One of the most important parts of finishing a higher education degree in the UK is writing a successful dissertation formatting. A dissertation basically reflects years of study, academic research, and the ability to convey unexplored concepts in an organized and understandable form. The dissertation needs to be formatted correctly in order to adhere to the academic requirements that are set by UK universities. For this reason, many students opt to hire dissertation formatting writers. The majority of UK universities adhere to some common essential rules. However, sometimes some formatting requirements vary according to the school. We will go over the standard dissertation formatting rules that are set by UK universities which will help you present your work in a professional and systematic way.
1. Basic Structure And Layout
A dissertation should have a clear, logical, and well-structured layout. The basic structure that many UK universities and dissertation writing services use is discussed below.
- Title Page
The title page should contain important information because it provides the first impression of your dissertation. The dissertation title should include your name, the name of your department or faculty, the name of the university, the degree you are pursuing, and the submission date. Some universities may also require their students to include their supervisor’s name and the word count.
- Abstract
Usually, an abstract is included after the title page. It is a brief summary of your dissertation that basically focuses on the goals, methods, results, and conclusions of the study. Normally, abstracts are not more than 300 words.
- Acknowledgments
In this section, students basically show gratitude to their supervisors, colleagues, and family members who have supported them during their research journey.
- Table Of Contents
A table of contents is crucial because it gives a concise description of the dissertation’s chapters and sections. This helps readers to effectively navigate your work.
- Figures And Tables
The table of contents should have a separate section listing where every figure, table, or diagram that is included in your dissertation must be listed. Each entry should have a brief description along with the figure or table number.
- Main Body
A typical chapter structure includes an introduction, a literature review, a methodology, results, a discussion, and a conclusion. Every chapter must include a different heading.
- References Or Bibliography
The reference list is a crucial component of every dissertation. It should include a list of all the sources that you have used in your work. The referencing styles that are commonly used by UK universities are usually Harvard, APA, or MLA, but it’s still important to confirm the exact style from your university. That is because some universities have different rules.
- Appendices
Any supporting materials that are important for your dissertation but are too long to fit in the main body, like raw data, extra figures, or documents then it must be included in the appendices.
2. Font Size And Style
One of the most crucial aspects of dissertation formatting is the font’s size and style. The majority of UK universities use Times New Roman as their UK formatting standards font but some also require Arial or Calibri. A 12-point font is the recommended size for the main text. To differentiate between different heading levels then the font size for headings is slightly larger (for example, 14 points for chapter titles). The exact font size and style should be maintained throughout the dissertation which includes the reference list and title page.
3. Line Spacing
Line spacing is important in making a dissertation readable. The majority of UK universities follow the basic practice of using 1.5 line spacing for the text’s body. However, double spacing is usually needed in drafts or documents because they will be thoroughly reviewed and edited. However, this will vary for the title page, table of contents, and references which are all single-spaced.
4. Margin
Typically, a dissertation should have 1 inch (2.54 cm) of margin on all sides of its pages but still, some universities require bit distinct dimensions. This helps in making perfect that binding and gives enough space for annotations or examiner notes. Lastly, the page numbering should be in the footer, whether center or to the right of the page but it totally depends on the university’s guidelines.
5. Page Numbers
A crucial component of dissertation formatting is page numbering. Page numbers in almost every UK university start with the introduction’s first page instead of the title page which means it is left unnumbered. Each page should have its numbers in the bottom-right or bottom-center corner.
6. Headings & Subheadings
The use of headings and subheadings is crucial for structuring the dissertation and making it easier for readers to read. The majority of academic institutions advise a hierarchical heading structure which means that the chapter titles are the biggest and most noticeable which is followed by section headings and sub-sections. Using heading styles consistently throughout the dissertation is important for a successful dissertation. For instance, if you bold one chapter heading then you have to bold all of them. A logical and consistent numbering scheme should also be used in headings (e.g., 1.0 Introduction, 1.1 Background, 2.0 Literature Review).
7. Proofreading And Quality Assurance
The teacher reviews your notes every day to look for writing errors (Wilhoit, 1994). That is why editing and proofreading your dissertation before submitting is crucial thing in order to make sure that it is error-free and discussed professionally. Editing is the most important part of any work, therefore practice it to make it clearer and easier to read (helpwithdissertation, 2022). Make sure your dissertation meets your institution’s word count requirements before submitting it. For example, PhD theses at the University of Glasgow have a word limit of 100,000 which also includes appendices and other materials.
Conclusion
The majority of UK universities follow the same formatting guidelines for dissertations, though there may be some slight variations from one university to the next. These include formatting, font, spacing, citation, and table and figure presentation guidelines. Following these formatting guidelines will not only improve the readability and integrity of your work but it will also show that you have paid attention to the details. To make sure your dissertation adheres to every requirement then you must always double-check the specific guidelines that are provided by your university before submission.
Reference List
Wilhoit, S. (1994). Helping students avoid plagiarism. College teaching, 42(4), 161-164.
HWD., (2022). Editing Vs Proofreading – How Are They Different. Online Available at <https://www.helpwithdissertation.co.uk/blog/editing-vs-proofreading/> [Accessed on 6th May 2022]
