Does HEC Montreal offer an official Word template ?

Yes. HEC provides Word templates (a classic template and an article-based template), created by the Centre de formation en langues des affaires (CFLA) and the library, preconfigured with the front matter and an automatic table of contents. A LaTeX document class and templates are also offered.

What are the margins for a thesis at HEC Montreal ?

The left margin is 4 to 5 cm, and the top, bottom, and right margins are about 2 to 3 cm, on letter paper. Line spacing is 1.5, but double spacing is also accepted.

Is an English abstract required for a thesis at HEC Montreal ?

The document includes a French abstract and, depending on the program, an English abstract. Check your program's specific requirements, including the abstract word limits.

Thesis and Dissertation Template: HEC Montreal

Q: Which citation style is used at HEC Montreal ?

HEC Montreal's style is based on APA 7th edition and follows the typographic rules of the Office québécois de la langue française. Some programs in finance, economics, or decision sciences may prefer a different style: confirm with your research supervisor.

HEC Montreal is the business school affiliated with the Université de Montréal. Its graduate programs (MSc, DBA, PhD) require a precise presentation of research work. This guide brings together the essential standards and resources to help you prepare your thesis or dissertation.

Formatting requirements

Parameter	Requirement
Paper size	Letter (21.5 cm x 28 cm / 8 ½ in x 11 in)
Font	Classic typeface (Arial, Calibri, Times…), 10 to 12 pt depending on the font
Line spacing	One-and-a-half (1.5); double spacing is also accepted
Margins	Left 4 to 5 cm; top, bottom and right about 2 to 3 cm
Word template	Available (classic and article-based templates) on the CFLA and library page
LaTeX template	Available (document class and LaTeX templates) on the CFLA page
Citation style	HEC style based on APA 7th edition (depending on the program)

Available templates

Word

HEC Montreal provides Word templates (a classic template and an article-based template), created by the Centre de formation en langues des affaires (CFLA) and the library:

Access to the templates: CFLA page, Modèles section
MSc program, thesis page: hec.ca/etudiants/mon-programme/maitrises/memoire
The templates come preconfigured with the front matter, a table of contents that updates automatically and the essential thesis sections

Note: HEC Montreal also offers, in the same place on the CFLA page, a document class and LaTeX templates, along with LaTeX training provided by the library.

Structure of the HEC MSc/PhD document

Front matter:

Title page
Abstract (French)
Abstract (English), depending on the program
Table of contents
List of tables and figures
Acknowledgements (optional)

Body: 7. Introduction 8. Literature review 9. Methodology 10. Results 11. Discussion 12. Conclusion 13. References / Bibliography 14. Appendices

Citation style

HEC Montreal’s presentation style is based on APA 7th edition and follows the typographic rules of the Office québécois de la langue française. Some programs in finance, economics or decision sciences may, however, prefer different styles. Confirm with your research supervisor.

Official resources

MSc Program, Thesis: hec.ca/etudiants/mon-programme/maitrises/memoire
Templates and language resources (CFLA): hec.ca/cfla/francais/index.html
Submission and distribution: the version evaluated by the jury is made public by the HEC Montreal library

Common mistakes to avoid

Forgetting to download the right template: always use the official HEC template, not a generic one.
Inconsistent citation style: follow the APA style rigorously if that is what your program requires.
Manual table of contents: use Word styles so the table generates automatically.
Excessive abstract length: check the word limits of your specific program.

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Sources: HEC Montreal, MSc program page (Thesis) and the CFLA Guide pour la rédaction d’un travail universitaire de 1er, 2e et 3e cycles (accessed June 2026). Last verified: June 2026.