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Template for latex phd thesis title page.

Often universities provide official LaTeX templates for PhD theses. If your university doesn’t, here is a template. The template includes the most common elements of a thesis title page:

  • University’s or institute’s logo
  • Thesis title
  • Author’s name
  • Degree the thesis is submitted for
  • Submission date

latex_thesis_title_page

A few remarks

The template may have to be adapted, as it most likely won’t fulfil your university’s or institute’s official thesis guidelines.

If the official guidelines do not explicitly state it, do not use more than two different font sizes. In the template, I used the same font size throughout the title page ( \Large ).

To center content of the title page and still use twoside -margins for the thesis, use the geometry package :

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22 comments.

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13. May 2014 at 19:21

Tom, do you know how I can make the page numbers in an index to be hyperlinks please? I haven’t found any way of doing it online.

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14. May 2014 at 7:35

Just use the linktoc=all option when you load the hyperref package .

14. May 2014 at 11:07

I’ve tried it but it didn’t work, FYI this is the relevant part of my file header –

There is no change at all in the index page, unfortunately! 🙁

14. May 2014 at 11:18

You load the hyperref package twice with different options. Use this instead:

Also, hyperref has to be the last package loaded ( exceptions ).

Finally, always typeset twice for changes to appear in the TOC.

14. May 2014 at 11:22

sorted by using

14. May 2014 at 11:26

Great to hear, thanks!

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19. May 2014 at 9:44

Hello Tom, I like how your template looks so clean and simple. Do you think it is wise to use the “titlepage” environment for a title? It is used in the Wikibook about LaTeX ( https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/LaTeX/Title_Creation ).

19. May 2014 at 10:28

Thanks for the positive feedback! Personally, I’ve never used the titlepage environment, \maketitle has done the job so far. You may want to take a look at the discussion on the topic here to decide what’s your best choice…

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3. September 2014 at 9:55

I have really liked the templete. Can you please tell me where should I put the logo if I also want to mention the name of the university in the title page?

5. September 2014 at 2:59

Personally, I’d place the university name right before the year and keep the logo on top. There might be guidelines of your school defining the order.

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11. September 2014 at 2:50

Hi Tom, Thanks for the template! It seems that newgeometry does not work with version 4 of the geometry package. Is there another possibility to get the twoside margins?

12. September 2014 at 4:25

Interesting question. You could either update your version of geometry, \newgeometry was introduced in version 5, or use the gmeometric package instead.

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18. September 2014 at 15:49

Nice, simple, clean template. Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately, when I use this, it adds page numbers (which I do not want) and also includes a blank first page.

I have to use this as my preamble.

If I do not comment out the first line, it does no compile

How can I remove the page numbers and the blank first page.

20. September 2014 at 16:36

To switch pages number off, use:

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5. February 2015 at 17:51

Hi Tom Is it possible to have two logos side by side on the cover page (joint phd and both univversities’ logos must appear). Any idea how I can implement this?

14. February 2015 at 5:50

Hi Michael,

Try the minipage environment as shown below. If this doesn’t work, please provide a minimal working example. Thanks, Tom.

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11. May 2015 at 18:45

Thanks Tom for the Template

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10. August 2015 at 17:54

If the titlepage has different margin settings, which is quite often the case, i tend to recommend to include the titlepage as a standalone document with includepdf from pdfpages. A titlepage doesn’t change every few minutes and is quite static. Clompetely avoiding the newgeometry stuff.

11. August 2015 at 12:15

Thanks for your comment. I agree, that’s a neat way of keeping the titlepage separated from the rest of the document. Best, Tom.

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8. May 2016 at 9:23

Sir Please tell me how to write 4 to 5 authors in title page of a report?

10. May 2016 at 10:58

You can use the author macro as shown in the minimal working example below.

10. May 2016 at 18:14

Depending on how you want your complete author section output, there might be better ways. In some cases, it is even more painless to do the titlepage by hand.

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How to Write a Thesis in LaTeX: A Complete Guide

How to Write a Thesis in LaTeX: A Complete Guide

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: introduction to latex, 1.1 what is latex.

LaTeX is a high-quality typesetting system used for creating scientific and technical documents. Unlike word processors like Microsoft Word, LaTeX allows for greater control over document structure, formatting, and layout. This makes it an ideal choice for writing academic theses, research papers, and dissertations.

