Many institutions reject dissertation submissions outright for formatting non-compliance, regardless of content quality. The rules are often stricter and more specific than general academic style guides — and they vary meaningfully from one university to the next.
| Element | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Margins | Often 1" or 1.5" on the binding side — confirm your institution's exact spec |
| Font and size | Many require a specific serif font (e.g. Times New Roman 12pt) throughout |
| Heading levels | Consistent formatting per heading level (often following APA or a custom style) |
| Front matter order | Title page, abstract, acknowledgments, table of contents — specific sequence required |
| Page numbering | Front matter often uses roman numerals, body uses arabic — confirm the switch point |
| Table/figure formatting | Caption placement and numbering conventions, often field- or style-specific |
Get your university's actual template document, not a general style guide. APA or Chicago style covers citations and general formatting, but most universities layer additional, institution-specific requirements (margins, page numbering, required front matter) on top. The template — not the general style manual — is the authoritative source.
Margins, headings, front matter, and citation mechanics, checked against your university's actual template.
Yes — send us the template or format guide and we apply it consistently throughout your document, including front matter and heading styles.
Formatting addresses structural compliance (margins, headings, page numbers); proofreading addresses surface text errors (typos, grammar). Most final submissions need both — see our proofreading guide for that piece.
Not always — some institutions require APA citations but their own separate formatting template for everything else. Check your handbook; we apply whatever combination your program actually requires.