.

Heading Styles and Hierarchy

Chapter Headings (Level 1): 14-point bold, centered, begin on new page.

Section Headings (Level 2): 12-point bold, left-aligned.

Subsection Headings (Level 3): 12-point bold italic, left-aligned.

Paragraph Headings (Level 4): 12-point bold, run-in style.

Consistency: Use Word’s Styles gallery for all headings.

Page Numbering

Front Matter: Use lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii).

Body Text: Begin Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) with introduction.

Appendices: Continue Arabic numerals.

Page Number Location: Upper right corner or centered at bottom.

Implementation: Use Insert > Page Numbers with Section Breaks.

Citation Style Requirements

Purdue permits different citation styles by college and major.

Engineering: IEEE style is typical.

Sciences: APA or CSE is common.

Other Fields: Follow major-specific requirements.

Verification: Check with your college for specific requirements.

Using GenText: GenText supports IEEE, APA, Chicago, CSE, Harvard, and other major formats.

Figure and Table Formatting

Table Titles: Above tables in 12-point font.

Figure Captions: Below figures.

Source Citations: Include sources for all data.

Integration: Embed in text near references.

Lists: Include if you have more than 5 figures or tables.

Bibliography and References

Organization: Alphabetical by author’s last name.

Title: Center “BIBLIOGRAPHY” or “REFERENCES” in capitals.

Formatting: Use hanging indentation, double-spaced.

Appendices

Labeling: Label as “Appendix A,” “Appendix B,” etc.

Page Numbering: Continue from main text.

Content: Include supplementary materials.

Electronic Submission Requirements

File Format: Submit as PDF with embedded fonts.

File Naming: Follow Purdue conventions.

Submission Deadline: Check the Graduate School for deadlines.

Tips for Formatting in Microsoft Word

Create Custom Styles: Define styles before writing.

Use Section Breaks: Separate front matter from body text.

Generate Table of Contents: Use References > Table of Contents.

Verify Margins: Check before finalizing.

Common Formatting Challenges

Inconsistent Headings: Use Styles gallery exclusively, never manual formatting.

Page Number Issues: Insert Section Breaks between front matter and body text. Configure numbering separately for each section.

Margin Problems: Select all text (Ctrl+A) before applying margins to ensure consistent application throughout document.

Wrong Table of Contents: Update after editing via right-click > Update Field.

Word Formatting Best Practices

Define styles before writing, use Section Breaks strategically, configure headers/footers separately for each section, save frequently with backups, verify margins before submission, update all automatic fields before finalizing.

Formatting Checklist

• All margins meet specifications (1” standard or 1.25” left if binding)
• Body text: Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced
• All headings properly formatted via Styles gallery
• Page numbering: Roman numerals for front matter, Arabic for body text
• Abstract: 150-350 words, properly formatted
• All tables and figures have titles/captions with sources cited
• Bibliography complete, alphabetically organized, properly formatted
• All citations consistent throughout document
• Title page includes all required elements
• Table of contents complete and accurate
• PDF file has all fonts embedded
• File naming follows Purdue conventions
• No spelling or grammatical errors

Related Resources and Tools

GenText Citation Generator: Supports IEEE, APA, Chicago, CSE, Harvard, and other major citation formats. Generate accurate citations automatically and build your complete bibliography.

Word Formatting Tutorials:

• How to Format a Thesis in Word
• How to Create and Update a Table of Contents
• How to Use Section Breaks for Different Page Numbering
• How to Create Custom Heading Styles
• How to Manage Footnotes and Endnotes

Other University Guides: Review other universities’ formatting guides to understand universal principles versus institution-specific requirements.

Conclusion

Proper thesis formatting at Purdue demonstrates professionalism and academic integrity. Using Word’s built-in formatting tools effectively and creating custom styles before writing makes the process straightforward and ensures consistent formatting.

Creating custom styles before you begin writing is the single most important step you can take to ensure consistent formatting throughout your thesis. This upfront investment saves substantial time during final preparation and prevents formatting inconsistencies.

For the most current information on Purdue thesis requirements, consult the Graduate School website. College-specific requirements may vary, so verify with your advisor.

With careful attention to these requirements and this guide, your thesis will meet all Purdue standards and present your research professionally.