LaTeX (pronounced Lay-tech or Lah-tech) is a powerful document preparation system widely used in academia, especially for writing scientific papers, theses, and technical documents. Unlike standard word processors, LaTeX separates the content of a document from its formatting. This allows users to focus on writing without worrying too much about the visual design.

LaTeX is based on TeX, a typesetting system developed by Donald Knuth in the late 1970s. It is particularly well-suited for producing documents that include:

  • Complex mathematical equations
  • References and citations
  • Large sections of structured text such as chapters, sections, and subsections
  • High-quality figures and tables

While LaTeX does have a steeper learning curve compared to traditional word processors like Microsoft Word, it provides unparalleled control over formatting, which is why it remains popular in research fields like physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, and linguistics.

1.2 Why Use LaTeX for Thesis Writing?

LaTeX provides several benefits for writing a thesis:

  • Consistency in Formatting: LaTeX automatically handles most aspects of document formatting, ensuring consistency throughout your document. This is particularly helpful when writing a long and complex document like a thesis.
  • Automated Table of Contents and Lists: LaTeX will automatically generate and update your table of contents, list of figures, and list of tables as you add sections, figures, and tables.
  • Precise Control of Layout: You have full control over page layout, margins, fonts, and spacing. If your university has specific formatting guidelines, LaTeX allows you to easily comply with them.
  • Seamless Citations and References: With the help of BibTeX (or BibLaTeX), LaTeX manages all your citations, bibliographies, and references with ease, ensuring that they are correctly formatted.
  • Excellent Mathematical Typesetting: If your thesis involves complex equations or mathematics, LaTeX is unmatched in its ability to produce professional-looking mathematical content.
  • Scalability: LaTeX is designed for large documents, allowing you to organize your thesis into multiple files and compile them into a single, coherent document. This is much easier to manage than dealing with a single large word processor file.

1.3 Challenges of LaTeX

  • Learning Curve: LaTeX’s syntax can be overwhelming for beginners, especially if you are accustomed to WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editors.
  • Customization: While LaTeX offers extensive customization, it can take time to learn how to tweak and fine-tune your document’s appearance.

However, the time invested in learning LaTeX is well worth it, as it simplifies the task of formatting and ensures a polished, professional document.

1.4 How LaTeX Works

LaTeX documents are written in plain text files with the extension .tex. Instead of directly formatting the text as you write (like in a word processor), you use a set of commands and tags to define how the document should be formatted. For example, to create a section heading, you write:

When you compile the .tex file, LaTeX processes the commands and generates a beautifully formatted document (usually in PDF format).

1.4.1 The LaTeX Workflow:

  • Write the content of your document in a .tex file using LaTeX commands.
  • Compile the .tex file using a LaTeX engine (like pdflatex) to generate a PDF or other desired output format.
  • View and edit the generated PDF and go back to your .tex file to make necessary adjustments.

1.5 The Structure of a Basic LaTeX Document

A LaTeX document consists of two main parts:

  • The Preamble : This is where you define the overall document structure, including settings for margins, fonts, and other global parameters. It’s also where you load any additional LaTeX packages.
  • The Document Body : This contains the actual content of your thesis, including chapters, sections, figures, tables, and equations.

Here’s an example of a simple LaTeX document:

Explanation of the Key Commands:

  • \documentclass{} : Specifies the document class. In this case, we are using the report class, which is ideal for theses.
  • \usepackage{} : Adds extra functionality to LaTeX (e.g., graphicx for images, amsmath for advanced math typesetting).
  • \begin{document} : Signals the start of the document body.
  • \title , \author , and \date : Define the title page content.
  • \maketitle : Generates the title page.
  • \tableofcontents : Creates the table of contents based on the chapters and sections in the document.
  • \chapter{} : Defines a new chapter.
  • \end{document} : Signals the end of the document.

When you compile this .tex file, LaTeX will automatically generate a well-formatted PDF containing a title page, table of contents, and the first two chapters.

1.6 How LaTeX Handles Formatting

One of LaTeX’s greatest strengths is its ability to automatically handle formatting, so you don’t need to worry about adjusting font sizes, margins, or spacing manually. For example:

  • Headings : LaTeX will automatically number chapters, sections, and subsections.
  • Equations : Mathematical equations are formatted professionally, and LaTeX ensures that they are properly aligned.
  • Tables and Figures : LaTeX makes it easy to position figures and tables, and automatically adjusts their layout to avoid overlapping with text.

