thesis formatting sfu

• Library Catalogue

Research Commons: Writing & theses: Help with writing, thesis formatting, and submission

The Research Commons provides writing and publishing support, including help with academic writing, thesis formatting support, and scholarly publishing, to SFU graduate researchers across all disciplines.

 Writing services and resources

The Research Commons provides writing support services and resources for graduate researchers, including access guides, handbooks, Read-Ahead, writing consultations, writing groups, and Thesis Writing Retreat .

 Thesis formatting and submission 

The Research Commons offers thesis support services for SFU students including formatting your thesis, thesis submission procedures, thesis template troubleshooting, and reviewing your thesis before final submission.

 Scholarly Publishing

Scholarly Publishing at SFU supports faculty and student researchers in publishing their research, promoting their work online and through the media, and measuring the impact and visibility of their scholarship.

 Citation management software and tools

Use  citation management tools for quick and accurate referencing.

• Faculty + Staff

Graduate Studies

• Graduate Students
• Dean's Welcome
• Graduate Supervision
• Graduate Leadership
• Graduate Service
• Why Grad Studies at SFU?
• Programs Alphabetically
• Faculty of Applied Science
• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
• Beedie School of Business
• Faculty of Communication, Art + Technology
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Environment
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Science
• Individualized Interdisciplinary Studies
• Accelerated Master's
• Apply Online
• Admission Requirements
• Decisions + Conditions
• Tuition Types
• Budget Calculator
• Western Deans and CAGS Mobility Agreements
• Graduate Visiting Research Student
• Non-degree Student
• Donor Stories
• TRI-Agency & Government Awards
• External + Additional Awards
• Thesis Dissertation Awards + Convocation Medals
• Roles + Responsibilities
• Payments + Policies
• Award Application Tips
• Undergraduate Student Research Awards
• Getting Started
• Student Status
• Graduate Student Handbook
• Dates + Deadlines
• Supervision
• Grading + Academic Progress
• Apply for WE
• Returning to Studies
• Oral Examination
• Community Guide
• Indigenous Graduate Students
• Succeed in English
• Professional Development Wayfinder
• Your Career Compass
• Employment Type
• Job Posting Form
• Submit Your Profile
• Submission Form
• 3 Minute Thesis
• President's Dream Colloquium
• Submit Your Event/Activity
• goGRAD/SLATE for Reviewers
• Current Students
• Awards + Funding
• Research + Events
• Supervisor's Corner

Once completed, please submit the form to the next level of approval (i.e. your senior supervisor or academic unit). More forms for SFU staff and faculty can be found on the Faculty + Staff pages .

Please Note:  Only handwritten and official digital signatures will be accepted. Type written fonts made to look like handwriting are not legally binding and will not be accepted. Information on how to create a signature and sign documents in Adobe can be found  here .

Registration/Change of Registration

Registering in a course as an audit or in a course outside your program. Or if the deadline for adding or dropping a course has passed.

Request for WDA Course Registration

To take a course integral to your graduate program at a university that is part of the Western Dean's Agreement.

Request for CAGS Course Registration

To take a course integral to your graduate program at a Canadian university outside the Western Dean's Agreement.

Application for a WE

Application to withdraw from a course due to extenuating circumstances.

Request for Leave of Absence

Request for a leave of absence from your program for up to three terms. International students should consult International services for students prior to requesting a leave.

Request for Extension to Completion Time Limit

Requests for extensions must be supported by your program. Master's student time limit is 9 terms, Doctoral student's time limit is 18.

Request for Reactivation

If you forgot to enroll or go on leave for the current term.

Request for Advance Credit

Request to transfer of credits into your current program.

Request for Program Transfer

Request to transfer between graduate programs at SFU.

Voluntary Program Withdrawal

To withdraw voluntarily from the University.

(This form should also be used by students who have accepted an offer of admission, but subsequently choose to withdraw prior to commencement of studies). 

Appeal of an Unsatisfactory Evaluation

If you received Unsatisfactory in your progress evaluation you may appeal in certain circumstances.

Approval of Supervisory Committee

Approval of the creation of a supervisory committee

Request to Change Supervisory Committee

Request to change members on your supervisory committee

Request to Postpone Thesis Publication

Request to postpone your thesis or project publication in the University repository.

Request to Extend Postponement of Thesis Publication

Subsequent request to extend a postponement of thesis publication

Update Legal Name Change

External: To change your legal name on record

Parchment Replacement

External: To order a replacement parchment once one has already been awarded.

