Formatting your Northumbria University Thesis? This template sets the required structure, margins, and citations from page one—so you pass the formatting check the first time.
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Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 25 July, 2026
A Northumbria University Thesis thesis/dissertation is most often sent back for formatting, not content: margins, front-matter order, and page numbering. The graduate school formatting office checks these before anything else. This template sets the correct structure from the first draft, following the Northumbria University Thesis formatting guidance.
It is a formatting shell for a Northumbria University Thesis thesis/dissertation, built to the official rules. It covers the title page, approval/signature page, abstract, table of contents, chapters, references, and appendices, with a consistent citation style. Confirm the current requirements in the official guidelines before you begin. See also the e-theses guidance.
Set up the front matter and chapters in the required order, apply the correct margins and spacing from the manual, and use the prescribed citation style throughout. Keep figures and tables captioned and numbered as specified.
The signature failure mode is margin, front-matter order, and page-numbering rules. Second is inconsistent citations. Third is missing or out-of-order front matter. Fix all three against the official guidelines before submitting.
The shell mirrors what the graduate school formatting office checks first: structure order, margins, and citation consistency. Use the Northumbria University Thesis formatting guidance as the source of truth.
| Element | Northumbria University Thesis requirement |
|---|---|
| Figures/tables | Captioned and numbered per manual |
| References | Referencing style must be commensurate with the academic discipline of the research programme. Acceptable styles include OSCOLA (Oxford Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities), APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), or MHRA (Modern Humanities Research Association). Whichever style is selected must be used consistently throughout the text. A bibliographical reference must be given for every work cited. |
| Peer review | Not applicable - this is a thesis submission, not a peer-reviewed journal. Theses undergo examination by independent assessors appointed by the University who examine both the written submission and the student's understanding in an oral examination (viva voce). |
| Submission | Submission through Northumbria University Graduate School - requires internal authentication via Graduate School Intranet Site: https://livenorthumbriaac.sharepoint.com/sites/risintranet/gs/Pages/Welcome.aspx |
| Structure | Title page, front matter, chapters, references, appendices |
| Margins/format | Per the official manual |
| Front matter | In the prescribed order |
| Citations | Per the official guidelines |
| Source of truth | overleaf.com |
Read the official manual before drafting and before submission. Set margins and front-matter order first. Apply the citation style from the first reference. Compare against a recently accepted Northumbria University Thesis thesis/dissertation in your department.
Keep numbering and captions consistent. Verify every required page is present and in order. Do a dedicated formatting pass against the official guidelines before submission.
Do one focused pass for margins, front-matter order, and page numbering. Then confirm citation style and that all required pages/sections are present, following the Northumbria University Thesis formatting guidance.