This guide covers the typical structure for term papers, bachelor's theses, master's theses and PhD dissertations — with a focus on US and UK conventions. Select your paper type, click on any chapter, and see exactly what belongs there.
| Document | 🇺🇸 USA | 🇬🇧 UK | 🇩🇪 Germany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course-level paper | Term Paper / Research Paper | Essay | Hausarbeit |
| Bachelor's capstone | Honors Thesis | Undergraduate Dissertation | Bachelorarbeit |
| Master's document | Master's Thesis | Master's Dissertation | Masterarbeit |
| Doctoral document | Doctoral Dissertation | PhD Thesis | Dissertation |
No universal standard exists. Requirements vary significantly between universities, departments, and individual supervisors. This guide shows what is typical — always verify the specific guidelines from your institution before you submit.
Select your paper type, then click on any chapter in the structure to see what belongs there.
Typical structure
Click any chapter for details. Dashed border = optional depending on your institution.
Typical structure
Click any chapter for details. Dashed = optional depending on discipline and institution.
Typical structure
Click any chapter for details. Dashed = optional depending on discipline.
Typical structure
Click any chapter for details. Dashed = optional depending on discipline.
There is no single international standard. The style is determined by your discipline — and ultimately by your supervisor or institution. What matters most is applying your chosen style consistently from start to finish.
The most widely used style in social and behavioral sciences. In-text citation includes author and year. Page number added for direct quotes.
Used in: Psychology, Education, Social Sciences, Nursing, Business, Communications
Standard in humanities and literary studies. In-text citation uses author and page number. Works Cited list at the end.
Used in: Literature, Languages, Cultural Studies, Media Studies, Film
Two systems: Notes-Bibliography (footnotes) for humanities, Author-Date for social sciences. Turabian is the student-adapted version of Chicago.
Used in: History, Art History, Philosophy, some Humanities
The most common style across UK universities. Works like APA but with institutional variations. Always check your university's specific Harvard guide.
Used in: Most UK disciplines — check your institution's variant (Leeds, Cite Them Right etc.)
Sequential numbered citations in the text. References listed in the order they first appear. Compact and precise — standard in medical literature.
Used in: Medicine, Nursing, Biology, Health Sciences
Numbered in-text citations in square brackets. References listed in order of appearance. Strict formatting for technical details such as DOI and publisher location.
Used in: Engineering, Computer Science, Electronics, Physics
The oral examination works very differently in the US and UK. Knowing what to expect reduces a lot of anxiety.
These standards appear in style guides from APA, MLA, Chicago, most UK university handbooks, and Australian and Canadian institutions. Always confirm the requirements with your own department.
| Setting | Standard across US, UK, AU, CA |
|---|---|
| Font | Times New Roman 12pt is the default in APA, MLA, and Chicago. APA 7th also permits Calibri 11pt, Arial 11pt, and Georgia 11pt. |
| Line spacing | Double-spacing throughout the main text. Single spacing in footnotes and reference lists (APA style). |
| Margins | 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides. A binding margin of 1.5 inches on the left is common for printed thesis submissions. |
| Alignment | Left-aligned (ragged right) in APA and MLA. UK universities are split — some require justified, others left-aligned. Check your handbook. |
| Page numbers | Required throughout. Preliminary pages (title, contents) use Roman numerals. Main text starts with Arabic numeral 1. |
| Paragraph indent | 0.5 inch (1.27 cm) for first line of each paragraph in APA and MLA. UK universities vary — check your style guide. |
| Headings | Hierarchically numbered (1, 1.1, 1.1.1). APA uses a different heading system (bold centered, bold left-aligned etc.). Check which your department prefers. |
| Abstract word limit | 🇺🇸 Master's: max 150 words at most US universities. PhD: max 350 words. 🇬🇧 250–500 words at most UK institutions. |
The discipline shapes the structure as much as the degree level does. A history dissertation looks nothing like a psychology dissertation, even at the same university.
Since 2023, universities across the US, UK, Australia, and Canada have been updating their policies on AI use in academic submissions. Requirements differ and are still evolving — what was acceptable last year may not be today.
ThesisScan helps you check before submission
ThesisScan analyses your text chapter by chapter for AI-typical patterns and gives you a concrete score. You know where your text might raise flags — before your examiner sees it.
Go through this before you hand anything in. The last item is the one most students skip.
This guide is based on publicly available guidelines from university writing centers and official style guides. For your specific submission, always follow the guidelines from your own department.
Writing Guides and Style References
Reference Management Tools
ThesisScan analyses your paper chapter by chapter for AI-typical patterns. Get a concrete score and a detailed PDF report before your examiner sees it.
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