UCLA Thesis Format Guide

UCLA requires all graduate theses and dissertations to follow specific formatting guidelines to ensure consistency and professional presentation. This comprehensive guide covers UCLA’s formatting requirements across all schools and departments.

Page Setup and Margins

UCLA’s margin requirements accommodate binding and maintain proper proportions for readability.

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

Right Margin: 1 inch - Standard margin allowing for reader notes.

Top Margin: 1 inch - Applied uniformly across all pages.

Bottom Margin: 1 inch - Maintains vertical balance and accommodates page numbers.

Paper Size: Standard letter size (8.5” x 11”) is required.

Page Orientation: Portrait (vertical) is the standard orientation. Landscape orientation may be used for oversized tables or figures.

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

Font Requirements

UCLA 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 the most traditional and widely accepted choice.

Line Spacing: Double-spacing (2.0) is required for all body text, including block quotations. Select all text (Ctrl+A), then Home > Line Spacing > 2.0.

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 it 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 fonts smaller than 12-point for tables and figures if necessary for clarity, but should remain easily readable.

Title Page Format

The title page is the formal introduction to your thesis and must follow UCLA’s specific format.

Required Elements:

• Thesis title (centered)
• Your name (centered)
• Degree (e.g., Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy)
• Department
• UCLA (centered at bottom)
• Date (year of graduation)

Layout: Center all elements horizontally. Place the title in the upper portion of the page, 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: Omit headers and footers from the title page.

Abstract Requirements

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

Length: 150-350 words for most UCLA theses. Check with your specific program for exact word limits.

Content: Briefly state your research question, describe your methodology, summarize key findings, and explain the significance of your work. Use past tense and third person.

Page Placement: The abstract should appear on its own page following the title page.

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

Page Numbering: Use lowercase Roman numerals (ii, iii, etc.) for the abstract page as part of the front matter.

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

Table of Contents

Your table of contents provides a clear overview of your thesis structure.

Content: 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 in the table of contents.

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

Formatting: Double-spaced. Use dot leaders to connect headings to page numbers.

Automatic Generation: Use Word’s References > Table of Contents to generate your table of contents automatically. This ensures accuracy and allows for easy updates.

Front Matter Inclusion: Include all preliminary pages (title page, abstract, acknowledgments) in your table of contents.

Heading Styles and Hierarchy

Consistent heading hierarchy improves readability and document navigation.

Chapter Headings (Level 1): 14-point bold, all capitals or title case, centered. 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 style, followed by a period.

Consistency: Use Word’s Styles gallery to create custom styles for each heading level. Apply these styles consistently throughout your document.

Page Numbering

Proper page numbering follows UCLA conventions and is essential for thesis organization.

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

Body Text: Begin Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.) 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 or center them at the bottom. Be consistent throughout.

Implementation: Use Insert > Page Numbers to add page numbers. Use Section Breaks (Page Layout > Breaks) to change numbering styles between front matter and body text.

Citation Style Requirements

UCLA permits different citation styles depending on your discipline and department.

Engineering: IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) style is standard. Uses numbered citations [1], [2], etc.

Biological Sciences: APA or CSE style. Check with your department for specific requirements.

Physical Sciences: APA or CSE style is common.

Humanities: Chicago Manual of Style (Notes-Bibliography) is typical. Uses footnotes/endnotes and a bibliography.

Social Sciences: APA style is standard. Uses parenthetical author-date citations.

Business: APA or Harvard style is common.

Department Verification: Always check with your department and major professor for specific citation requirements before beginning your thesis.

Using GenText: GenText’s citation generator supports all major citation styles including IEEE, APA, Chicago, CSE, MLA, and Harvard. Generate accurate citations and build your bibliography automatically.

Figure and Table Formatting

All figures and tables must be professionally formatted and properly integrated.

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

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

Source Information: Include sources for all data. This may appear as a table/figure footnote 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 tables and figures in your text near where they are referenced.

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

Bibliography and References

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

Organization: Arrange entries alphabetically by author’s last name. Follow your chosen citation style 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 throughout.

Appendices

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

Labeling: Label as “Appendix A,” “Appendix B,” etc., or simply “APPENDIX” if only one appendix.

Page Numbering: Continue Arabic numerals from the main text through all appendices.

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

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

Formatting: Apply the same margins, fonts, spacing, and heading styles as the main text.

Submission Requirements

UCLA requires electronic submission of all theses through the Graduate Division.

File Format: Submit 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 UCLA conventions, typically: LastName_FirstName_MA_2026.pdf or LastName_FirstName_PhD_2026.pdf

File Size: Keep under 100MB. Compress images if necessary without significantly reducing quality.

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

Submission System: Submit through the UCLA Theses and Dissertations portal at the Graduate Division website.

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

Embargo Option: Request an embargo period if necessary to protect unpublished research. Standard embargo periods are typically 1-2 years.

Tips for Formatting in Microsoft Word

These practical techniques will help you efficiently format your thesis according to UCLA requirements.

Create Custom Styles: Define styles for body text, each heading level, footnotes, and block quotes before beginning writing. This ensures consistency.

Use Section Breaks: Insert Section Breaks between front matter and body text to use different page numbering. Page Layout > Breaks > Section Break.

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

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

Manage Footnotes: Use References > Footnotes to insert footnotes consistently. Configure numbering and spacing.

Generate Table of Contents: Use References > Table of Contents to automatically generate your table of contents. Update before final submission.

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

Use Navigation Pane: View > Navigation Pane displays your document structure and allows quick navigation.

Common Issues and Solutions

Inconsistent Heading Styles: Use only Word’s Styles gallery for all headings. Define styles before writing and apply them uniformly.

Page Numbering Problems: Ensure Section Breaks (not just page breaks) separate sections with different numbering. Configure numbering separately for each section.

Incorrect Margins: Select all text (Ctrl+A) and apply margins to the entire document. Use Section Breaks if different sections need different margins.

Wrong Page Numbers in Table of Contents: Update your table of contents after editing is complete. Right-click and select “Update Field.”

Related Resources and Tools

GenText provides comprehensive resources for thesis formatting and citation management.

GenText Citation Generator: Supports IEEE, APA, Chicago, CSE, MLA, and Harvard formats. Generate accurate citations and manage your bibliography automatically.

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 Add and 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 UCLA demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail. While the requirements are comprehensive, breaking them into manageable components makes the process straightforward. Use Word’s built-in formatting tools effectively, create custom styles early in your writing, and refer back to this guide and your department’s requirements throughout your thesis.

For the most current information on UCLA thesis requirements, visit the UCLA Graduate Division website or contact your department’s graduate advisor. Department-specific requirements may vary, so always verify with your advisor before beginning your thesis.

With careful attention to these formatting requirements, your thesis will present your research professionally and meet all UCLA standards for successful submission and archival.