University of Melbourne Thesis Format Guide

The University of Melbourne maintains comprehensive formatting standards for all graduate research theses and dissertations. This guide provides detailed information on Melbourne’s formatting requirements across all faculties.

Page Setup and Margins

Melbourne’s margin specifications ensure proper binding and archival preservation while maintaining readability.

Left Margin: 40mm (approximately 1.57 inches) - Required for binding purposes.

Right Margin: 20mm (approximately 0.79 inches) - Provides adequate white space.

Top Margin: 20mm (approximately 0.79 inches) - Applied consistently across all pages.

Bottom Margin: 20mm (approximately 0.79 inches) - Maintains spacing for page numbers.

Paper Size: A4 (210mm x 297mm) is the standard.

Page Orientation: Portrait (vertical) orientation is standard. Landscape pages may be used for oversized content.

Setting Margins in Word: Page Layout > Margins > Custom Margins (left: 40mm, right: 20mm, top: 20mm, bottom: 20mm).

Font Requirements

Melbourne maintains specific font and spacing requirements to ensure consistency and readability.

Body Text Font: Times New Roman in 12-point size is recommended. Arial and other serif fonts are acceptable.

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

Footnotes and Endnotes: May be single-spaced (1.5) in 10-point font.

Font Consistency: Use the same font throughout body text. Avoid font mixing.

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 is the formal introduction to your thesis and must follow Melbourne’s specifications.

Required Elements:

• Thesis title
• Author name
• University of Melbourne
• Degree (e.g., Doctor of Philosophy)
• Faculty/School
• Date of submission

Layout: Center all elements. Place title prominently in the middle, author name below, and submission information at the bottom. Maintain balanced white space.

Page Numbering: The title page is not numbered, though it counts as page i.

Line Spacing: Single-spacing for the title page.

No Headers or Footers: Omit headers and footers from the title page.

Abstract Requirements

The abstract is a concise summary of your research and must meet Melbourne specifications.

Length: 300-500 words for most Melbourne theses. Check your school for specific word limits.

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

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

Table of Contents

Your table of contents provides readers with an overview of your thesis structure.

Format: Include all chapter titles and major section headings with corresponding page numbers. Subsections may be included.

Page Numbers: Use lowercase Roman numerals for front matter pages and Arabic numerals for body pages in the table of contents.

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

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

Automatic Generation: Use Word’s References > Table of Contents to automatically generate your table of contents.

Heading Styles and Hierarchy

Clear, consistent heading hierarchy helps readers navigate your thesis.

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 and apply consistent styles for each heading level.

Page Numbering

Proper page numbering follows Melbourne conventions throughout your thesis.

Front Matter: Use lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv) for all preliminary pages. The title page is not numbered but counts as page i.

Body Text: Begin Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) with your introduction or first chapter. Continue through conclusion and bibliography.

Appendices: Continue Arabic numerals through all appendices.

Page Number Location: Place page numbers in the upper right corner or center them at the bottom. Be consistent.

Implementation: Use Insert > Page Numbers. Insert Section Breaks to change numbering between sections.

Citation Style Requirements

Melbourne permits different citation styles depending on your discipline.

Engineering: IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) style is standard.

Sciences: APA or Harvard referencing is common.

Humanities: Chicago Manual of Style (footnotes/endnotes) is typical.

Social Sciences: Harvard or APA are both acceptable.

Department Verification: Always check with your school and supervisor for specific citation requirements.

Using GenText: GenText’s citation generator supports IEEE, APA, Chicago, Harvard, and other major formats.

Figure and Table Formatting

All figures and tables must be professionally formatted and integrated into your text.

Table Titles: Place above tables in 12-point font. Number sequentially or by chapter.

Figure Captions: Place below figures in 12-point font. Number sequentially or by chapter.

Source Citations: Include sources for all data presented.

Sizing: Tables and figures must fit within margins. Oversized content may be placed on landscape pages.

Integration: Embed tables and figures in your text near where referenced.

Lists: Include lists of figures/tables in your front matter if you have more than 5.

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 citation style precisely.

Completeness: Include all sources cited. Include only sources actually referenced.

Title: Center “BIBLIOGRAPHY” or “REFERENCES” at the top in capitals.

Formatting: Use hanging indentation. Double-space throughout.

Appendices

Appendices contain supplementary material supporting your thesis.

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

Page Numbering: Continue Arabic numerals from main text.

Table of Contents: Include in your table of contents.

Content: Include supplementary materials like raw data, calculations, or questionnaires.

Formatting: Apply same formatting as main text.

Electronic Submission Requirements

Melbourne requires electronic submission through the research portal.

File Format: Submit as PDF with embedded fonts.

Accessibility: Ensure PDFs are accessible with proper heading hierarchy.

File Naming: Follow Melbourne conventions, typically: LastName_FirstName_PhD_2026.pdf

Metadata: Include thesis title, author, degree, and year.

Submission Deadline: Check the Graduate School website for term-specific deadlines.

Embargo Option: Request embargo periods if necessary to protect unpublished research.

Tips for Formatting in Microsoft Word

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

Create Custom Styles: Define styles for body text and all heading levels before writing.

Use Section Breaks: Insert Section Breaks to separate front matter from body text.

Configure Headers and Footers: Set different headers/footers for different sections.

Insert Page Breaks: Use Ctrl+Enter to start new chapters on new pages.

Manage Footnotes: Use References > Footnotes for consistent note insertion.

Generate Table of Contents: Use References > Table of Contents to automatically generate.

Verify Margins: Check all margins via Page Layout > Margins > Custom Margins before finalizing.

Related Resources and Tools

GenText provides resources for thesis formatting and citation management.

GenText Citation Generator: Supports IEEE, APA, Chicago, Harvard, and other major formats.

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

Conclusion

Proper thesis formatting at Melbourne demonstrates professionalism and attention to academic standards. Use Word’s built-in tools effectively, create custom styles early, and reference this guide throughout your thesis.

For the most current information on Melbourne thesis requirements, consult the University of Melbourne Graduate School website. School-specific requirements may vary, so always verify with your supervisor.

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