Consent to Disclose Personal Information

External: To authorize release of your information or documents to another person/business.

Self Service Requests

Confirmation of enrollment letter.

External: Instructions for how to generate an official letter outlining your registration for one or more terms.

Ensure you read the FAQ on the linked page for answers to many common Confirmation of Enrollment questions

Important note

• If you are on a  time extension  for your program, you must request a custom Confirmation of Enrollment letter by  sending an email via our ticket system . 

Credential Completion Letter

External: Instructions for how to generate an official letter confirming the successful completion of all academic requirements for your program.

Request for Student Account Refund

External: To have the balance in your student account refunded to your bank.

Order a Transcript

External: Instructions for how to order a complete official record of your academic history at Simon Fraser University up to the day the transcript is produced.

Official/Unofficial Transcripts

• Official transcripts are printed on official paper by Graduate Studies, sealed and sent to you or to the recipient you specify. A standard official transcript costs $15 (if you're ordering a paper transcript, PST will be added to the cost); additional rush or shipping charges may apply depending on the options you select.
• Unofficial transcripts can be generated by you at any time via your student account, and do not have an associated cost. See below on how to generate your Unofficial Transcript

Ordering Official Trancript(s)

Most information regarding ordering official transcripts can be found on the Student Services website .

Please note the following important transcript order information

• For example, if you are ordering your transcript at the completion of your credential, run an unofficial copy to ensure that completion has been officially added to your transcript.
• If you require a document to be included with your transcript (such as a government form), please indicate this on your order. Attachments must be submitted at the time of request and should be sent to [email protected] .
• All transcript orders are non-refundable.
• Unclaimed transcripts ordered for pickup will be destroyed 4 months after they are issued. (Note: pickup option currently not available due to Covid-19).
• Non-receipt of a transcript due to an incomplete or incorrect address will require a new order and payment.
• Simon Fraser University is not responsible for the loss or delay of transcripts in the mail.

Official transcript orders will not be processed:

• For a student or alumnus with outstanding indebtedness to the University. Please contact Student Accounts or email [email protected] about paying late overdue fees.
• Until payment is received in full.
• Student Responsibilities

First visit? Register for an account .

Returning? Log in below.

Having trouble logging in? Reset your password .

Looking for more information? View the announcements .

Announcements

Welcome to the Research Commons Thesis Formatting & Submission appointment booking system.

Effective immediately, we have moved to a new booking system platform: https://sfu.libcal.com/appointments/research

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Reset Your Password

Having trouble logging in? Enter your email address below and then select "Reset Password."

Terms and Conditions The information on this website is collected under the authority of the University Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c.468, s. 27(4)(a)). It is related directly to and needed by the University for services provided by the Research Commons. The information will be used to maintain a record of consultation with Research Commons staff. If you have any questions about the collection and use of this information please contact Gwen Bird, University Librarian & Dean of Libraries, at 778.782.3265.

››  Simon Fraser University

Simon Fraser University Engaging the World

School of engineering science.

• A-Z directory

Thesis and Defence

Keep in mind to submit any forms in the correct signature convention . 

On this Page

• Exam Committee

Defence Process

• Thesis Publication Postponement
• Archived Thesis at SFU Library

Composition of   Exam Committee

Exam Committee is not equivalent to Supervisory Committee .

According to General Graduate Regulation  1.2 , supervisory committee helps the student define and develop a program of studies and reports on the student’s progress to the graduate program committee. The supervisory committee forms  part of  the student’s final examination committee.

The examining committee is to ensure that the student receives a fair and rigorous examination and that the University's policies and requirements are met. 

Please ensure you have updated your supervisory committee by  submitting the paperwork  before requesting for defence. Any inconsistency of the exam committee with the supervisory committee WILL CAUSE DELAY in processing the defence request.

Click to expand section.

Masters defence exam committee.

According to General Graduate Regulation 1.9.1 , The masters examining committee for examinations shall have the following minimum composition :

• A non-voting chair who is a faculty member at SFU, while is not a member of the student’s supervisory committee.
• All members of the student’s supervisory committee.
• An examiner who is a member of faculty, or a person suitably qualified, who is not a member of the student's supervisory committee. 

PhD Defence Exam Committee

According to General Graduate Regulation  1.9.3 , the PhD examining committee for examinations shall have the following  minimum composition :

• A  non-voting chair  who is a faculty member at SFU, while is not a member of the student’s supervisory committee.
• All members  of the student’s supervisory committee.
• An external examiner who shall be specifically qualified in the field of the thesis and not be a faculty member at SFU.

