leeds beckett university phd thesis guidelines

Skills for Learning : IT & Digital Skills

Tools in Microsoft Word can help with your dissertation formatting. They will allow you to work on your document in the most efficient way. Using these tools will also give your dissertation a professional look.

We run interactive workshops to help you develop your academic IT skills. Find out more on the Skills for Learning Workshops page.

Our Dissertations & Literature Reviews pages contain information about planning and writing your dissertation or major project.

We have online academic skills modules within MyBeckett for all levels of university study. These modules will help your academic development and support your success at LBU. You can work through the modules at your own pace, revisiting them as required. Find out more from our FAQ What academic skills modules are available?

Guide to formatting your dissertation in Word

This guide explains how to format your dissertation document using Word. It includes: setting margins; line spacing; heading styles; and inserting images and tables. Click on the link below.

• Word dissertation guide
• Wait until the end to create your table of contents. Do not do this manually.  Word has a tool that does this automatically.
• Word will also create your table of figures, tables, and equations, or you can create your own label.
• Do not create headings manually using bold/indenting. Use Heading Styles. This allows you to use the Table of Contents tool later.
• Use the Section Break tool in Word. It allows you to control where page numbers appear and in what format.
• Use Ctrl + Enter to insert new pages.  If you just hit the Enter key, your formatting may become distorted.
• If you type in capitals by mistake, you don't need to start again - Word has a tool that will change the case for you.
• For guidance on accessibility, click on Creating accessible Word documents .

Dissertation template

This Word document is a template which you can download and use to build your finished dissertation document. Click on the link below.

• Leeds Beckett Dissertation Template
• Download the file and save it with a suitable file name.
• Type your own text into the different sections – the page numbering will automatically adjust. Delete the instructional text.
• Add any additional sections or subsections as required.
• Delete any sections or subsections you do not require.
• Use the ‘References – Table of Contents’ function to update the table of contents as required.
• Dissertation formatting checklist

This checklist takes you through the main formatting steps for a structured dissertation document. Click on the link below.

There are variations in practice across different subjects and courses. Check course documentation or any other guidance you are given on formatting requirements.

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How do I format my dissertation using Word?

The  Dissertation IT Kit  is available on the Skills for Learning website, and includes written guides that explain how to use the different tools in Word to format your dissertation.  These guides have been written for the latest version of Word in Office 365.

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Dissertation Format Regulations

Please click on each of the seven headings below to see the regulations which must be followed to format your dissertation correctly:

1. Number of copies

One electronic copy must be uploaded to the Assessed Assignment Submission area, within the module section of Minerva.

A hard copy of the Dissertation is not required.  

If you need to upload any additional data in a separate document, there is an additional submission area to upload this.

2. Indicative length

The main body of the Dissertation must not exceed the word limit.

Does Count toward word count

The word count covers everything within the main text of the Dissertation, including:

• the abstract and contents page
• lists of tables and illustrative material
• any tables, diagrams, subtitles, footnotes and references which are included within the main text.

Does not Count toward word count

The word count does not include;

• the title page and front cover
• any acknowledgements
• bibliographies
• end lists of references

Words presented as images

Any words presented in graphs, tables, or other graphics must be included in the word count.

Words displayed in these formats may need to be counted manually, as they will not be detected by the word count function on most word processing software.

Appendix Abuse

You must not use appendices to present matters of substance which should be included in the main body of the text.

The text must remain understandable without reference to any appendices.

3. Text and Layout

Font and size.

Dissertations should be presented using a standard font, and a font size of between 10 and 12 points.

Text must not be presented using only upper case letters.

Line Spacing

All standard text must be presented using double or one and a half line spacing.

Indented quotations and footnotes have an exception to the above rule, and may use single spacing.

For Microsoft Word this means standard dissertation text should have a spacing setting of either 2.0 or 1.5

Margins along all sides of the document (left, right, top and bottom) should not be less than 2.5cm (25mm).

For reference, the "normal" margins setting on a Microsoft Word document is 2.54cm on all sides - this is acceptable.

4. Pagination

All pages of text and appendices in your dissertation should be numbered consecutively.

Images and diagrams should also have their own consecutive numbering where possible.

5. Title Page

You must use the Leeds University Business School Dissertation / Project coversheet as your title page.

This can be downloaded from the Forms and Guidance Page

6. Table of Contents

Your dissertation document must include a contents page.

The contents page should list all main numbered chapter headings (such as 1, 2 , 3).

It is good practice to break down chapters into numbered sections, and these should also be listed on your contents page (such as 1.1, 1.2, 1.3).

