TopDissertations
What Is a Dissertation and How Does Formatting Differ?
Getting your dissertation formatted correctly can make the difference between a smooth approval and months of frustrating revisions. Whether you’re working with APA 7th Edition, MLA 9th Edition, or Chicago style, understanding the specific requirements of each system is essential.
This guide breaks down the core formatting rules for each major citation style, provides concrete examples for dissertation-specific pages, and highlights the differences you need to watch for. If your university doesn’t specify a style, this guide will help you choose the right one for your discipline.
A dissertation is the final research project completed by doctoral candidates, while a thesis is typically completed at the master’s level. Regardless of terminology, the formatting process follows the same core principles: consistency, clarity, and discipline-appropriate style.
The style you choose depends heavily on your academic field:
- APA — Education, psychology, nursing, social sciences
- MLA — Literature, philosophy, humanities, cultural studies
- Chicago — History, business, fine arts, some science disciplines
Your department or graduate school usually dictates the required style, so always check your institutional guidelines first. Our dissertation editing service can help ensure your document meets every formatting requirement.
General Formatting Rules (All Styles)
Before diving into discipline-specific rules, every dissertation style shares several baseline requirements:
Page Setup
- Paper size: 8.5 × 11 inches (US Letter)
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides (top, bottom, left, right). Some universities require a 1.5-inch left margin to accommodate binding.
- Font: Standard serif or sans-serif font, 12-point (Times New Roman is the universal default; APA 7 also accepts Arial 11, Calibri 11, and Lucida Sans 10)
Page Numbering
All styles require Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, …) in the top-right corner. Roman numerals (i, ii, iii) are typically used for preliminary pages.
Spacing
Most styles require double-spacing throughout the entire document. Some exceptions exist for tables, figures, and block quotes.
File Order
A standard dissertation follows this sequence:
- Title Page
- Abstract (APA and some Chicago formats)
- Acknowledgments (optional)
- Table of Contents
- List of Tables / List of Figures (if applicable)
- Main Text
- References / Bibliography
- Appendices
Each element should start on a new page.
APA Style (7th Edition) Formatting Examples
APA 7th Edition dominates the social sciences and is the most commonly required style for dissertations. The 2020 update made several important changes from APA 6.
In-Text Citations
APA uses an author-date system:
(Smith, 2024, p. 15)
When paraphrasing:
Smith (2024) argued that cognitive development accelerates during adolescence.
Key changes in APA 7: The edition number is no longer included in parenthetical citations. You cite “Smith” instead of “Smith et al.” for works with up to 20 authors (previously, you listed the first 10 plus et al. starting with the 6th author).
Source: American Psychological Association – Paper Format
Title Page
APA 7 distinguishes between professional and student title pages. For dissertations, the student title page is typically used:
- Title centered, bold, uppercase and lowercase, in the upper half of the page
- Author’s name on the next line
- Institutional affiliation (your university)
- Course number and name (for student papers), or the department and degree information (for dissertations)
- Submission date
Dissertation title page example:
The Effects of Digital Learning on Cognitive Development
Jane A. Smith
Department of Psychology, University of Berlin
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
June 2024
Important: University graduate schools often override APA rules for the title page. Always confirm with your department.
Abstract
- Start on a new page
- Center and bold the word Abstract
- Single paragraph, 150–250 words, double-spaced, no first-line indent
- No keywords required (APA 7 removed the mandatory keyword list)
Headings (Five Levels)
Dissertations benefit from structured headings to navigate lengthy content:
| Level | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Centered, bold, title case | Introduction |
| Level 2 | Flush left, bold, title case | Methodology |
| Level 3 | Flush left, bold, italic, title case | Literature Review |
| Level 4 | Indented, bold, title case, period at end | Study Design. |
| Level 5 | Indented, bold, italic, title case, period at end | Participant demographics. |
Source: Purdue OWL – APA Formatting
Reference List
References begin on a new page with a centered, bold heading: References.
In-text citation format: (Author, Year)
Reference list format: Hanging indent (0.5 inches), alphabetical by author’s last name
Dissertation reference example:
Smith, J. A. (2024). The effects of digital learning on cognitive development [Doctoral dissertation, University of Berlin]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.
