Harvard's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) has specific formatting requirements for doctoral dissertations. This guide covers everything you need to submit a properly formatted dissertation that passes the Registrar's review.
Harvard Dissertation Format Requirements
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Font | 12-pt Times New Roman or similar legible font |
| Margins | 1.5 inch left margin; 1 inch all other sides |
| Spacing | Double-spaced body text; single-spaced footnotes and long quotations |
| Page size | 8.5 × 11 inches (US Letter) |
| Page numbers | Bottom center or top right, consistent throughout |
| Title page | Follow GSAS template exactly |
Harvard GSAS Title Page
The title page must include:
- Dissertation title (centered, all caps or title case)
- "A dissertation presented by" followed by your full name
- "to" and your department name
- "in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the subject of" and your field
- "Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts"
- Month and year of degree conferral
Harvard Citation Style
Most Harvard humanities departments use Chicago/Turabian (footnotes + bibliography). Social sciences and sciences may use APA or discipline-specific styles. Confirm with your advisor.
Chicago Quick Example
Footnote: John Smith, Academic Writing at Harvard (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2024), 45.
Bibliography: Smith, John. Academic Writing at Harvard. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2024.
Submission Checklist
- Title page follows GSAS template
- Abstract (350 words max) included
- Table of contents with correct page numbers
- All chapters begin on a new page
- 1.5 inch left margin throughout
- Consistent citation style
- Bibliography/references formatted correctly
- Permission letters for copyrighted material included (if applicable)
- PDF/A format for electronic submission
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Sources & Accuracy
This guide summarizes formatting requirements as understood from the official graduate school page linked below. Universities revise their requirements (and sometimes their deadlines) between academic years — always confirm current specifics directly with your department or the Graduate School before submitting, since this page cannot guarantee it reflects the latest revision.
Primary source: Harvard GSAS — Formatting Your Dissertation
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