The minimum composition for the supervisory committee consists  the supervisor (or co-supervisors)  and  at least one committee member  chosen in consultation with the student. The committee member must be internal to Simon Fraser University serving as a faculty member, adjunct professor or research associate. A suitably qualified individual who is not in those positions (eg. professors external to SFU) may be eligible to serve as an additional committee member (i.e. you must have an internal committee member to include an external committee member) . 

Scheduling defence is a rigorous process with lots of deadlines. Please allow at least 3 business days of turnaround time for the graduate program committee chair's signature for any forms. Therefore, we encourage you to include the turnaround time into the deadlines mentioned in this section, or submit any finalized paperwork and forms as soon as they are ready. 

SUBMIT PAPERWORK

If you wish to defend, discuss with your supervisor and the following documents should be  submitted by your supervisor on behalf of you. 

• Form for Masters Defence 
• Form for PhD Defence
• Finalized Version of Student's Thesis for PhD, or Thesis Abstract for MASc
• A full, comprehensive external examiner CV if the examiner is not from SFU; or
• A bio for non-faculty committee members being added
• All research plans involving human or animal subjects must receive ethics approval. Read more on GS' website .
• A project will be scheduled for Research Ethics Board (REB) review only when the Office of Research Ethics (ORE) determines that the information and materials submitted are sufficient to enable the REB to make an informed review of the ethical acceptability of the research.
• The letter should expire after proposed defence date, or else the request will not be approved. 

For MASc students, completed paperwork must be provided to the Graduate Program Assistant  a minimum of 4 weeks  prior to your defence. 

For PhD students, completed paperwork and your thesis must be provided to the Graduate Program Assistant  a minimum of 6 weeks  prior to your defence.

*The deadline for PhD defence is a HARD DEADLINE ; we will need to allow as much time as possible for the external examiner to review the thesis since their participation is voluntary. 

There is no guarantee your request will be approved if the request is submitted less than 4 - 6 weeks prior to your proposed defence date. We encourage you to submit the paperwork early for admirative processing. For more information, please visit GS’s website:  Masters Defence    PhD Defence .

Do not forget to  apply for graduation . The deadline to apply for graduation can be found on  GS's website .

AFTER SUBMITTING THE PAPERWORK

The request will follow the process below:

• Graduate Studies (GS) will the review and approve the request and confirm the thesis is ready to be defended.
• The Graduate Program Assistant will proceed with room booking if the defence is held in-person.
• For PhD defences, GS will distribute the thesis to the exam committee. 
• For MASc defence, the supervisor should distribute the thesis. 
• Graduate Program Assistant will send reminder to exam committee and advertise the defence to the School one week prior to the defence. 

POST DEFENCE

• You will revise your thesis and get approval from your supervisor about the revision completion.
• Your supervisor will sign the  Results, Approval & Degree Recommendation (RAD)  from and return the form to the Graduate Program Assistant for the Graduate program Committee chair's signature. The assistant will send a copy of the signed form to you afterwards.
• You will submit the finalized version of your thesis to the library's  Thesis Registration System by   deadline , along with the RAD form. For the Fall term, the deadline is the last working day before the holiday closure (usually December 23 or 24) at 12 noon (PST). 

PREPARING THE RAD

• The RAD form will be prepared and send to the exam committee chair by the Graduate Program Assistant prior to the defence.
• The student completed the defence. The exam committee shall provide comments to the student thesis and vote for the result.
• The  exam committee chair shall collect the signatures of all exam committee members  during the defence on the RAD form "examination result" section, then  return the signed form to student's supervisor . 
• The  supervisor  shall sign under "approval & degree recommendation" section and send the RAD to Graduate Program Assistant at  [email protected] .
• The Graduate Program Assistant will return the RAD form signed by the graduate program committee chair to the supervisor and the student.
• The student makes the subsequent changes to the thesis with the exam committee's comments and submit the finalized thesis.

As per the Library and Graduate Studies' update, the graduate program committee chair's signature is NOW REQUIRED upon students' thesis submission. 

For assistance with defence procedures, please email the Graduate Program Assistant at  [email protected] .

Thesis publication postponement 

A  postponement  will delay the inclusion of a thesis in the institutional repository for a period of 12 months from the end of the term in which the thesis is submitted to the Library, in order to protect confidential commercial information, patentable material, pending application, or where immediate commercial publication in a restrictive venue is anticipated. 