Journal article example:
Johnson, R. B., & Lee, S. K. (2024). Digital interventions in higher education: A meta-analysis. Journal of Educational Psychology, 15(3), 245–267. https://doi.org/10.1234/jep.2024.015
Tables and Figures
- Number tables sequentially (Table 1, Table 2, …)
- Place the title above the table, italicized
- Place the figure caption below the image
- If tables/figures are very numerous, place them in the main text or all together after references
MLA Style (9th Edition) Formatting Examples
MLA 9th Edition is the standard for humanities dissertations. Unlike APA’s structured hierarchy, MLA emphasizes flowing narrative with parenthetical citations.
Page Setup
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- Font: Any legible font (Times New Roman 12, Arial 11, etc.)
- Spacing: Double-spaced everywhere, including Works Cited
- Line spacing: No extra spaces between paragraphs
Page Header and Running Head
MLA uses a header on every page, not a running head. Format:
- Top-right corner: your last name, followed by a space and the page number
- Top-left corner (first page only): your name, instructor, course, date
First page header example:
Jane A. Smith
Professor Johnson
English Literature
5 June 2024
Title
In MLA, the dissertation title is centered, lowercase (except proper nouns), italicized on the first line of the body text. There is no separate title page.
In-Text Citations (Author-Page System)
MLA uses author-page citations rather than author-date:
(Smith 15)
When citing multiple pages:
(Smith 15-17)
No comma between author and page number, and no “p.” or “pp.” prefix.
Works Cited Page
The Works Cited page starts on a new page, centered and bold: Works Cited. Entries use a hanging indent (0.5 inches) and alphabetical order.
Dissertation citation example:
Smith, John A. The Effects of Digital Learning on Cognitive Development. 2024. University of Berlin, PhD dissertation. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.
Journal article example:
Johnson, Rebecca B., and Sarah K. Lee. "Digital Interventions in Higher Education: A Meta-Analysis." Journal of Educational Psychology, vol. 15, no. 3, 2024, pp. 245-267.
Key difference from APA: MLA does not use DOIs unless the source is only available online. MLA prefers URL only when a DOI is unavailable.
Chicago Style (17th Edition) Formatting Examples
Chicago style is flexible enough to use either a notes-bibliography system (preferred in humanities and history) or an author-date system (used in sciences and social sciences). For dissertations, notes-bibliography is most common.
Footnotes vs. Endnotes
Chicago uses footnotes at the bottom of each page (preferred) or endnotes at the end of the document. Chicago is the only major style that employs this footnote system rather than parenthetical citations.
First footnote format:
1. John A. Smith, "The Effects of Digital Learning on Cognitive Development" (PhD diss., University of Berlin, 2024), 15.
Subsequent footnote:
2. Smith, "Effects of Digital Learning," 20.
Bibliography entry:
Smith, John A. "The Effects of Digital Learning on Cognitive Development." PhD diss., University of Berlin, 2024.
Page Formatting
Chicago formatting is similar to MLA but with key differences:
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides (except a 1.5-inch left margin for binding)
- Margins: 1 inch top and bottom, 1.25 inches right (to accommodate footnotes)
- Paper size: 8.5 × 11 inches
- Font: Times New Roman 12 or similar serif font
Title Page
Chicago requires a proper title page with:
- Title centered, three lines from the top
- Author’s name below the title
- Institutional affiliation
- Degree information
- Department name
- Date
Order of Preliminary Pages
Chicago style typically follows this order:
- Title Page
- Copyright Page (if applicable)
- Abstract
- Acknowledgments
- Table of Contents
- List of Tables / List of Figures
- Preface or Introduction
- Main Text
- Notes (if endnotes)
- Bibliography
- Index (if applicable)
- Appendices
Quick Comparison: APA vs. MLA vs. Chicago
Use this table to understand the primary structural differences between the three most common dissertation formatting styles:
| Element | APA 7 | MLA 9 | Chicago 17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citation System | Author-Date | Author-Page | Notes-Bibliography |
| In-Text Format | (Smith, 2024, p. 15) | (Smith 15) | Footnote¹ |
| Reference List | References | Works Cited | Bibliography |
| Title Page | Required (student/pro) | Not required | Required |
| Abstract | Required (150-250 words) | Optional | Optional |
| Heading Levels | Five distinct levels | Minimal (Level 1 only) | Two to three levels |
| Page Numbers | Top right | Top right (after last name) | Top right |
| Font | Times New Roman 12, Arial 11, Calibri 11 | Any legible font | Times New Roman 12, 10-point Computer Modern |
| Best For | Social sciences, education | Humanities, literature | History, business, arts |
Source: University of Pittsburgh – Citation Styles
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced graduate students make formatting errors. Here are the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them:
Mistake 1: Mixing Citation Styles Mid-Dissertation
Some students use APA for the literature review and switch to MLA for the results section. Pick one style and stick to it throughout. Inconsistent citation formats undermine credibility.
