Dissertation Formatting Guide

Margins

• 1 inch margin on all sides

Spacing

• Double spacing: body of text
• Single spacing: table of contents, block quotations, bibliographic references, captions, footnotes, list of tables, list of figures or illustrations, and lengthy tables
  • Single spacing within each entry but double space between each entry

Point Size & Font

• Use 10 to 12 point size

Use same font type throughout, including with headers, footnotes, and page numbers

Page Numbers

• Put in the bottom right corner of each page; 0.5 inch from any edge 
• Starting with the abstract being labeled “iii”, preliminary pages (abstract, lay summary, table of contents, front matter) are numbered with lower-case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc.) 
• Count the title page as page “i” and the copyright page as page “ii,” but do not print page numbers on either page
• The dissertation proper (after the front matter and beginning with the body of text) begins with Arabic number “1” and runs consecutively to the end

Author’s Name

• Use legal name that is listed on your Yale student record
• Author name must match on title page, copyright page, and abstract page
• If legal name has changed and you want to use it as your author name, you must update it on your Yale student record by emailing registrar@yale.edu 

1. Title Page
2. Copyright Page
3. Abstract
4. Lay Summary
5. Table of Contents
6. Front Matter (acknowledgments, list of illustrations or tables, etc.)
7. Body of Text
8. Back Matter (appendices, bibliography, supplemental figures and tables, etc.)

Title Page

• Exactly match formatting found in the “Example: Title Page” at end of this guide
• All text is centered
• Font and point size are same as body of text
• Do not use bold or all caps
• Capitalize the first letter in every word in the dissertation title except for conjunctions and prepositions
• The subtitle, if applicable, follows a colon and does not start a new line
• The section that begins with “A Dissertation Presented…” must match the exact formatting and spacing found in the “Example: Title Page”
  • Do not capitalize “of” and “in”
• Do not print a page number on the title page, as it is understood to be page “i” for counting purposes only

Copyright Notice

• Typed 3 inches below top margin and on 2 lines
• Format includes copyright symbol ©
  • Do not include the word “Copyright”
• For December degrees, the copyright date is the following year (i.e. December 2026 submissions are © 2027)
• Do not print a page number on the copyright page, as it is understood to be page “ii” for counting purposes only
• Example:

© 20XX by [Student’s Name]
All rights reserved.

Abstract

• Exactly match formatting found in the “Example: Abstract Page” at end of this guide
• Font and point size are same as body of text
• Do not use bold or all caps
• The heading of the abstract page is centered on page
• Capitalize the first letter in every word in the dissertation title except for conjunctions and prepositions
• The subtitle, if applicable, follows a colon and does not start a new line
• Dissertation title and name of author must match title page
• Text of abstract goes below the heading and is double spaced, left justified, and indented on the first line of each paragraph
• Numbered as page “iii”; placed immediately following the copyright page
• Example:

Abstract

Full title of dissertation

Full name of author

Year of PhD conferral (e.g., 20XX)

(text of abstract)

Lay Summary

• Addressing a lay audience, provide a 250-word maximum description of the significance of your dissertation.
• Exactly match formatting found in the “Example: Lay Summary” at end of this guide
• Font and point size are same as body of text
• Do not use bold or all caps
• The heading of the lay summary page is centered on page
• Make double spaced, left justified, and indented on the first line of each paragraph
• Numbered as next appropriate lower-case Roman numeral

Tables and Figures

• Tables placed as close as possible to their reference in the text
• Headings placed at the top of the tables
• Consecutive numbering throughout the dissertation or by chapter (e.g., 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, etc.)
• Captions appear at the bottom of all figures

Language of the Dissertation

• As dissertations are ordinarily written in English, a request to submit the dissertation written in a language other than English must be sent to the GSAS Dean’s Office for advance approval
• If approved to write dissertation in a language other than English, student must submit their title page and abstract in English and are allowed to submit a second title page and a second abstract page in the other language
• The pages in English can go after the pages in the other language
• The copyright page must be in English