UNAM Thesis Formatting Guide: Complete Requirements

Introduction

The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico’s premier research institution, maintains rigorous thesis formatting standards across all graduate programs. These guidelines ensure academic consistency and professional presentation of research. This comprehensive guide covers formatting specifications for Master’s theses and doctoral dissertations at UNAM.

Page Setup and Margin Requirements

Paper and Page Configuration

UNAM requires A4 paper (210mm × 297mm) with these specific margin settings:

• Top margin: 25mm
• Bottom margin: 25mm
• Left margin: 30mm (for binding)
• Right margin: 20mm

The asymmetrical left margin accommodates professional binding while maintaining a balanced page appearance.

Line Spacing

Use 1.5 line spacing throughout your thesis, including body text, block quotations, footnotes, and references. This spacing improves readability while maintaining professional presentation.

Font and Typography Standards

Font Selection

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

Maintain consistent font throughout the entire document. Avoid mixing serif and sans-serif fonts within the same section.

Text Formatting

Use bold for chapter titles and major section headings. Italics are appropriate for book titles, journal names, and emphasis. Underlining is discouraged in favor of bold or italic formatting.

Preliminary Pages Structure

Title Page Format

Your thesis title page must include:

1. University name: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
2. Faculty name (Facultad)
3. Program name (Programa de Postgrado)
4. Degree type: Maestría (Master’s) or Doctorado (Doctorate)
5. Complete thesis title
6. Your full name
7. Advisor name and title (Director de Tesis)
8. City (México) and year of submission

Center all title page information. Do not include a page number on the title page.

Declaration of Originality

Include a signed declaration (Declaración de Autenticidad) confirming:

• The work is your own original research
• It has not been submitted to any other institution
• All sources have been properly cited
• Understanding of UNAM plagiarism and academic integrity policies

The declaration must be signed and dated by you.

Abstract in Spanish

Provide a 150-300 word abstract (Resumen) in Spanish containing:

• Research objectives and significance
• Methodology employed
• Key findings and results
• Conclusions and implications

Abstract in English

Provide an equivalent abstract in English containing the same information.

Keywords

Include 4-6 keywords in both Spanish (Palabras clave) and English (Keywords), arranged alphabetically.

Thesis Structure and Organization

Required Components

A complete UNAM thesis includes:

1. Title page
2. Declaration of originality
3. Abstract in Spanish (Resumen)
4. Abstract in English (Abstract)
5. Keywords in both languages
6. Acknowledgments (Agradecimientos, optional)
7. Table of contents (Índice)
8. List of figures (if applicable)
9. List of tables (if applicable)
10. Introduction (Introducción)
11. Chapter 1-N (Main research chapters - Capítulo 1, etc.)
12. Conclusion/Final Remarks (Conclusión)
13. References/Bibliography (Bibliografía)
14. Appendices (Apéndices)

Chapter Organization

Each chapter should contain:

• Clear chapter number and title
• Logical section organization
• Consistent formatting

Use this heading hierarchy:

• Chapter title: 14pt, bold
• Section heading: 13pt, bold
• Subsection heading: 12pt, bold
• Paragraph heading: 12pt, italic

Citation and References

Citation Methods

UNAM accepts Harvard and Chicago citation styles:

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

López, J. (2018). Investigación en educación superior. Editorial UNAM.

Chicago Style: Author, A. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.

López, J. Investigación en Educación Superior. Editorial UNAM, 2018.

Reference List Format

Arrange all references alphabetically by author surname. Include complete publication information for every source. For electronic sources, include URLs and access dates where applicable.

All references should be formatted consistently using your chosen citation style throughout the document.

Tables and Figures

Table and Figure Captions

Tables have captions above (Tabla 1: Description). Figures have captions below (Figura 1: Description). Number tables and figures either continuously or by chapter (Tabla 1.1, Tabla 1.2).

Quality Standards

All figures must be high-resolution (minimum 300dpi). Tables should use professional formatting with clear borders and consistent spacing. Ensure color figures remain understandable when printed in black and white.

Illustration Lists

Provide comprehensive lists of figures and tables if your thesis contains more than five of each.

Page Numbering and Headers

Numbering Conventions

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

Running Headers

Include author name and/or chapter title in the header or footer. Maintain consistent header/footer formatting throughout the document.

Submission Requirements

Printed Submission

Submit the required number of bound copies (typically 2-3) in professional binding featuring:

• Professional binding (spiral or hardback)
• Clear spine with surname, short thesis title, and year
• Protective cover (color or clear plastic)
• One copy placed in UNAM library system

Digital Submission

Submit one or more PDF copies through UNAM’s TESIUNAM system:

• Format: Searchable PDF (not scanned images)
• File naming: ApellidoAutor_Nombre_Año.pdf
• File size: Under 50MB
• All pages with correct numbering
• Bookmarks for main chapters
• Functional cross-reference hyperlinks

Using GenText for UNAM Thesis Formatting

GenText is an invaluable tool for managing UNAM’s comprehensive thesis formatting requirements. This software ensures your document meets all institutional specifications while maintaining visual consistency throughout.

GenText provides:

• Automated style sheet application for uniform formatting
• Consistent font and size management across sections
• Hierarchical heading structure maintenance
• Automatic generation of tables of contents and illustration lists
• Page numbering system with proper front matter handling
• Citation formatting in Harvard or Chicago styles
• Professional table and figure caption generation
• Cross-reference linking for document navigation
• Bilingual abstract and keyword formatting

By implementing GenText from the beginning of your thesis writing, you’ll eliminate manual formatting tasks and ensure full compliance with UNAM requirements.

Common Formatting Mistakes

1. Inconsistent line spacing: Verify 1.5 spacing throughout including quotations
2. Font size variations: Ensure body text is 12pt and maintain heading hierarchy
3. Improper margins: Check binding margin is 30mm on the left
4. Citation inconsistencies: Verify all references match bibliography entries exactly
5. Missing page numbers: All pages except title page should be numbered

Pre-Submission Verification

Before finalizing submission:

• ✓ All margins are correctly set (30mm left, 25mm top/bottom, 20mm right)
• ✓ Body text is 12-point in consistent font
• ✓ Line spacing is 1.5 throughout entire document
• ✓ Page numbers appear in bottom right corner
• ✓ All chapters begin on new pages
• ✓ Spanish and English abstracts are included
• ✓ Keywords provided in both languages
• ✓ Table of contents and illustration lists are accurate
• ✓ All tables and figures have descriptive captions
• ✓ References list is complete and properly formatted
• ✓ Declaration of originality is signed and dated
• ✓ Required number of printed copies properly bound
• ✓ Digital copy submitted through TESIUNAM portal

Conclusion

Following UNAM’s thesis formatting guidelines demonstrates your commitment to academic professionalism and institutional standards. By carefully implementing these requirements and utilizing formatting tools like GenText, your thesis will present your research in the professional manner expected at one of Latin America’s most prestigious research universities.