Please carefully check the section above on word counts (2. indicative length) for information on which text contributes to your maximum permitted word count.

7. Acknowledgements

It is common to include a list of acknowledgements at the start of your dissertation, but you do not have to do so.

Students may wish to acknowledge the help their Supervisor provided, as well as the support of others such as family members or friends.

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About this Repository

The aim of the Leeds Beckett Repository is to provide open access to our research, as required by funder policies and permitted by publishers and copyright law.

To meet the requirements of the University's Open Research Policy , Leeds Beckett researchers should upload accepted manuscripts for all journal articles and conference proceedings with an ISSN via their Symplectic Elements account.

If you are accepted for publication and are not sure what to do, contact the Research Services team .

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You can browse the Repository using the following options:

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Leeds Beckett Repository supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

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Submitting your thesis for examination

When you are preparing to submit your thesis for examination, take some time to familiarise yourself with the deadlines involved as well as the required format for submission.

Please see the Guide to the thesis submission process on the Policies and Procedures page of the SES website for more information on the processes explained on this webpage.   

To complete the thesis submission, you need to upload a PDF copy of your thesis to GRAD. You are invited to upload a Covid-19 impact statement alongside your thesis which discusses any impacts of Covid-19 on your research plans, and the choices made to respond to this.  Please use the template provided which is available on the Research degree assessment page of the For Students website . This should be uploaded to GRAD alongside your thesis submission.  

Thesis format regulations

When you are preparing to submit your thesis, please take time to read the Guide to the thesis examination process which includes information on: 

• entering for examination and completing the relevant examination entry workflow in GRAD. 
• the content and layout of your thesis (including font size, margins, pagination, referencing styles, illustrative materials, abbreviations) 
• the presentation of the title page and the statements which must be included in your thesis
• thesis length requirements, and what to do if you think you might exceed them 
• including work from any jointly-authored publication in your thesis (please see the Guidelines on the Use of Solely or Jointly-Authored Publications within a Thesis Submission on the Policies and Procedures page of the SES website )
• advice on what to expect before, during and after the viva 
• advice on eThesis preparation and presentation 
• including supplementary material alongside your thesis submission (please see the Policy on Inclusion of supplementary material within a thesis submission for examination on the Policies and Procedures page of the SES website ) 
• submission of a thesis in a language other than English (applies only to candidates registered in the School of Languages, Cultures & Societies) (please see the policy on the Policies and Procedures page of the SES website ) 

Alternative format thesis including published material

This model of submission is currently only available to postgraduate researchers (PGRs) registered in the in the Faculties of Environment, EPS (Engineering Schools only), Biological Sciences, Medicine and Health or Arts, Humanities and Cultures. PGRs in these faculties who wish to consider this route to submission must first discuss this with their supervisory team. This model of thesis can only be submitted where the supervisory team supports this format of submission and is satisfied it is appropriate and meets the protocol in place for that faculty. Please see the Faculty Protocols for the format and presentation of an alternative style of doctoral thesis including published material on the Policies and Procedures page of the SES website .  

Dual Award PhDs

If you are registered on a Dual Award PhD, there may be particular expectations for your thesis and/or viva, depending on your programme of study. Please consult our Dual Award Guidance below, which includes further information for each of the Dual Awards and which sets out any additional examination information you may need to be aware of. 

Dual Award Guidance - General Guidance for all awards

University of Leeds – University of Copenhagen   University of Leeds – University of Coimbra   University of Leeds – University of Ljubljana   University of Leeds – Lulea Technical University  

Guidance to follow:

University of Leeds – Nanjing University  University of Leeds – Beijing Jiaotong University  University of Leeds – Petroleum University of China (QingDao Campus) (UPC)  University of Leeds – Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU)

Deadline for submission

You should aim to submit your thesis within the standard period of study for the research degree programme upon which you are registered. However, you must submit your thesis for examination by the maximum time limit for your programme. Your standard period of study and maximum time limit dates are visible on your GRAD record. If difficulties arise you must talk to your Graduate School as soon as possible for advice. See the Examination process overview page of the For Students website for more information on the submission timings on your deadline date.

Submitting your thesis early

In some cases you may be able to submit your thesis early, before the end of your standard period of study. Your Director of Postgraduate Research Studies (DPGRS) must submit a recommendation to the Graduate Board’s Programmes and Examinations Group for a reduction to your period of study. Early submission of the thesis can only be made where it is supported by your supervisor and your DPGRS if: 

(a) the thesis is complete and ready for submission and  

(b) it has been read by your supervisor in its entirety  

Your supervisor must confirm in writing that they have read your thesis and that their view is that it is ready to be examined. There are limits to the length of the reduction that can be approved. Please see further information about the limits and the process to be followed on the How long does a research degree take? page of the For Students website . 

