uwaterloo.

ca

Thesis formatting | Graduate Studies

and Postdoctoral Affairs
6-8 minutos

In order for the thesis to meet the standards of the University of

Waterloo, it must be organized as follows.

Table of what to include in the front matter of a thesis

Front matter Page Note
number

Front matterTitle page  Page Note

numberi Required

The page number

should not be
displayed, however,
the title page counts
as page one in the
overall numbering
of pages.

Front matterExamining Page NotePhD theses

commitee numberii only
membership (docx)
 Front matter Page Note
number

Front matterAuthor's Page NoteRequired

declaration numberiii

Front matter Page Note

Statement of contributions  numberiv If applicable
(*example used with For a thesis that is
author's permission) not a sole-authored
document, the
University requires
that the student has
made the major
contribution to the
work, to the
satisfaction of the
examination
committee. The
student will include
a Statement of
contributions in the
thesis.

Front matterAbstract Page Note

numberv Required

The thesis should

have only one
abstract , located
 Front matter Page Note
number

within the Front
matter in the order
indicated here.

Front Page NoteRequired

matterAcknowledgements numbervi

Front matterDedication Page NoteOptional

numbervii

Front matterTable of Page NoteRequired

contents numberviii

Front matterList of figures Page Note

numberix If applicable

Each figure in the

text must be
numbered; if the
title/caption of the
figure cannot fit on
the same page as
the figure, the
title/caption may
appear on the
previous page
facing the figure.

Front matterList of tables Page Note

 Front matter Page Note
number

numberx If applicable

Each table in the

text must be
numbered; if the
title/caption of the
table cannot fit on
the same page as
the table, the
title/caption may
appear on the
previous page
facing the table.

Front matterList of Page Note

illustrations numberxi If applicable

Each illustration in
the text must be
numbered; if the
title/caption of the
illustration cannot fit
on the same page
as the illustration,
the title/caption may
appear on the
previous page
 Front matter Page Note
number

facing the
illustration.

Front matterList of Page NoteIf applicable

abbreviations numberxii

Front matterList of Page NoteIf applicable

symbols numberxiii

Front matterGraphic or Page Note

quote numberxiv If applicable

Students may wish

to enhance their
thesis with either a
graphic or
meaningful quote. 
These pages, if
applicable, must
appear as the last
page of the front
matter, immediately
before the main
body of the thesis.

Table of what to include in the back matter of a thesis

Back matter Note

Back matterLetter of Note

 Back matter Note

copyright permission If applicable

It is the student's responsibility to

determine if letters of copyright
permission are required.

Back NoteOnly one Reference (or

matterReferences (or Bibliography) section may appear
Bibliography) within the thesis and must be
located within the Back matter.

Back NoteIf applicable

matterAppendices

Back matterGlossary NoteIf applicable

Back matterIndex Note

If applicable

Page numbering

All pages, must have visible page numbers, centered at the

bottom of the page.

Front matter

The page number is omitted from the Title page, although it is

considered page i.

Front matter pages are numbered with lower case Roman

numerals (e.g. i, ii, iii), beginning with the Author's Declaration
(page ii) following the title page.
Text (main body) and back matter

Arabic numerals (e.g. 1, 2, 3) are used for all pages in these

sections.

Each chapter/section must begin on a separate page.

The Text (main body) of the thesis begins with page number "1,"
placed in the center at the bottom.

All pages in Text (main body) and back matter must be

numbered consecutively.

Note: Numerals must begin on the first page of Text (main

body) and continue through to the last page of the back matter.

Title page

The format of the title page must be the same as the below
sample (additional samples included for programs with specific
title pages):
Sample title page (pdf)

Master of Arts in Intercultural German Studies (pdf)

Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art (pdf)

The author's name must appear as it does on the official student

record in Quest.

The name of the degree must appear in full (e.g. Master of

Applied Science, Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy).

The name of the discipline is the degree program in which the

student is registered (e.g. Computer Science, Electrical and
Computer Engineering, Recreation and Leisure Studies), not an
option, department or school.

The universal copyright notice © must appear on the title page

of the thesis. The copyright date is the year the thesis is
accepted and submitted to UWSpace.

Author's declaration

The thesis must contain one of the two following statements on

the Author’s Declaration page:

EITHER: “I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this

thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required
final revisions, as accepted by my examiners.

I understand that my thesis may be made electronically

available to the public.”

OR: “This thesis consists of material all of which I authored or

co-authored: see Statement of Contributions included in the
thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required
final revisions, as accepted by my examiners.

I understand that my thesis may be made electronically

available to the public.”

Spelling, font sizing and spacing

The thesis should either be written in British or American

spelling; however, one or the other should be used consistently
throughout, including the title page.

Line spacing, or leading, and font size should permit ease of

reading. Due to the number of possible combinations of these
factors, it is difficult to give precise guidelines so the focus
should be on readability.

Footnotes/endnotes may be included in the text.

Maintain consistency in the use of different typefaces for

headings, footings, and titles.