Universidade de Campinas Thesis Formatting Guide

Universidade de Campinas Thesis Formatting Standards

Universidade de Campinas (UNICAMP) maintains comprehensive formatting guidelines for master’s theses and doctoral dissertations across all institutes and faculties. These standards ensure professional presentation and consistency while accommodating Portuguese and English-language research.

Core Formatting Standards

Font and Typography

Universidade de Campinas requires professional, readable fonts suitable for academic work. Times New Roman at 12pt is the standard choice for body text. Arial or Calibri at 12pt are also acceptable. Select one font and maintain consistency throughout your entire thesis.

Headings may be formatted in bold or larger font sizes for visual distinction, but maintain the same font family as body text.

Margin Specifications

Standard margins are 2.5cm on all sides: top, bottom, left, and right. If your thesis will be bound, increase the left margin to 3cm while keeping other margins at 2.5cm.

Line Spacing

Double-spacing is required for the main body of your thesis. This applies to all chapter text and most supplementary content. Footnotes, endnotes, and appendices may use single-spacing, though double-spacing is preferred.

Title Page and Front Matter

Your title page must include:

• University name and institute/faculty
• Thesis title (centered, bold, in title case)
• Your full name
• Degree sought
• Institute/faculty name
• Name of advisor
• Date of submission

The front matter should follow this order:

• Title page
• Declaration of originality
• Acknowledgments (optional)
• Abstract in Portuguese
• Abstract in English (if thesis is in Portuguese)
• Keywords in both languages
• Table of contents
• List of figures (if applicable)
• List of tables (if applicable)

Language Considerations

Universidade de Campinas primarily requires theses in Portuguese. Some international doctoral programs may accept English submissions, but this must be confirmed with your department.

If your thesis is in Portuguese, provide an English abstract and keywords.

Chapter Organization

Number chapters clearly and descriptively. Chapter headings should be formatted distinctly from body text. Maintain a clear hierarchical structure for subheadings.

Citation Methodology

Universidade de Campinas may use:

• ABNT NBR 10520 (Brazilian standard)
• APA style
• Harvard style

Confirm the required citation style with your faculty or supervisor. Whichever style you choose, apply it consistently throughout your entire document.

GenText’s citation management tools support multiple styles, automatically formatting your references.

Quotations and Block Quotes

Short quotations should be incorporated into paragraph text with quotation marks and citations. Longer quotations should be formatted as indented block quotes, set 1cm from the left margin and single-spaced, without quotation marks.

Tables and Figures

All tables and figures must be numbered consecutively and include descriptive titles or captions. Tables should have titles above them; figures should have captions below.

Reference all tables and figures in your text before they appear.

Page Numbering

Number all pages consecutively using Arabic numerals. Page numbers should appear in the bottom right corner or bottom center of each page.

Abstract and Keywords

Your abstract should be approximately 250-300 words and summarize your entire thesis. Provide abstracts in both Portuguese and English.

Include 5-8 keywords representing your research topic in both languages.

Appendices

Appendices should contain material that supports your argument but would interrupt the flow if included in chapters. Label appendices as “Apêndice A,” “Apêndice B,” and so on.

Digital and Print Submission

Universidade de Campinas requires digital submission through their thesis repository system. Your thesis should be submitted in PDF format with all formatting preserved.

Print copies may be required for archival purposes. Confirm current submission requirements with your graduate office.

Using GenText for UNICAMP Theses

GenText streamlines thesis preparation by automating consistent formatting throughout your document. The tool applies proper margins, line spacing, and heading hierarchy automatically.

Citation management features support multiple citation styles, automatically formatting your references according to your chosen system.

Common Formatting Issues

• Inconsistent font sizes or styles
• Incorrect margins or insufficient binding space
• Improper spacing in block quotations
• Inconsistent citation formatting
• Missing or poorly formatted tables and figures
• Missing English abstracts
• Front matter elements out of proper order

Final Checklist

Before submitting your thesis, verify:

• All margins are correct (2.5cm standard or 3cm left for binding)
• Font is consistently 12pt and professional
• Line spacing is double throughout main text
• Page numbers appear correctly on all pages
• Abstracts appear in both languages
• Keywords are provided in both languages
• Citations follow your chosen style consistently
• All tables and figures are numbered and captioned
• Front matter is in correct order
• Your PDF displays properly on multiple devices

Adhering to Universidade de Campinas’s formatting standards ensures your thesis meets institutional requirements.