A postponement request should be made in writing at least 30 days  prior  to submission of the thesis to the Library.  The submission process and timeline remains the same, however, a copy of the thesis or project shall not be made available in the Library institutional repository during the restricted period.

In order to receive a postponement, please complete the  Thesis postponement of publication request form  and email it to  [email protected] . If approved, this form needs to be included in your submission to the library thesis registration system and “Postponement being requested” must be selected to “yes.” Please also email  [email protected]  with your approved postponement form attached so that the library can set the postponement.

Note: If these steps are not followed, your thesis will be published and accessible online.

In collaboration with the SFU Library and my fellow grad students, I’ve written a LaTeX template from which graduate students at Simon Fraser University can start writing their thesis or dissertation.

The project offers a LaTeX class file called sfuthesis that automatically sets your thesis according to the SFU Library’s style requirements. With its help, you can focus on writing up your research instead of fiddling with formatting.

Get started now by downloading a copy from the SFU Library website !

Simon Fraser University Engaging the World

Thesis registration system.

• SFU Connect + mySFU
• Student Information System

This website lists thesis submissions that have not yet been added to the SFU Library collection or institutional repository, Summit. If you wish to link to a thesis, use its url in Summit . To submit your thesis to the Library, please log in using your SFU Computing ID and password.

Ohio State nav bar

• The Ohio State University
• BuckeyeLink
• Find People
• Search Ohio State

Formatting Guidelines For Theses, Dissertations, and DMA Documents

Guidelines for Formatting Theses, Dissertations, and DMA Documents is intended to help graduate students present the results of their research in the form of a scholarly document.

Before beginning to write a master’s thesis, PhD dissertation, or DMA document, students should read the relevant sections of the  Graduate School Handbook, section 7.8  for dissertations and/ or  section 6.4  for master’s theses.

Candidates for advanced degrees should also confer with their advisors and members of their graduate studies committees to learn about any special departmental requirements for preparing graduate degree documents.

Members of the graduation services staff at the Graduate School are available to provide information and to review document drafts at any stage of the planning or writing process. While graduation services is responsible for certifying that theses and/or dissertations have been prepared in accordance with Graduate School guidelines, the student bears the ultimate responsibility for meeting these requirements and resolving any related technical and/or software issues . Graduation services will not accept documents if required items are missing or extend deadlines because of miscommunication between the student and the advisor.

Accessibility Features

As of Spring, 2023, all theses and dissertations will need to incorporate the following accessibility features to align with the university’s accessibility policy.  When you submit your final document to OhioLINK you will be verifying that accessibility features have been applied.

• PDF file includes full text
• PDF accessibility permission flag is checked
• Text language of the PDF is specified
• PDF includes a title

Features and Other Notes

Some features are required, and some are optional. Each component is identified with a major heading unless otherwise noted. The major heading must be centered with a one-inch top margin. 

Sample Pages and Templates

Templates are available for use in formatting dissertations, theses, and DMA documents. Please read all instructions before beginning. 

• Graduate Dissertations and Theses Templates - OSU Login Required

FRONTISPIECE (OPTIONAL)

If used, no heading is included on this page.

TITLE PAGE (REQUIRED)

The title page should include:

• the use of title case is recommended
• dissertation, DMA. document, or thesis
• Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree [insert the applicable degree such as Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Musical Arts, Master of Science, etc.] in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University
• Name of the candidate 
• Initials of previous earned degrees
• insert correct name from program directory
• Year of graduation
•  Dissertation, document, or thesis [select applicable title] committee and committee member names

COPYRIGHT PAGE (REQUIRED)

Notice of copyright is centered in the following format on the page immediately after the title page. This page is not identified with a page number.

Copyright by John James Doe 2017

ABSTRACT (REQUIRED)

The heading Abstract is centered without punctuation at least one inch from the top of the page. The actual abstract begins four spaces below the heading. See sample pages.

DEDICATION (OPTIONAL)

If used, the dedication must be brief and centered on the page.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

(OPTIONAL, BUT STRONGLY RECOMMENDED)

Either spelling of the word, acknowledgments or acknowledgments, is acceptable. The acknowledgment is a record of the author’s indebtedness and includes notice of permission to use previously copyrighted materials that appear extensively in the text. The heading Acknowledgments is centered without punctuation at least one inch from the top of the page.

VITA (REQUIRED)

Begin the page with the heading Vita, centered, without punctuation, and at least one inch from the top of the page. There are three sections to the vita: biographical information (required), publications (if applicable), and fields of study (required).

There is no subheading used for the biographical information section. In this section, include education and work related to the degree being received.

