Thesis Template: Université Laval

Université Laval is one of Canada’s major French-language universities. Its Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FESP) sets precise presentation rules for master’s theses and doctoral dissertations. This guide walks you through all the official requirements, the available templates and the resources you need to succeed with your submission.

Official formatting requirements

ParameterRequirement
Paper sizeNorth American letter (21.6 × 27.9 cm)
Top margin25 mm
Bottom margin25 mm
Left margin30 mm
Right margin30 mm
FontBody text 10 to 12 pt; standard font allowed (Arial, Times New Roman, Garamond, Verdana, etc.); footnotes min. 8 pt
Line spacing1.5 for body text; single (1.0) for front matter (table of contents, lists)
Front matter numberingRoman numerals (i, ii, iii…)
Body numberingArabic numerals starting from the introduction

Generative AI use declaration (new, January 2026)

As of January 12, 2026, the foreword of your thesis or dissertation must include a mandatory declaration on the use (or non-use) of generative AI. If you used these tools during the writing or the research, state it in this section.

Check the exact format details with your FESP before submitting.

Available templates

Université Laval offers an official LaTeX class: ulthese, available on CTAN.

  • CTAN: ctan.org/pkg/ulthese
  • Compatible with Overleaf
  • Includes templates for theses and dissertations (monograph and article-based formats)
  • Updated regularly by the library team

Word

Laval does not provide a centralized official Word template. The library does, however, offer one-on-one consultations for students writing in Word:

Required document structure

The order of sections for a thesis or dissertation at Université Laval:

  1. Title page
  2. Summary (French) and abstract (English)
  3. Table of contents
  4. Lists (tables, figures, abbreviations)
  5. Dedication / epigraph (if applicable)
  6. Acknowledgements (if applicable)
  7. Foreword (including the generative AI declaration)
  8. Introduction
  9. Chapters (main body)
  10. Conclusion
  11. General bibliography / References
  12. Appendices

Accepted thesis formats

  • Monograph format: traditional chapter-by-chapter structure.
  • Article-based format: chapters = published or submitted articles, with integrating introduction and conclusion.

Both formats follow the same physical presentation standards.

Citations and references

Laval does not impose a single style. The most common styles by field:

  • APA: social sciences, education, psychology
  • Vancouver: health sciences
  • Chicago Author-Date: humanities

Check with your research supervisor for the preferences in your field.

Official resources

Common mistakes to avoid

  1. Forgetting the AI declaration: since January 12, 2026, the foreword must declare the use (or non-use) of generative AI.
  2. Incorrect margins: left and right at 30 mm, not 25 mm as at other universities.
  3. Missing abstract: doctoral dissertations must include an English-language summary.
  4. Unofficial LaTeX style: use ulthese rather than a generic Overleaf template.
  5. Out-of-sync table of contents: always update the fields before the final PDF export.

Format your Laval thesis automatically with Uniformat

Uniformat supports the FESP standards of Université Laval. Import your content, select your university, and your document is formatted in minutes, in Word or LaTeX.

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Sources: FESP Université Laval, detailed presentation rules (updated January 2026). Last verified: June 2026.