With LaTeX, formatting is not a manual task. Instead, you define the overall structure and let LaTeX handle the rest.

1.7 Common Uses of LaTeX in Thesis Writing

  • Mathematical and Scientific Writing : LaTeX is widely used in academic fields that require precise typesetting of complex mathematical equations.
  • Long Documents : LaTeX excels at handling large, multi-chapter documents like theses and dissertations.
  • Figures and Tables : LaTeX provides advanced capabilities for inserting and managing figures and tables, including the ability to generate lists of figures and tables.
  • Bibliographies and Citations : LaTeX integrates well with bibliography management tools like BibTeX, making it easy to manage large numbers of references and citations.

1.8 Getting Started with LaTeX

Before you start writing your thesis in LaTeX, you need to install a LaTeX distribution and a text editor. The most commonly used LaTeX distributions are TeX Live and MiKTeX , while popular LaTeX editors include TeXworks , Texmaker , and Overleaf (a cloud-based LaTeX editor).

Once your LaTeX environment is set up, you can start writing your thesis by creating a .tex file and compiling it to produce a PDF.

title page of thesis in latex

Chapter 2: Setting Up Your LaTeX Environment

2.1 downloading and installing latex.

Before you can start writing your thesis in LaTeX, the first step is to set up your LaTeX environment. This involves installing a LaTeX distribution and a text editor where you will write your code.

2.1.1 Choosing a LaTeX Distribution

A LaTeX distribution is a bundle of programs and files that are needed to compile LaTeX documents into readable formats like PDF. The most commonly used distributions are:

  • TeX Live (Recommended for all platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux)
  • MiKTeX (Primarily for Windows and macOS users)

2.1.2 TeX Live

TeX Live is a comprehensive distribution that works across platforms and is highly recommended for its stability and features. It includes all the tools you need to compile LaTeX documents into different formats, including PDF. You can download TeX Live from its official website:

  • For Windows : TeX Live for Windows
  • For macOS : TeX Live for macOS
  • For Linux : You can install TeX Live via your package manager ( sudo apt-get install texlive-full for Ubuntu).

2.1.2 MiKTeX

MiKTeX is another popular LaTeX distribution that is user-friendly and frequently updated. It allows you to install additional packages on-the-fly, making it convenient for users who might need various LaTeX features later. You can download MiKTeX from its official website:

  • MiKTeX for Windows/macOS : MiKTeX Download

Once downloaded, follow the installation prompts to install either distribution. After installation, your system will be ready to compile LaTeX documents.

2.2 Setting Up an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

While you can technically write LaTeX code in any plain text editor (like Notepad or TextEdit), using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) specifically designed for LaTeX will make your workflow smoother and more efficient. IDEs often include features like syntax highlighting, error checking, and one-click compilation to generate your PDF document.

2.2.1 Popular LaTeX Editors

Here are some of the most widely used LaTeX editors:

Overleaf (Online Cloud-Based Editor)

  • Overleaf is a popular cloud-based LaTeX editor that allows you to write and compile LaTeX documents entirely online. It is ideal for collaborative projects, as multiple users can edit the same document in real-time.
  • Pros : No installation needed, easy collaboration, automatic saving, large community.
  • Cons : Requires internet connection.

Website : Overleaf

TeXworks (Offline Editor)

  • TeXworks is a simple, easy-to-use LaTeX editor that comes bundled with most LaTeX distributions, including TeX Live and MiKTeX.
  • Pros : Lightweight, straightforward interface, good for beginners.
  • Cons : Limited advanced features compared to other editors.

Website : TeXworks

  • Texmaker is a cross-platform LaTeX editor with a wide range of features, including PDF viewing, spell-checking, and code folding. It offers an integrated LaTeX development environment.
  • Pros : Feature-rich, built-in PDF viewer, cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux).
  • Cons : Slightly more complex for beginners.

Website : Texmaker

Visual Studio Code (VSCode) with LaTeX Workshop Extension

  • VSCode is a highly customizable code editor, and with the LaTeX Workshop extension, it becomes a powerful LaTeX IDE.
  • Pros : Great for users familiar with code editors, highly customizable, built-in terminal.
  • Cons : Slightly steeper learning curve for beginners.

Website : Visual Studio Code

2.3 Writing Your First LaTeX Document

Now that your LaTeX environment is set up, let’s dive into writing your first LaTeX document. The basic structure of any LaTeX document consists of a preamble and a body.

