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, winter 2026)

Starting with the winter 2026 session, your thesis or dissertation must include a foreword containing a general declaration on your use of generative artificial intelligence tools during the preparation and writing of your research work. If you used no such tool, you must declare that too: according to FESP, a missing declaration will delay your initial submission (official FESP instructions, in French).

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: a French résumé is required for every thesis, and FESP recommends adding an English abstract for visibility (detailed presentation rules).
  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.

Sources: FESP Université Laval, detailed presentation rules; Generative AI use in theses and dissertations (FESP); Mandatory generative AI declaration (PDF, FESP). Last verified: September 2026.