Mistake 2: Ignoring University-Specific Guidelines
Many graduate schools override style manual rules. For example, some universities require a specific title page format regardless of whether you use APA, MLA, or Chicago. Always check your department’s formatting PDF first.
Mistake 3: Incorrect Hanging Indent on References
APA and MLA both use hanging indents (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches). Many students create this manually with spaces instead of the “Hanging Indent” feature in Word or Google Docs.
Mistake 4: Forgetting the Title Page in MLA
MLA doesn’t require a separate title page, which catches many students off guard. Your dissertation’s first page should contain the header and the title inline at the start of the text body.
Mistake 5: Incorrect Page Ordering
The sequence of preliminary pages differs by style. Using an APA sequence for a Chicago-style dissertation will confuse reviewers and may trigger unnecessary revisions.
When to Use Each Style (Decision Guide)
Choosing the right style isn’t always about preference—it’s about discipline conventions. Use this framework to decide:
| If your dissertation is in… | Use… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, education, nursing | APA | Social sciences value publication dates for methodological currency |
| English literature, philosophy, cultural studies | MLA | Humanities prioritize authorship and textual location over date |
| History, business, arts | Chicago | Historical and archival research benefits from footnote flexibility |
| Sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) | APA or Chicago | Many science departments prefer APA; some use Chicago’s notes system |
| Law | Turabian or Bluebook | Law has its own dedicated style; Chicago/Turabian is the closest alternative |
Pro tip: When in doubt, ask your supervisor or department coordinator. They can give you a formatting checklist tailored to your specific requirements.
Tools to Simplify Formatting
You don’t need to memorize every formatting rule. Several tools can automate much of the heavy lifting:
- Word’s built-in citation manager — Works well for APA and MLA; insert citations directly while writing
- Zotero — Free reference manager that supports APA, MLA, Chicago, and 12,000+ other styles
- EndNote — Powerful citation tool often provided by university libraries
- Mendeley — Free reference manager with PDF organization features
- Grammarly — Detects formatting inconsistencies in citations and headings
Need professional formatting help? Our formatting service ensures your dissertation meets every requirement without the stress of manual formatting.
Final Checklist
Before submitting, run through this checklist to catch common errors:
- [ ] Margins set to 1 inch (or 1.5 inches left, if required)
- [ ] Font is consistent throughout (12-point Times New Roman minimum)
- [ ] Every page has a page number in the correct location
- [ ] All headings follow the style’s exact heading levels
- [ ] All in-text citations match the reference list/Works Cited/Bibliography
- [ ] References/Bibliography are alphabetized and use hanging indents
- [ ] Title page meets departmental requirements (if applicable)
- [ ] Table and figure titles/captions follow style rules
- [ ] No style manual rules conflict with university guidelines
- [ ] Appendices are labeled and referenced in the main text
Summary
Dissertation formatting is not just about appearances—it’s about adhering to the conventions of your academic discipline. Whether your university requires APA, MLA, or Chicago style, the key principles remain consistent: consistency, clarity, and discipline-appropriate presentation.
The good news is that mastering these rules takes the formality out of the submission process. With the right tools, a clear checklist, and discipline-specific examples, you can focus on what matters most: your research.
Ready to submit with confidence? Order your dissertation formatting service or explore our dissertation writing services for complete support from research to publication.