2.3.1 Basic Structure of a LaTeX Document

  • Preamble : This section defines the overall structure and style of the document. It is where you specify the document class, load necessary packages, and define global formatting options.
  • Document Body : This is where the actual content (such as chapters, sections, text, and images) is written.

Here is a step-by-step guide to creating a simple LaTeX document:

  • Open your LaTeX editor (Overleaf, TeXworks, or another).
  • Create a new file and save it as thesis.tex .
  • Write the following basic LaTeX code :
  • \documentclass[a4paper,12pt]{report} : Defines the document class as a report with A4-sized paper and a font size of 12pt. The report class is suitable for writing a thesis.
  • \usepackage{graphicx} : Imports the graphicx package, which allows you to add images to your document.
  • \usepackage{amsmath} : Imports the amsmath package, enabling advanced mathematical typesetting.
  • \maketitle : Generates the title page using the information provided by \title{} , \author{} , and \date{} .
  • \tableofcontents : Automatically generates a table of contents based on the chapters, sections, and subsections in your document.
  • \chapter{} : Creates a new chapter.
  • \section{} : Creates a new section within a chapter.
  • \subsection{} : Creates a subsection within a section.
  • \end{document} : Marks the end of the LaTeX document.

2.3.2 Compiling the LaTeX Document

After writing your LaTeX code, the next step is to compile it and generate a PDF. The compilation process converts your .tex file into a PDF format that you can view and share.

To compile the document:

  • In Overleaf , simply click the “Recompile” button, and the PDF will automatically be generated and displayed on the right.
  • In TeXworks or Texmaker , you can click the green “Play” or “Compile” button to generate the PDF.
  • In VSCode with the LaTeX Workshop extension, use the command Ctrl + Alt + B to compile the document.

Once compiled, you will have a neatly formatted PDF containing a title page, table of contents, and the first two chapters of your thesis.

2.4 Packages in LaTeX

LaTeX is highly modular, and you can add extra functionality to your documents by using packages. Packages are like plugins that extend the core functionality of LaTeX, allowing you to customize your document to meet specific needs.

2.4.1 Commonly Used LaTeX Packages

Here are some of the most useful LaTeX packages for writing a thesis:

  • graphicx : Allows you to include images in your document.
  • amsmath : Enhances LaTeX’s mathematical capabilities, adding support for more complex equations.
  • geometry : Lets you customize page layout, margins, and paper size.
  • setspace : Enables you to control line spacing (e.g., single, one-and-a-half, or double spacing).
  • hyperref : Adds clickable links to your table of contents, references, and URLs.

To include a package in your LaTeX document, simply add the \usepackage{} command in the preamble:

2.5 Testing the Setup

Now that you’ve written and compiled your first LaTeX document, it’s time to test your setup by experimenting with different LaTeX commands and packages. Try adding new chapters, sections, and even images or equations to see how LaTeX handles them.

For example, add an image to your document using the graphicx package:

You can also explore formatting text, adding lists, or experimenting with mathematical equations using amsmath .

Chapter 3: Document Structure and Formatting in LaTeX

3.1 understanding document classes.

In LaTeX, the overall structure and formatting of your document are controlled by the document class . A document class determines how different elements—like sections, figures, tables, and references—are formatted.

When writing a thesis, you will typically use the report or book class. The choice of document class affects the layout and style of your document.

3.1.1 Common Document Classes

  • Pros : Simple and easy to work with.
  • Cons : Not designed for long documents with chapters.
  • Pros : Allows chapters and structured content.
  • Cons : Less sophisticated than the book class for very large documents.
  • Pros : Comprehensive support for different sections, parts, and chapters.
  • Cons : Slightly more complex than the report class.
  • thesis (Custom Classes): Some institutions provide their own LaTeX class, typically named thesis.cls , that formats your document according to specific university requirements. Always check if your institution has such a class file.

3.2 Structuring a Thesis Document

A well-organized thesis document typically consists of various chapters, sections, subsections, and appendices. LaTeX makes it easy to structure your document hierarchically.

3.2.1 Chapters, Sections, and Subsections

A thesis often contains multiple chapters, each divided into sections and subsections. Here’s how you can define chapters, sections, and subsections in LaTeX:

Hierarchy Overview:

  • \chapter{} : Top-level division (used in report and book classes).
  • \section{} : Major section of a chapter.
  • \subsection{} : Subdivision of a section.
  • \subsubsection{} : Subdivision of a subsection.