Use leader dots between the information and dates. The publication section follows. The subheading Publications should be centered and in title case. List only those items published in a book or journal. If there are none, omit the Publication subheading. The final section of the vita is Fields of Study, which is required. Center the subheading and use title case. Two lines below the Fields of Study subheading, place the following statement: Major Field: [insert only the name of your Graduate Program as it reads on the title page] flush left. Any specialization you would like to include is optional and is placed flush left on the lines below Major Field.

TABLE OF CONTENTS (REQUIRED)

The heading Table of Contents (title case preferred) appears without punctuation centered at least one inch from the top of the page. The listing of contents begins at the left margin four spaces below the heading. The titles of all parts, sections, chapter numbers, and chapters are listed and must

be worded exactly as they appear in the body of the document. The table of contents must include any appendices and their titles, if applicable. Use leader dots between the listed items and their page numbers.

LISTS OF ILLUSTRATIONS (REQUIRED IF APPLICABLE)

Lists of illustrations are required if the document contains illustrations. The headings List of Tables , List of Figures , or other appropriate illustration designations (title case preferred) appear centered without punctuation at least one inch from the top of the page. The listing begins at the left margin four spaces below the heading. Illustrations should be identified by the same numbers and captions in their respective lists as they have been assigned in the document itself. Use leader dots between the listed items and their page numbers. See sample pages .

BIBLIOGRAPHY/REFERENCES (REQUIRED)

Include a complete bibliography or reference section at the end of the document, before the appendix, even if you have included references at the end of each chapter. You may decide how this section should be titled. The terms References or Bibliography are the most commonly chosen titles. The heading must be centered and at least one inch from the top of the page.

Include this heading in the table of contents.

APPENDICES (REQUIRED IF APPLICABLE)

An appendix, or appendices, must be placed after the bibliography. The heading Appendix (title case preferred) centered at least one inch from the top of the page. Appendices are identified with letters and titles. For example: Appendix A: Data. Include all appendix headers and titles in the table of contents.

Other Notes

Candidates are free to select a style suitable to their discipline as long as it complies with the format and content guidelines given in this publication. Where a style manual conflicts with Graduate School guidelines, the Graduate School guidelines take precedence. Once chosen, the style must remain consistent throughout the document.

Top, bottom, left, and right page margins should all be set at one inch. (Keep in mind that the left margin is the binding edge, so if you want to have a bound copy produced for your personal use, it is recommended that the left margin be 1.5 inches.)

It is recommended that any pages with a major header, such as document title, chapter/major section titles, preliminary page divisions, abstract, appendices, and references at the end of the document be set with a 2-inch top margin for aesthetic purposes and to help the reader identify that a new major section is beginning.

The selected font should be 10 to 12 point and be readable. The font should be consistent throughout the document. Captions, endnotes, footnotes, and long quotations may be slightly smaller than text font, as long as the font is readable.

Double spacing is preferred, but 1.5 spacing (1.5 × the type size) is acceptable for long documents. Single spacing is recommended for bibliography entries, long quotations, long endnotes or footnotes, and long captions. Double spacing between each bibliography entry is recommended.

Each major division of the document, including appendices, must have a title. Titles must be centered and have at least a one inch top margin. The use of title case is recommended. If chapters are being used, they should be numbered and titled. For example: Chapter 1: Introduction. Appendices are identified with letters and titles. For example: Appendix A: Data.

PAGE NUMBERS

Every page must have a page number except the title page and the copyright page. If a frontispiece is included before the title page, it is neither counted nor numbered. The page numbers are centered at the bottom center of the page above the one inch margin. Note: You may need to set the footer margin to 1-inch and the body bottom margin to 1.3 or 1.5- inches to place the page number accurately.

Preliminary pages (abstract, dedication, acknowledgments, vita, table of contents, and the lists of illustrations, figures, etc.) are numbered with small Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, etc.). Page numbering begins with the first page of the abstract, and this can be either page i or ii (The title page is technically page i, but the number is not shown on the page).

Arabic numerals are used for the remainder of the document, including the text and the reference material. These pages are numbered consecutively beginning with 1 and continue through the end of the document.

Notation practices differ widely among publications in the sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences. Candidates should confer with their advisors regarding accepted practice in their individual disciplines. That advice should be coupled with careful reference to appropriate general style manuals.

