Concordia University Thesis Formatting Requirements

Concordia’s School of Graduate Studies (SGS) has detailed requirements for thesis presentation. Getting the format right before submission saves you weeks of back-and-forth with the thesis office. This guide covers everything: official requirements, available templates, required sections, and the most common formatting mistakes.

Official Formatting Requirements (SGS)

ParameterRequirement
Paper sizeStandard letter (8.5” × 11”)
Margins1.0 inch (2.5 cm) on all sides
Reduced margins0.5 inch allowed on right/left for charts, tables, drawings
FontStandard academic font, consistent throughout
Abstract (Master’s)Title + author name + text ≤ 250 words
Abstract (Doctoral)Title + author name + text ≤ 350 words
Submission formatPDF via Spectrum (institutional repository)

Available Templates

Word

Concordia provides an official Word template for theses:

LaTeX

Two LaTeX options are available:

  • Overleaf template (community): Search “Concordia University Thesis” on Overleaf
  • GitHub template: Community-maintained templates available for engineering and sciences
  • Concordia’s library can assist with LaTeX formatting questions

Thesis Structure (Required Order)

Front Matter (lowercase Roman numerals: i, ii, iii…):

  1. Title page (page i, not printed)
  2. Signature page (for bound copies)
  3. Abstract
  4. Acknowledgements (optional)
  5. Table of Contents
  6. List of Figures (if applicable)
  7. List of Tables (if applicable)
  8. List of Symbols / Abbreviations (if applicable)

Body (Arabic numerals starting at 1): 9. Introduction (page 1) 10. Chapters 11. Conclusion 12. References / Bibliography 13. Appendices (if applicable)

Thesis Format Options

Traditional Monograph

Chapters are thematically organized. The most common format across disciplines.

Manuscript-Based Thesis

Accepted at Concordia. Requirements:

  • Each manuscript chapter must be self-contained with an introduction and conclusion
  • Co-authored manuscripts require a statement of contribution
  • A comprehensive introduction and conclusion spanning the whole thesis are required
  • The student must be the primary author of each included manuscript

Abstract Requirements in Detail

TypeMax LengthRequired?
Master’s abstract250 wordsYes
Doctoral abstract350 wordsYes
French abstractSame limitsRequired for French-language theses

Unlike McGill, Concordia does not require a bilingual abstract for English-language theses — but French-language theses may require an English abstract. Confirm with SGS.

Language Policy

  • Theses may be written in English or French.
  • Students writing in a language other than English or French must obtain special permission from SGS.

Official Resources

Most Common Concordia Thesis Formatting Mistakes

  1. Abstract exceeds word limit — 250 words for Master’s, 350 for PhD. Count carefully.
  2. Incorrect margin settings — exactly 1 inch on all sides; use page setup, not ruler dragging.
  3. Missing signature page — required for the final bound copy.
  4. Table of contents doesn’t match actual headings — always update fields before exporting to PDF.
  5. Inconsistent heading styles — use Word styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) so the TOC auto-generates correctly.
  6. No contribution statement — required for manuscript-based theses with co-authored work.

Format Your Concordia Thesis with Uniformat

Uniformat supports Concordia SGS formatting requirements out of the box. Generate a compliant Word or LaTeX document with correct margins, front matter, and heading structures in minutes.

Get started free →

Sources: Concordia SGS Thesis Preparation Guide, concordia.ca/gradstudies (accessed March 2026). Last verified: March 2026.