UCLA Thesis Formatting Guide

UCLA Thesis Formatting Requirements

The University of California, Los Angeles requires all master’s theses and doctoral dissertations to follow specific formatting standards. These guidelines ensure consistency and professionalism across all UCLA graduate programs and schools. Meeting these formatting requirements is essential for thesis approval and final submission to the Graduate Division.

UCLA’s Graduate Division provides detailed formatting specifications that all graduate students must adhere to. Understanding these requirements early in your writing process will help you maintain proper formatting throughout your research and writing phases.

Margin and Page Layout Standards

All pages of your UCLA thesis must have 1-inch margins on the left, right, top, and bottom. These margins should be consistent throughout your entire document, including all front matter, chapters, appendices, and bibliography. Proper margins ensure your thesis is readable and meets professional standards.

For theses that will be bound, the left margin may be increased to 1.5 inches to accommodate binding. Contact your department or graduate advisor to request this adjustment. Ensure that no text extends into the margins and that headers and footers remain within the margin boundaries.

Page breaks should occur at appropriate locations, typically at the beginning of each new chapter. Maintain consistent page layout and ensure your document flows logically from one section to the next.

Font and Typography Requirements

Your thesis body text must be in 12-point font using a standard serif typeface. Times New Roman is the most commonly used font, though Georgia, Garamond, and similar serif fonts are acceptable. Text must be black and clearly legible throughout your document.

Chapter titles and major section headings can use larger fonts—typically 14, 16, or 18 points—to distinguish them from body text and improve document readability. Maintain consistent formatting for all headings of the same level throughout your thesis.

Italics and bold formatting can be used for emphasis or to highlight specific elements such as foreign terms, publication titles, or key concepts. However, avoid excessive use of special formatting that may distract from your content or reduce overall readability.

Line Spacing and Paragraph Formatting

Double-spacing is required for all body text in your UCLA thesis. This includes all chapters, introductions, conclusions, and most textual elements. Double-spacing provides clarity and professional appearance.

Block quotations (typically longer than three or four lines) should be indented 0.5 inches from the left margin and may be single-spaced. Quotations must be properly introduced, set apart from regular text, and followed by complete citations.

Paragraph indentation should be consistent throughout your document. A standard 0.5-inch indent for the first line of each paragraph is typical. Maintain consistent spacing between paragraphs, avoiding excessive gaps that could disrupt the flow of your work.

Title Page and Preliminary Pages

Your thesis must begin with a properly formatted title page. The title should be centered and in title case or all capitals according to your department’s style. Include your name, the degree you’re pursuing, your department or school, and the date of submission, all centered on the page.

Following the title page, include an abstract that provides a concise summary of your research in approximately 150 words or less. The abstract should be double-spaced and followed by a list of key terms or keywords if your field typically includes them.

Your table of contents should list all chapters, major sections, and their corresponding page numbers. If your thesis includes numerous figures or tables, provide a list of figures and a list of tables following the table of contents.

Citation and Bibliography Formatting

UCLA does not mandate a specific citation style. Most departments adopt one of the three major formats: APA, Chicago, or MLA. Determine which citation style is preferred for your field and use it consistently throughout your entire thesis.

All citations must include complete publication information. Your bibliography or reference list should appear at the end of your thesis and include all sources cited in your work. Every source cited in the text must appear in the bibliography, and every source in the bibliography should be cited in the text.

Footnotes or endnotes should be numbered consecutively throughout your document or by chapter. Ensure that all notes are properly formatted and include complete citation information according to your chosen citation style.

Chapter Organization and Headings

Organize your thesis into clearly labeled chapters with consistent formatting throughout. Use a logical heading hierarchy where chapter titles are the largest and most prominent, followed by section headings and subsection headings in progressively smaller fonts.

Each chapter should begin on a new page with a clearly formatted chapter title. Number your chapters consecutively (Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc.) unless your specific program requires a different numbering system.

Within each chapter, organize content into logical sections with descriptive headings. This internal structure helps readers understand your argument, follow your logic, and locate specific topics within your thesis.

Page Numbering Standards

Page numbers must appear on every page of your thesis, with the exception of the title page. The standard placement is in the bottom right corner or bottom center of the page. Ensure consistent placement throughout your document.

Front matter pages—including the abstract, table of contents, and lists of figures or tables—use lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv). The first page of your introduction or first chapter begins with Arabic numeral 1 and continues sequentially through your final appendix.

Some departments may have specific preferences regarding page numbering format. Confirm the exact pagination style required by your program before finalizing your thesis.

Tables, Figures, and Appendices

All tables and figures must be numbered consecutively throughout your thesis. Each table should have a descriptive caption placed above it, and each figure should have a caption placed below it. Captions should clearly describe the content of the visual element.

All tables and figures should be referenced in the text before they appear in your document. Ensure that visual elements are properly integrated into your narrative and serve to support your arguments and findings.

Appendices should follow your bibliography and be clearly labeled (Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.). Each appendix should begin on a new page and should be listed in your table of contents with corresponding page numbers.

Using GenText for Consistent Formatting

GenText significantly simplifies the thesis formatting process by automatically applying UCLA’s specific requirements to your entire document. The platform manages margins, spacing, fonts, and page numbering while you focus on writing high-quality research.

With GenText, you can generate your table of contents automatically, ensure consistent heading styles throughout your thesis, and maintain proper page numbering. The platform also assists with creating properly formatted citations and bibliographies according to your chosen citation style.

GenText eliminates the stress of manual formatting, allowing you to concentrate on the research and writing that truly matters.

Final Submission Checklist

Before submitting your thesis to UCLA’s Graduate Division, verify:

• All margins are exactly 1 inch on all sides
• Body text is double-spaced in 12-point serif font
• Page numbers are consistently placed and sequential
• Title page and preliminary pages are properly formatted
• All chapters begin on new pages with consistent heading styles
• Citations are complete, accurate, and consistently formatted
• Bibliography includes all sources cited in the thesis
• Tables and figures are numbered, captioned, and properly integrated
• Appendices (if included) are properly labeled and organized

Conclusion

UCLA’s thesis formatting standards ensure that all submitted work meets the university’s academic excellence requirements. By understanding these guidelines and utilizing formatting assistance tools like GenText, you can confidently submit a professionally formatted thesis that showcases your research quality. Always consult your department for any program-specific variations or additional requirements.