• Arabic numerals should be used to indicate a note in the text. 
• Notes may be numbered in one of two ways: either consecutively throughout the entire manuscript or consecutively within each chapter.
• Notes can be placed at the bottom of the page (footnotes) or at the end of a chapter or document (endnotes). Once chosen, the notation style must be consistent throughout the document.
• Notes about information within tables should be placed directly below the table to which they apply, not at the bottom of the page along with notes to the text.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Tables, figures, charts, graphs, photos, etc..

Some documents include several types of illustrations. In such cases, it is necessary that each type of illustration (table, figure, chart, etc.) be identified with a different numbering series (Table 1, Table 2, and so on, or Chart 1, Chart 2, and so on). For each series, include a list with captions and page numbers in the preliminary pages (for example, List of Tables, List of Charts, etc.). These lists must be identified with major headings that are centered and placed at the two-inch margin.

Each illustration must be identified with a caption that includes the type of illustration, the number, and a descriptive title (for example, Map 1: Ohio). Numbering may be sequential throughout the document (including the appendix, if applicable) or based on the decimal system (corresponding to the chapter number, such as Map 2.3: Columbus). When using decimal numbering in an appendix, the illustration is given a letter that corresponds with the appendix letter (for example, Figure A.1: Voter Data). Captions can be placed either above or below the illustration, but be consistent with the format throughout the document. If a landscape orientation of the illustration is used, make sure to also orient the illustration number and caption accordingly. The top of the illustration should be placed on the left (binding) edge of the page.

If an illustration is too large to ft on one page it is recommended that you identify the respective pages as being part of one illustration. Using a “continued” notation is one method. For example, the phrase continued is placed under the illustration on the bottom right hand side of the first page. On the following pages, include the illustration type, number, and the word continued at the top left margin; for example, Map 2: Continued. Whatever method you choose just make sure to be consistent. The caption for the illustration should be on the first page, but this does not need repeated on subsequent pages.

If an illustration is placed on a page with text, between the text and the top and/or bottom of the illustration, there must be three single spaced lines or two double spaced lines of blank space. The same spacing rule applies if there are multiple illustrations on the same page. The top/bottom of the illustration includes the caption.

All final Ph.D. dissertations, DMA. documents, and master’s theses are submitted to the Graduate School through OhioLINK at https://etdadmin. ohiolink.edu. The document must be saved in PDF embedded font format (PDF/A) before beginning the upload at OhioLINK. During the submission process, OhioLINK will require an abstract separate from your document. This abstract has a 500-word limit. You will get a confirmation from OhioLINK that the submission is complete. The submission then goes to the Graduate School for review. After it is reviewed by staff of the Graduate School, you will receive an email that it has been accepted or that changes need to be made. If changes are required, you will need to re-submit the revised document via an amended OhioLINK submission. You will receive an “accepted” email from the Graduate School once the document has been approved.

THESIS OR DISSERTATION IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

The Graduate School has no policy specifically permitting graduate degree documents to be written in a foreign language. The practice is allowed as long as it is approved by the student’s advisor and Graduate Studies Committee. Documents in a foreign language must comply with the following requirements:

• The title page must be in English, but the title itself may be in the same language as the document.
• If the title is in a language using other than Roman characters, it must be transliterated into Roman character equivalents.
• The abstract must be in English.
• The academic unit must notify the Graduate School of dissertations in a foreign language so that an appropriate graduate faculty representative can be found to participate in the final oral examination

Dissertation and Theses

The dissertation is the hallmark of the research expertise demonstrated by a doctoral student. It is a scholarly contribution to knowledge in the student’s area of specialization. 

A thesis is a hallmark of some master’s programs. It is a piece of original research, generally less comprehensive than a dissertation and is meant to show the student’s knowledge of an area of specialization.

Still Have Questions?

Dissertations & Theses 614-292-6031 [email protected]

Doctoral Exams, Master's Examination, Graduation Requirements 614-292-6031 [email protected]

• Search SF State Search SF State Button SF State This Site

Thesis Dissertation Guidelines

Steps to Graduation

Graduate Studies Deadlines

Continuous enrollment policy, graduate writing support, academic probation, ▷ thesis / dissertation guidelines, apply to graduate, pay graduate fees online, graduate program specialists, frequently asked questions.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Students are required to use Microsoft Word unless otherwise approved by the academic department.

All students enrolled full-time or part-time in a degree granting program at SF State (i.e., matriculated students) are eligible for a  free copy of Microsoft Office 365 Education for Students .

