Stanford University requires all doctoral dissertations to meet specific formatting standards before electronic submission. This guide covers the Stanford Registrar's requirements.
Stanford Dissertation Format Specifications
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Font | 12-pt standard font (Times New Roman recommended) |
| Margins | 1.5 inch left binding margin; 1 inch all other sides |
| Spacing | Double-spaced; footnotes and block quotes may be single-spaced |
| Page size | 8.5 × 11 inches (US Letter) |
| File format | PDF (single file including all pages) |
Stanford Title Page Requirements
- Dissertation title (centered)
- "A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF [YOUR DEPARTMENT] AND THE COMMITTEE ON GRADUATE STUDIES OF STANFORD UNIVERSITY"
- "IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY"
- Your full name
- Month and year of conferral
Stanford Electronic Submission
Stanford uses the online submission system through Axess:
- Submit as a single PDF file
- $55 processing fee
- Survey of Earned Doctorates required
- University Microfilms (ProQuest) agreement
Stanford Citation Styles by School
| School | Preferred Style |
|---|---|
| Humanities & Sciences | Chicago/Turabian or MLA |
| Engineering | IEEE or discipline-specific |
| Graduate School of Business | APA or Chicago |
| School of Medicine | ICMJE/Vancouver |
| Law School | Bluebook |
Submission Checklist
- Title page follows Stanford template exactly
- 1.5 inch left margin throughout
- Abstract on separate page
- All committee members listed
- PDF file passes Stanford online check
- Copyright page included
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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: Stanford University Registrar — Dissertation and Thesis Submission
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