Uploading a PDF to GRAD

You must upload a PDF copy of your thesis to GRAD using the GRAD Thesis Submission workflow. Please see the Guide to the thesis examination process for further advice. Please contact your Graduate School in advance of your thesis submission if there are any concerns with this, for example, if there are confidentiality or commercially sensitive issues with your research. 

Practice-led research degrees

Please make sure you are fully aware of the submission requirements for your degree. You can find more information by checking the practice-led policy for your faculty or school on the Research Degrees Codes of Practice page on the SES website . 

After submission

Your thesis will be sent out to your examiners normally within 10 working days of submission, providing that it meets the University's requirements and your examination entry workflow has been approved by the Examinations Group. A GRAD email notification (to your University account) will be sent to confirm that your thesis has been sent out to your examiners, and will include advice about the next stages in the process. If Doctoral College Operations has only recently received your examination entry workflow (or your workflow has not yet been completed), if there are any issues with the length or formatting of the thesis, or if your thesis has been submitted after the maximum time limit there may be a delay in sending your thesis out for examination.  

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Submit your eThesis

You must upload your final successful PhD thesis to  White Rose eTheses Online (WREO) .

Submitting an eThesis is a great way to raise your research profile, increase the impact of your work, preserve your work for the future, and fulfil any funder open access requirements.

You should only upload your eThesis after your internal examiner has approved any editorial and presentational corrections or minor deficiencies identified at your examination.

You  must  also discuss the retention of thesis arrangements with your supervisor(s) so that, if necessary, an embargo period can be agreed.

How to upload your thesis

Follow our step-by-step guide to uploading your thesis below.

You can also find further advice and guidance on the  Student Education Service eThesis page .

Step 1: Create an account on WREO

• Go to  White Rose eTheses Online (WREO) .
• Select “Create Account” from the Deposit box.
• Enter your name. This must be your  full legal name  as held in the University's registration records, including forename and all middle names.
• Select your institution.
• Enter your student ID number.
• Use a  long-term email address,  not your University of Leeds student email address. You may need to be contacted about your eThesis after your student email address has expired. Choose a memorable username and password.
• Enter the words displayed when prompted.
• Click “register”.
• Activate your account from the confirmation email
• Enter your username and password.

Step 2: Add the details of your thesis

• Select “Your thesis”.
• Click on “Create thesis (start here)”.
• Follow the steps on each screen, completing all of the required fields (those with a star symbol).
• Ensure that you add a long-term email address.
• Ensure that you  add the names of your supervisor(s) and their email address(es) . This is important so that your supervisors receive a copy of the email notification confirming the upload of the eThesis and the embargo information selected.
• Check that the abstract displays as intended. Some fonts, scientific symbols and complicated formatting may display incorrectly.

Step 3: Upload the file

To upload a file:

• Browse to the file on your computer and upload it.
• Select the correct file type.
• Select the correct content type.
• Choose the agreed  Creative Commons licence type .
• You can add multiple files if required.

You must  upload the final, examined and corrected version of your thesis as a single PDF file .

In all cases, one complete eThesis file is required. However, in some cases it may also be necessary to provide a redacted version of your eThesis. Further advice on when a redacted eThesis might be required, and the process to be followed, is given on the  Student Education Service eThesis page.

You should give your eThesis a standard filename that follows the format: Surname and initials, school, degree, year of submission. For example: Smith_ABC_Chemistry_PhD_2015.PDF

Step 4: Add your embargo period (if applicable)

You are expected to make your e-thesis open access immediately in WREO unless there are exceptional circumstances. For example, you may need to apply a temporary embargo if you are planning to publish part of your thesis or if there are issues of confidentiality. Any embargo should be discussed with your supervisor. To add an embargo period:

• Choose the appropriate embargo period from the drop down menu.
• Specify the reason for the embargo.

Step 5: Deposit item

• Add or amend any of the details if prompted.
• Check that you are happy with the Thesis preview.
• Click Deposit now, or you can choose to save for later.

Once the upload process is complete you will receive confirmation via email. A confirmation email will also be sent to your supervisor(s) and to PGR and Operations staff.

If you need to make any changes to your deposit, do not create a new thesis record as this will create a duplicate record. You can edit items in your work area.

There will be a delay between the thesis being deposited and it going live. Final checks have to take place, and the pass list on which the thesis appears must be authorised before the eThesis will appear in WREO.