How to Format Your Dissertation for Printing

Getting Your Dissertation Print-Ready

A well-formatted dissertation looks professional and avoids costly reprints. This guide covers the formatting essentials your university expects.

Margins

The most critical formatting element for printed documents:

• Left margin: 1.5 inches (allows space for binding)
• Right margin: 1 inch
• Top margin: 1 inch (1.5 inches for chapter opening pages)
• Bottom margin: 1 inch

These are standard across most Indian universities. Always verify with your department.

Font and Spacing

• Font: Times New Roman 12pt or Arial 11pt
• Line spacing: 1.5 or double spacing (check university guidelines)
• Paragraph spacing: 6pt after each paragraph
• Justification: Full justification for body text

Page Numbers

• Preliminary pages (abstract, acknowledgements, table of contents): Roman numerals (i, ii, iii)
• Main content (chapters onward): Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3)
• Position: Bottom center or bottom right
• Cover page: No page number

PDF Export Checklist

Before uploading your document for printing:

1. Export as PDF/A format for maximum compatibility
2. Embed all fonts (check in PDF properties)
3. Set images to 300 DPI minimum
4. Verify page size is A4 (210 x 297 mm)
5. Check that all hyperlinks are correct (they won't be clickable in print but should display correctly)
6. Review the PDF page by page for any formatting shifts

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting binding margin — without extra left margin, text gets hidden in the binding
• Low-resolution images — screen-quality images (72 DPI) look blurry in print
• Missing page numbers — makes it impossible for examiners to reference specific pages
• Inconsistent heading styles — use Word's or LaTeX's heading styles for consistent formatting