You can also add paragraphs or subparagraphs for finer divisions if necessary:

3.3 Formatting Your Thesis

LaTeX provides powerful commands to control the formatting of text, paragraphs, lists, and other elements in your thesis. This ensures that your document not only follows academic standards but also remains aesthetically appealing.

3.3.1 Fonts and Font Sizes

You can easily change the font size of specific sections or the entire document. LaTeX supports various font sizes, ranging from tiny ( \tiny ) to very large ( \Huge ).

To change the font size of the entire document, modify the \documentclass options:

To change the font size of specific text, you can use:

Other available font sizes include \tiny , \scriptsize , \footnotesize , \normalsize , \large , \Large , \LARGE , and \Huge .

3.3.2 Line Spacing

You may want to adjust the line spacing in your thesis for readability or to meet institutional requirements. The setspace package makes this easy:

You can also adjust spacing for specific parts of the document:

3.4 Page Layout

LaTeX allows you to customize the layout of your pages, including margins, headers, footers, and page numbering. The geometry package is particularly useful for adjusting page margins.

3.4.1 Setting Margins

The geometry package allows you to control the margins of your document. Here’s an example of how to set 1-inch margins on all sides:

You can also set different margins for different parts of the document:

3.4.2 Headers and Footers

The fancyhdr package enables you to customize headers and footers, including adding page numbers and section titles.

To use the package:

With this code, each page will display the current chapter in the header and the page number in the footer.

3.5 Managing Long Documents

A thesis can become a lengthy and complex document, but LaTeX helps you manage large projects effectively by allowing you to break your document into smaller files.

3.5.1 Using \input{} and \include{}

When working on a large document like a thesis, it’s a good idea to split each chapter into separate .tex files and compile them into a single document.

Here’s how to do it:

  • Create separate files for each chapter (e.g., chapter1.tex , chapter2.tex ).
  • In your main file (e.g., thesis.tex ), use the \input{} or \include{} commands to include these files:

The \include{} command is ideal for long documents because it skips the compilation of files you aren’t currently working on, speeding up the process. The \input{} command is more suited for shorter or simpler files.

3.5.2 Table of Contents

LaTeX automatically generates a table of contents based on the chapters, sections, and subsections in your document. Simply add the following command where you want the table of contents to appear:

Every time you compile the document, the table of contents will update automatically.

3.6 Including Figures and Tables

LaTeX makes it easy to include figures and tables in your thesis, with options for labeling and referencing them throughout the document.

3.6.1 Adding Figures

To include an image in your document, use the graphicx package and the \includegraphics{} command. Make sure the image file is in the same directory as your .tex file, or provide the full path to the image.

This will insert an image with a caption, and you can reference it later using the label:

3.6.2 Creating Tables

LaTeX allows you to create neat tables with the tabular environment:

Like figures, tables can also be labeled and referenced later:

Chapter 4: Advanced Document Features in LaTeX

4.1 creating cross-references.

One of the most powerful features of LaTeX is the ability to easily create cross-references for sections, figures, tables, equations, and other elements in your document. These references automatically update as you modify the document, ensuring accuracy.

4.1.1 Referencing Sections and Subsections

To reference a section or subsection, you first need to label it with the \label{} command. Then, you can refer to that section anywhere in the document using \ref{} .

4.1.2 Referencing Figures and Tables

When you add figures or tables, it’s good practice to label them and reference them later in the text:

Similarly, for tables:

4.1.3 Hyperlinks with hyperref

The hyperref package allows you to create clickable hyperlinks within your document. It’s especially useful when generating a PDF, as clicking the link will jump to the corresponding section, figure, or table.

To include it in your document:

Now, your references will automatically become clickable links in the PDF.

For external links:

4.2 Citations and Bibliography

Citing references and creating a bibliography is a crucial part of any academic thesis. LaTeX offers a wide range of citation styles, allowing you to manage references using tools like BibTeX or biblatex .

4.2.1 Using BibTeX for Managing References

BibTeX is a tool that helps you manage and format your bibliography in LaTeX. You create a .bib file, which stores all your references, and then cite these references in your LaTeX document.

  • Create a .bib file :
  • Include the .bib file in your LaTeX document :
  • Cite the reference in your text :

After compiling the document, LaTeX will automatically generate a formatted bibliography.