FORMATTING & SUBMISSION Q&A

Watch the recorded session of a Q&A offered by the Division of Graduate Studies:

• Instructional Video/Slides

Formatting Guides and Checklist

• Microsoft Word accessibility  /  Adobe Accessibility
• Thesis Dissertation, Written Creative Work and Music Composition Checklist

1. To Begin, Download the Appropriate Template

• EdD Dissertation Template
• Master’s Thesis/Creative Work Template
• Latex template (provided by department)

Note: The Thesis/Dissertation and Creative Work templates include instructions related to making your document accessible in Microsoft Word. For further guidance, consult the relevant  Microsoft Office documentation for accessibility . Students using the Latex template provided by their department can consult the  Adobe Accessibility guide .

2. Preliminary Format Check

While writing your Thesis/Dissertation/Written Creative Work make sure to keep  Microsoft Word accessibility  /  Adobe Accessibility  in mind.

• Before submitting, run the  Accessibility Checker  /  Adobe Accessibility  and make sure to clear all errors.
• If revisions are required, we will return the thesis by email along with feedback regarding required changes. Once changes are addressed, email the latest draft to your  Graduate Program Specialist .
• When approved, Graduate Studies will notify students by email to proceed with Final Format check instructions.

3. Final Format Check

• Student must title the Thesis/ Dissertation/ Written Creative Work as:  Full Name_ Student ID_Dept_Thesis/Dissert_WCW .
• Make sure the Certification of Approval page on your Thesis/ Dissertation/ Written Creative Work does not have signatures.
• Run the Word  Accessibility Checker  /  Adobe Accessibility  and make sure that all errors are cleared (including feedback given during the preliminary format check).
• If revisions are required, we will return the thesis by email along with feedback regarding required changes. Once changes are addressed, email the latest draft to your Graduate Program Specialist.
• When approved, your Graduate Program Specialist will notify students by email to proceed with Certification of Approval and Submission instructions.

4. Certificate of Approval - Obtain Electronic Signatures

You can use our DocuSign Powerform to route the Certificate of Approval for your committee to sign. To begin the process, follow these steps:

a. You will need your committee’s name and email address. SF State email address preferred . Note: You can use another email address. However, it must be a professional email address not a personal email address. Example of acceptable email address: @ucsd, @calacademy. Personal email addresses are not be acceptable: @gmail, @yahoo, @outlook, etc.

b. Once you enter the required information click on “ Begin Signing ” to be directed to the Certificate of Approval form. You will need to  complete the requested information , then click “ Finish ”.

Your committee members will receive an email requesting their signatures. Once it is complete, you will receive a copy of the form.

c. The signed document will need to be uploaded as a separate document during the final submission process.

d. To begin routing: Certificate of Approval Powerform Routing

5. Submit your Thesis/Dissertation/Written Creative Work Guidelines and Certificate of Approval to the Library

Note:  Considering an Embargo? IF you would like to delay the publication of your Thesis, Dissertation, Written Creative Work or Music Composition, make sure to discuss the timeline of release with your Committee Chair prior to final submission.

• Once the final version of your thesis has been cleared for submission, you will see a new “To Do List” item titled “Submit Scholarly Work.” Click on “Details” to access the link and submit your work
• You will need to upload your final and accessible Thesis/ Dissertation/ Written Creative Work (Word Document) as well as the signed Certification of Approval.

Thesis, Dissertation, or Written Creative Work submitted without approval from a  Graduate Program Specialist  will be rejected.

📜 Thesis / Dissertation Guidelines FAQs

Q: What will the Division of Graduate Studies look for when conducting the preliminary and final format check?

A: We will be reviewing that all guidelines included in the template are followed, that standard size and font is used, and the work has 1-inch margins all round. Most importantly, we will be reviewing for accessibility. We want to see that all titles and subtitles are using built in headings, that all tables, figures, and images have alternative text and that page breaks are used throughout your work eliminating unnecessary blank spaces.

For Adobe users, we will also review that the reading order on your document has been corrected.

Q: Does my thesis need to be completed for a Preliminary Format check?

A: No, your thesis does not need to be completed for the preliminary check. To be able to conduct the preliminary format check, we will need all preliminary pages (title page through lists of appendices) as well as only a few pages of your thesis content. We want to make sure that you are on the right track and make sure we address any issues before your thesis is complete.

However, the final format check requires a completed and accessible version of your work.

Q: If I already have Microsoft on my computer, do you recommend downloading the universities Microsoft 365?

A: No, if you have a recent version of Microsoft and you have access to the Accessibility Checker you should be okay.

Q: Are students required to use a legal name on their thesis?

A: Students can use their legal name or their preferred name. However, we required that your name is formatted in the same way throughout your thesis.

