University of Durham Thesis Template
Make your University of Durham Thesis format-perfect: correct front matter, margins, and citation style built in, so it sails through review instead of coming back for fixes.
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How to Use the University of Durham Thesis Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 25 July, 2026
A University of Durham 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 University of Durham Thesis formatting guidance.
What is the University of Durham Thesis Template?
It is a formatting shell for a University of Durham 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.
What's actually in a University of Durham Thesis thesis/dissertation:
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.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets sent back:
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.
What does this University of Durham Thesis Template include?
The shell mirrors what the graduate school formatting office checks first: structure order, margins, and citation consistency. Use the University of Durham Thesis formatting guidance as the source of truth.
Steps to Use This Template with Scispace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The Scispace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload your institution's current version.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and the specific rule you must satisfy.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts the required structure and citation style.
- Use View Outputs to verify structure order and margins.
- Export to your required format and submit.
University of Durham Thesis Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | University of Durham Thesis requirement |
|---|---|
| Figures/tables | Captioned and numbered per manual |
| Keywords | Optional. The e-Theses deposit guide provides an 'Uncontrolled Keywords' field described as 'an optional, free-text field where you can include any relevant keywords associated with your thesis.' No specific count or range required. |
| References | Candidates must include a list of books and other sources used in their preparation and must acknowledge the work and opinions of others. Unacknowledged quotation or close paraphrasing is penalized as plagiarism. Specific citation style (e.g., Harvard, APA, Vancouver) is not mandated in the university-wide regulations and varies by department/faculty. |
| Submission | https://etheses.durham.ac.uk/ (for final thesis deposit after examination). Initial thesis submission for examination is through the Graduate School portal: https://durhamuniversity.sharepoint.com/teams/GraduateSchool/SitePages/Thesis-Submission.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 | libguides.durham.ac.uk |
Quick Tips for Using the University of Durham Thesis Template
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 University of Durham Thesis thesis/dissertation in your department.
Best Practices
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.
Before You Submit: Final Check
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 University of Durham Thesis formatting guidance.