4.2.2 Using biblatex

biblatex offers more flexibility and customization for your bibliography compared to BibTeX . You can use it as follows:

  • Load the package :
  • Cite in your document :
  • Print the bibliography :

4.3 Mathematical Equations and Symbols

LaTeX is widely recognized for its powerful handling of mathematical equations, symbols, and notations. This makes it the preferred tool for technical and scientific writing.

4.3.1 Inline Equations

For short equations that appear within the text, you can use inline math mode by enclosing the equation in dollar signs:

4.3.2 Display Equations

For larger equations that need to be centered and stand on their own, you can use the equation environment:

4.3.3 Mathematical Symbols

LaTeX supports an extensive set of symbols, including Greek letters and operators. Here are a few common ones:

  • Greek Letters: $\alpha$, $\beta$, $\gamma$, $\delta$, $\lambda$
  • Mathematical Operators: $\sum$, $\prod$, $\int$, $\frac{a}{b}$
  • Set Symbols: $\in$, $\cup$, $\cap$, $\subset$

The amsmath package provides even more advanced features for handling equations:

4.4 Lists in LaTeX

Lists are an essential element in any document, helping to organize information into bullets or numbered points. LaTeX provides several list environments to meet different needs.

4.4.1 Itemized Lists

An itemized list creates a bulleted list:

This will generate:

  • Second item

4.4.2 Enumerated Lists

An enumerated list creates a numbered list:

4.4.3 Descriptive Lists

A descriptive list allows you to define both terms and their descriptions:

4.5 Footnotes and Endnotes

Footnotes and endnotes are helpful for providing additional information without interrupting the flow of the main text.

4.5.1 Adding Footnotes

You can add footnotes anywhere in the document using the \footnote{} command:

4.5.2 Customizing Footnotes

If you want to change the numbering style of the footnotes, you can use:

4.6 Appendices

Appendices are used to include supplementary material that is important but not part of the main body of the text. LaTeX makes it easy to add appendices.

4.6.1 Creating Appendices

To create appendices in LaTeX, you simply use the \appendix command, which modifies the chapter and section numbering:

This will create a new appendix section, and chapters within the appendix will be labeled alphabetically (e.g., Appendix A, Appendix B).

Chapter 5: Customizing Your LaTeX Thesis

5.1 customizing the title page.

The title page is one of the most important parts of your thesis, as it contains essential information like your name, the thesis title, and your institution. You can easily create a custom title page in LaTeX by using the title , author , and date commands, but many institutions have specific formatting requirements, so customization is often necessary.

5.1.1 Basic Title Page

A simple title page can be created using the \maketitle command. You define the title, author, and date at the beginning of your document:

This will generate a basic title page with the title, author name, and date centered on the page.

5.1.2 Customizing the Title Page Layout

To fully customize the layout of the title page, you can bypass the \maketitle command and create the title page manually using various LaTeX commands for positioning, fonts, and spacing:

In this example, the title is enlarged using \Huge and \textbf{} for bold text. You can adjust the vertical spacing with brackets like [1.5cm] or [1cm] to control the appearance.

5.1.3 Adding Logos or Images

If your institution requires a logo on the title page, you can use the graphicx package to insert an image:

This inserts a logo above the thesis title and positions it using the \centering and \includegraphics[] commands. You can adjust the width of the image and the spacing around it.

5.2 Customizing Fonts and Styles

LaTeX offers a variety of font options to customize the appearance of your thesis. You can change the entire document’s font or customize specific sections to stand out.

5.2.1 Changing the Overall Font

By default, LaTeX uses the Computer Modern font, but you can switch to other popular fonts using the fontspec package (for XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX) or packages like mathptmx for traditional LaTeX.

To change the font to Times New Roman (commonly used in theses), you can add:

If you’re using XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX, you can select any system font:

This will change the main font of the entire document to Times New Roman.

5.2.2 Customizing Specific Text

You can also change the font or style of specific parts of your thesis. For instance, to make a particular section bold or italicized:

5.2.3 Changing Font Sizes

If you want to customize the font size for specific parts of your thesis, LaTeX provides several options, ranging from \tiny to \Huge . You can use these to adjust the font size of headers, titles, or text:

5.3 Headers, Footers, and Page Numbers

Customizing the headers, footers, and page numbers is a common requirement for theses. LaTeX allows you to modify these elements using the fancyhdr package.

5.3.1 Using the fancyhdr Package

The fancyhdr package gives you full control over headers and footers, allowing you to insert text, section titles, and page numbers in various formats.

