Thesis Template: Université de Montréal (UdeM)
Submitting a thesis or dissertation at Université de Montréal requires precise formatting that complies with the guidelines of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FESP). A submission rejected for formatting reasons can delay your graduation by several weeks. This guide gathers everything you need: official standards, downloadable templates and practical tips.
Official formatting requirements (FESP)
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Paper size | Letter (8½ × 11 in, i.e. 21.59 × 27.94 cm) |
| Margins | Min. 2.5 cm (≈1 in) at top, bottom, right and left |
| Font | Highly legible black roman font, generally 11 to 12 points depending on the font chosen |
| Line spacing | One and a half (double spacing may be accepted depending on the department) |
| Pagination | Arabic numerals in a single sequence for the whole document (Roman numeral pagination is prohibited, including for front matter) |
| Summary (master’s) | ≤ 250 words (one page) |
| Summary (doctoral) | ≤ 500 words (two pages) |
| Submission format | PDF only, via Papyrus |
Use of generative AI (GenAI)
FESP has published guidelines for the transparent, ethical and responsible use of generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Copilot, etc.) when writing theses and dissertations. If you plan to use these tools, you are asked to consult these guidelines as well as the UdeM Libraries guide, which explain how to cite, declare and document the use of GenAI in an academic context. Check with your department for the exact requirements to follow.
Accepted formats: monograph or article-based
UdeM accepts two structures:
- Monograph format: traditional structure with thematic chapters.
- Article-based format: the central chapters are published or submitted articles. Each article must be preceded by an introduction and followed by an integrating conclusion.
Both formats must follow the same formatting standards.
Available templates
Word
The Word template (.dotx) is available through the UdeM Libraries Toolbox:
- Link: boite-outils.bib.umontreal.ca, Submit thesis/dissertation
- Format:
.dotx(Word template) - Preconfigured with the FESP styles (headings, body, footnotes)
LaTeX
Two LaTeX templates are provided by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics:
- Standard template: dms.umontreal.ca/downloads
- Article-based template: included in the same package
- Overleaf (English version): Overleaf, UdeM Thesis Template
The templates are not mandatory, but they are strongly recommended to avoid formatting errors.
Required document structure
Here is the standard order of sections for a thesis or dissertation at UdeM:
- Title page
- Committee identification page
- Summary and keywords in French
- Summary and keywords in English
- Table of contents, list of tables, list of figures (or others)
- List of acronyms and abbreviations
- Dedication (optional)
- Acknowledgements (optional)
- Foreword (optional)
- Body of the work (introduction, chapters, conclusion)
- Bibliographic references
- Appendices (if applicable)
Citations and references
UdeM does not impose a single bibliographic style. The following styles are accepted:
- APA (social sciences and humanities)
- Vancouver (health sciences)
- Chicago (history, certain humanities fields)
- MLA (literature)
Make sure you are consistent throughout the document and that you follow your research supervisor’s recommendations.
Official resources
- Guide to theses and dissertations (PDF, FESP): esp.umontreal.ca, Theses and dissertations guide
- Submission and templates page: esp.umontreal.ca, Theses and dissertations
- UdeM Libraries, Writing a thesis: bib.umontreal.ca
- Electronic submission: Papyrus, UdeM institutional repository
The most common formatting mistakes at UdeM
- Table of contents that does not match the actual headings: page numbers must be updated before submission.
- Insufficient margins: at least 2.5 cm must be left on all four sides of the page.
- Summary too long: 250 words maximum (one page) for a master’s, 500 words (two pages) for a doctoral dissertation.
- Roman numeral pagination: prohibited; the whole document is paginated in Arabic numerals in a single sequence.
- Inconsistent styles: using the Word template avoids most style problems.
Format your UdeM thesis in a few clicks with Uniformat
Uniformat automatically generates a Word or LaTeX document compliant with the UdeM FESP standards. You import your content, you select your university, and Uniformat applies the right styles, margins, numbering and structures.
Sources: FESP guide to theses and dissertations (April 2022, revised March 2025), UdeM Libraries. Last updated: June 2026.