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This is a partial summary of the regulations governing format and binding of theses taken from the 1994/95 University Calendar. It aims to help those of you who are preparing their MSc dissertations on PCs at home and to answer the most frequently asked questions. As it is only a summary, however, you should check the full version in the latest Calendar at least once to be sure that you are complying with the rules. Copies are available in ITOs and there are copies in the Library. The rules for MSc dissertations are the same as those for PhD theses.
These regulations were invented in the days of typewriters and to my knowledge there are no standard University style files for formats other than Latex. You can get a better idea of what MSc dissertations should look like by looking at examples in the Library that have been prepared using the Division's Latex templates.
Size and thickness of paper:
A4, at least 70gsm for top copy.
Type face:
Consistent and clear.
Don't use a dot matrix printer "unless giving
'near letter quality'."
Use a new ribbon.
Text layout:
4cm binding margin
2cm head margin (top of page)
2.5cm fore-edge margin (the bit your thumb is against if
you're riffling through the pages)
4cm tail margin (bottom of page)
Print on one side of the paper.
Use no less than 1.5 spacing, with quotations and notes
single-spaced.
Pagination continuous, to include any pages with just diagrams,
tables, illustrations, etc.
Character size:
Not less than 2.0mm for capitals and 1.5mm for x-height
(the height of a lower-case x).
At least 10 points; body text not more than 12 points.
Font:
A serif font if you have the choice.
Word spacing and division:
Even spacing between words.
Avoid word division at the end of lines if you can.
Title page:
Title of thesis
Author's name
At foot of page:
name of degree
University of Edinburgh
year of presentation
Binding:
The Department's own, i.e. spiral bound between the
Department's green covers.
You submit two bound copies and a third loose-leaf copy.