This example places the chapter title in the left side of the header and the page number in the right side of the footer. You can also add custom text or change the layout to suit your needs.

5.3.2 Page Numbering Options

Page numbers are usually required in theses, and LaTeX gives you several options for customizing them. You can control the position, style (e.g., Roman or Arabic numerals), and starting number.

To start with Roman numerals (typically for the front matter like the table of contents and abstract) and then switch to Arabic numerals for the main body:

You can also choose whether to place page numbers in the header or footer and whether they should be centered or aligned to the left or right.

5.4 Customizing Sections and Chapters

LaTeX automatically numbers sections, subsections, and chapters. However, you can customize how these numbers appear and modify the spacing or formatting around section titles.

5.4.1 Changing Section Numbering

If you want to change how sections and subsections are numbered (e.g., turning off section numbering), you can use the \section*{} and \chapter*{} commands to create unnumbered sections and chapters:

5.4.2 Customizing Chapter Titles

To customize the appearance of chapter titles, you can use the titlesec package:

This example formats the chapter title to be bold, large, and preceded by the word “Chapter.” The \chaptername and \thechapter commands ensure that both the word “Chapter” and its number appear.

5.4.3 Adjusting Spacing Around Titles

To modify the spacing before and after section or chapter titles, you can use the \titlespacing command:

This changes the space before and after chapter titles. The first value controls the indentation, the second controls the space before the title, and the third controls the space after.

5.5 Customizing Tables of Contents, Figures, and Tables

LaTeX automatically generates lists for the table of contents, figures, and tables. However, you may need to customize these lists for your thesis.

5.5.1 Customizing the Table of Contents

The tocloft package allows you to customize the table of contents (TOC) by adjusting the formatting and depth of sections included.

To modify the TOC depth (i.e., which levels are shown), use:

To format the appearance of the TOC:

5.5.2 Customizing the List of Figures and Tables

Similarly, you can adjust the formatting of the List of Figures or List of Tables by modifying their commands. Here’s an example of how to modify the appearance of figure captions:

This sets the figure labels to bold and the figure text to italics.

Chapter 6: Managing Citations and References

Managing references is one of the most important aspects of thesis writing. LaTeX simplifies this process with BibTeX.

Using BibTeX for Bibliography Create a .bib file for your references. Example:

In your LaTeX document, add the following commands:

Customizing Citation Styles You can change the citation style using different bibliography styles such as plain, ieeetr, or apa

Chapter 7: Creating Figures and Tables

Inserting figures and tables is crucial for academic writing. LaTeX provides a simple way to manage them.

Inserting Figures You can insert figures using the graphicx package:

Inserting Tables Tables are created using the tabular environment.

title page of thesis in latex

Chapter 8: Advanced Features for Thesis Writing

Cross-referencing Sections, Equations, and Figures You can cross-reference sections, figures, and equations using \label{} and \ref{}.

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Basic thesis template

This Thesis LaTeX template is an ideal starting point for writing your PhD thesis, masters dissertation or final year project. The style is appropriate for most universities, and can be easily customised. This LaTeX template includes a title page, a declaration, an abstract, acknowledgements, table of contents, list of figures/tables, a dedication, and example chapters and sections.

This template was originally published on ShareLaTeX and subsequently moved to Overleaf in November 2019.

Basic thesis template

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Some examples for title pages with LaTeX

johannesbottcher/titlepageExamples

Folders and files, repository files navigation, examples of latex title pages.

Some titlepages done in LaTeX, a png preview is available for some of them. Click on view Code on mobile devices to get the list of files.

Those are mere examples, there is no warranty that the code will work for your projects or that the code is in any form correct . Use it at your own risk and with some common sense. All examples are self-contained and ready to compile. In most examples, the documentclass can be changed if needed. Special requirements will be noted in comments. There is absolutely no naming scheme, names will mostly consist of animal names. If you decide to use one of the examples as a base for your own titlepage, please leave a link to the example in your tex-code.

The titlepage is one of the first pages of a book or thesis. This page contains only the title in a fashion similar to the rest of the text within the book.

That is what Wikipedia tells us, now we have a perspective to follow, the titlepage should match the appearance of the rest of the book or thesis or report. That means at least, that the font has to match.

