Thesis Formatting Checklist: Headings, Pagination, Tables and References

Start with the purpose and requirements

Check document consistency against your university’s current submission template. This guide is a practical starting point, not a replacement for your supervisor’s instructions, university handbook or a journal’s current author guidelines. Requirements vary by discipline and stage, so confirm the applicable rules before drafting or revising your document.

Apply the approach to your document

Start with approved requirements for page size, margins, spacing, headings and front matter. Use document styles instead of formatting each heading manually. Check section breaks, page numbering, captions and the table of contents after changes. A sample online template is not an authority for your university.

An illustrative example

Roman numerals may be required for preliminary pages and Arabic numbers for chapters in some templates. Other institutions differ. Follow your actual rules and test the exported PDF rather than assuming the editable file is identical. This example shows how to reason about the task; it is not a ready-made result, prescribed template or claim about a completed client project. Adapt the approach to your own evidence and approved requirements.

Checks before you move on

Work through these checks on your actual document. If a requirement is unclear, note the question for your supervisor, department or journal rather than guessing. Keep the original draft and a record of significant decisions so revisions remain traceable.

• Apply consistent heading styles
• Update contents and lists
• Check figure placement and captions
• Inspect the final PDF page by page

Prepare a thesis-support enquiry

Provide your university’s current requirements and identify the chapters or formatting problems you want reviewed. Agree what will be delivered and what material you must supply. Keep tracked revisions and review changes to technical meaning yourself. External support should follow your institution’s rules and should not hide who performed the research.

Discuss scope and next steps

Academic Compass provides thesis support from Fort, Mumbai for researchers and students across India. Use the Services & Pricing page to review the listed service and WhatsApp to discuss your stage, deadline and required help. Ask for confirmation of the specific deliverables and price before starting. Academic approval, grades and journal acceptance are independent decisions and are not guaranteed.