Q: Is there a specific way in which the student name needs to be entered?

A: You can enter your name in the format you prefer:

• First Name, Middle Name, Last Name
• First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name
• First Name, Last Name

However, we require that your name is formatted in the same sequence throughout your thesis.

Q: Is there a required font type or font size?

A: We require students to use 10 to 12 font sizes. Standard proportional fonts such as Times New Roman or Ariel are also required.

Q: Where can I find a guide to building a Table of Contents, List of Tables and/or List of figures?

A: For detailed instruction on building a Table of Contents you can visit: Microsoft Support-Insert Table to Contents

For detailed instruction on building a list of tables and/or figures you can visit: Microsoft Support – Insert tale of figures

Also visit How to number chapters, appendixes, and pages in documents that contain both chapter and appendix headings in Word

Q: Is there a maximum amount of tables I can include in my thesis?

A: The Division of Graduate Studies does not require or restrict the number of tables, figures, or images in the student’s work. The format check will only review that each table, figure and/or image is properly formatted and contains alternative text.

Q: Is using Hyperlinks throughout our work required?

A: If you need to include a link within the content of your thesis, we recommend that you use a hyperlink rather than including the entire address. However, it is not a requirement. In addition, this is not applicable for your Work Cited. Please make sure to follow the academic style recommended by your discipline (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).

Q: What needs to be completed by the May/December/August deadline?

A: All requirements need to be completed by the final deadline; this includes your thesis. The final deadline is the last day in which you can submit your final, approved, and accessible thesis to the library.

Please make sure to plan ahead and submit your work for final format check at least a week before this deadline to prevent graduation delays. (If you are unable to meet the deadline, you will need to apply and graduate in the next semester).

Q: I have submitted my work to my Committee Chair, do I also need to submit it to the Division of Graduate Studies?

A: Yes, your committee will approve the content of your thesis as well as academic style recommended by your discipline (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.). We will be reviewing overall formatting and accessibility. Upon completion of your preliminary and final format check you will be given access to the online thesis submission to the library. Without preliminary checks, you will not be able to submit your work. In addition, any works submitted without approval from the Division of Graduate Studies will be rejected from the library.

• Class Schedule
• Extended Laptop Checkout
• Graduate Program Coordinators
• Graduate Student Writing Support 
• Graduate Studies Workshops
• J. Paul Leonard Library
• Librarian Research Help
• Meet with us! (How to schedule a Graduate Support Services Appointment)
• SF State Bulletin
• Technology Resources for Students
• Tutoring and Academic Support Center (TASC)
• Associated Students
• Basic Needs
• Career & Leadership Development
• Counseling and Psychological Services
• Disability Programs & Resource Center
• Dream Resource Center
• Food Security & Student Food Pantry
• Health Promotion & Wellness
• Housing Stability
• Jobs (On & Off Campus) / Internships
• Mashouf Wellness Center
• Office of Student Financial Aid
• Resume, CV, Cover Letter & LinkedIn
• Student Health Services
• Students with Dependent Children (AB 2881)
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: (415) 338-2234

Office Hours

Quick links.

• ▷ Contact Us
• ▷ Career & Leadership Development
• ▷ Fellowships Office Programs
• ▷ Graduate Advising

DRE #01103083

Andre Cardoso

Customer Reviews

Finished Papers

These kinds of ‘my essay writing' require a strong stance to be taken upon and establish arguments that would be in favor of the position taken. Also, these arguments must be backed up and our writers know exactly how such writing can be efficiently pulled off.

Business Enquiries

• myState on Mississippi State University
• Directory on Mississippi State University
• Calendars on Mississippi State University
• A-Z Index on Mississippi State University
• Maps on Mississippi State University
• News on Mississippi State University
• Contact on Mississippi State University

Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Hybrid Workshop: Regular Session

June 8, 2024 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, about this event.

This combined workshop (registrants can attend in person or online) covers the submission process for format review and demonstrates how to use the automated templates to format MSU theses and dissertations to the requirements set forth in the Standards for Preparing Theses and Dissertations: 8th edition. These templates were designed to help an author organize and format their document with minimal effort so that their focus can be on the content of their document. Those who have already started writing or have already defended are welcome to bring their current documents (either on flash drive or email attachment) to start the process of placing their content into the template

• Find Mississippi State University on Facebook
• Find Mississippi State University on Instagram
• Find Mississippi State University on LinkedIn
• Find Mississippi State University on Pinterest
• Find Mississippi State University on Twitter
• Find Mississippi State University on YouTube