A titlepage, not to be confused with a cover, is somehow static. It often needs special formatting (especially margins), to follow some university requirements. It is possible to change the page layout just for the titlepage, but it isn't worth the trouble. It is much easier to simply generate the titlepage in an extra document and include it in the real project using package pdfpages .

Some of the examples here come from the inital answer at How to customize my titlepage . Many more examples of titlepages can be found at TitlePages on CTAN .

Almost all examples use the titlepage environment. If you are going to include the titlepage as a separate pdf in your main document, you can replace the environment by a simple \pagestyle{ampty} .

ant

title-creation

title-creation

Contributors 2

Academic Title Page

This title page is useful for academic works such as assignments, reports, theses or books. The headings can be used to neatly display the institute, course or subject matter of the work. It design is clean with the major feature being two horizontal lines highlighting the title. The template contains code for an alternate layout without a supervisor name and for an institution logo at the bottom of the page.

Description

The template compiles as a standalone document but comes with instructions for integrating it into another LaTeX document.

title page of thesis in latex

This title page was originally created for WikiBooks but has been extensively modified for this website by Vel .

Current Version

v2.0 (July 17, 2017)

This template is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license. Click here to see what this license means for your use of the template.

Open Template for Free Editing Online

Download template, have a question.

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This page last updated on: July 17, 2017

title page of thesis in latex

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Write a Thesis in LaTeX (Part 5): Customising Your Title Page

    In the previous post we looked at adding a bibliography to our thesis using the biblatex package.In this, the final post of the series, we're going to look at customising some of the opening pages. In the first video we made a rather makeshift title page using the \maketitle command and by using an \includegraphics command in the \title command. Although this works, it doesn't give us as much ...

  2. LaTeX templates

    LaTeX templates — Title Page. Recent. frontespizio-unibo. Front page (frontespizio) template for University of Bologna (UNIBO) ... The page is in Italian as required (for some reason unknown to us) and you shouldn't translate anything but your thesis title. You can delete the "correlatore" minipage if you don't have any. In case you do, use ...

  3. titles

    The standard titlepage is quite simple. I am looking for a very complex titlepage and need help customizing my title page. It should match the classicthesis doctoral thesis template. Below a minimal working example: \documentclass[12pt,a4paper,footinclude=true,twoside,headinclude=true]{scrbook} \XeTeXinputencoding iso-8859-1 \usepackage[marginparsep=8pt,left=3.5cm,right=3.5cm,top=3cm,bottom ...

  4. Title Pages

    Title Pages. A title page is the first page of a document and its purpose is to show important information about the work, such as the author(s), title, subtitle, course, supervisor, publisher and date. The title page's job is to clearly display this information at a glance and pull the reader into the document.

  5. Template for LaTeX PhD thesis title page

    In the template, I used the same font size throughout the title page (\Large). To center content of the title page and still use twoside-margins for the thesis, use the geometry package: \documentclass[12pt, oneside]{book} \usepackage{geometry} \begin{document} % Oneside titlepage \newgeometry{twoside} % Twoside thesis content \end{document}

  6. PDF Some Examples of Title Pages

    This work may be distributed and/or modified under the conditions of the LaTeX Project Public License, either version 1.3 of this license or (at your option) any later version. ... this document — the title pages used as exemplars had textblocks that were ... REQUIREMENTS FOR THESIS by Im A. Student A Polemic Presented in Partial Fulfillment

  7. How to Write a Thesis in LaTeX: A Complete Guide

    The title page is one of the most important parts of your thesis, as it contains essential information like your name, the thesis title, and your institution. You can easily create a custom title page in LaTeX by using the title , author , and date commands, but many institutions have specific formatting requirements, so customization is often ...

  8. Basic thesis template

    This Thesis LaTeX template is an ideal starting point for writing your PhD thesis, masters dissertation or final year project. ... The style is appropriate for most universities, and can be easily customised. This LaTeX template includes a title page, a declaration, an abstract, acknowledgements, table of contents, list of figures/tables, a ...

  9. GitHub

    The titlepage is one of the first pages of a book or thesis. This page contains only the title in a fashion similar to the rest of the text within the book. That is what Wikipedia tells us, now we have a perspective to follow, the titlepage should match the appearance of the rest of the book or thesis or report.

  10. LaTeX Templates

    It design is clean with the major feature being two horizontal lines highlighting the title. The template contains code for an alternate layout without a supervisor name and for an institution logo at the bottom of the page. The template compiles as a standalone document but comes with instructions for integrating it into another LaTeX document.