Dissertation Table of Contents: Format and Example

A dissertation table of contents lists every chapter, main section and back-matter item with its page number, so examiners can see the structure of your work at a glance. It usually sits after the abstract and acknowledgments and before any lists of tables or figures.

This guide covers what to include, the usual order of preliminary pages, how many heading levels to show, page numbering, a full example and how to generate the contents automatically so it stays accurate.

The Order of Preliminary Pages

The order below is common, but universities differ, especially on where the acknowledgments and declaration go. Check your handbook or thesis template.

How Many Heading Levels to Include

Most dissertations show two or three levels: chapters, main sections and sometimes subsections. Going deeper makes the contents long and hard to scan.

• Level 1: chapter titles, such as "Chapter 2: Literature Review".
• Level 2: main sections, such as "2.3 Mentoring and Retention".
• Level 3: subsections, such as "2.3.1 Formal Mentoring Schemes". Include these if they help navigation.

Whatever depth you choose, apply it consistently across every chapter. A contents page that shows subsections in Chapter 2 but not in Chapter 4 looks unfinished.

Section Numbering and Page Numbers

Decimal section numbering (2, 2.1, 2.1.1) is common in UK, scientific and many social science dissertations. Many US dissertations, and some APA-style ones, use unnumbered headings in the text, though chapters are still numbered.

The page number shown in the contents must match the page on which the heading actually appears. Generating the contents automatically is the only reliable way to keep them aligned through revisions.

Example Table of Contents

Here is an illustrative contents page for a master's dissertation with decimal numbering. Your chapter names will follow your own structure and handbook.

Abstract .......................................... ii
Acknowledgments .................................. iii
List of Tables .................................... vi
List of Figures ................................... vii
List of Abbreviations ............................. viii

Chapter 1: Introduction ............................ 1
  1.1 Background ................................... 1
  1.2 Problem Statement ............................ 3
  1.3 Aim, Objectives and Research Questions ....... 4
  1.4 Significance of the Study .................... 5
  1.5 Structure of the Dissertation ................ 6
Chapter 2: Literature Review ....................... 7
  2.1 Search Strategy .............................. 7
  2.2 Early-Career Teacher Attrition ............... 8
  2.3 Mentoring and Retention ..................... 11
  2.4 Theoretical Framework ....................... 15
  2.5 Summary and Gap ............................. 17
Chapter 3: Methodology ............................ 18
Chapter 4: Findings ............................... 29
Chapter 5: Discussion ............................. 44
Chapter 6: Conclusion ............................. 53
References ........................................ 58
Appendix A: Participant Information Sheet ......... 66
Appendix B: Interview Guide ....................... 68

In a real dissertation, Chapters 3 to 6 would also list their main sections. They are collapsed here to keep the example short.

Writing Headings That Work in the Contents

Your contents page is only as clear as the headings in your text. Examiners often skim it first to judge whether the argument is well organized.

• Make headings descriptive: "2.3 Mentoring and Retention" says more than "2.3 Theme Two".
• Keep them short enough to fit on one line where possible.
• Use parallel wording for sections at the same level.
• Avoid two sections with the same heading in different chapters unless the chapter number makes the difference clear.

How to Create an Automatic Table of Contents in Word

1. Apply the built-in Heading 1 style to chapter titles, Heading 2 to main sections and Heading 3 to subsections.
2. Modify those styles (font, size, spacing) to match your university's rules, rather than formatting each heading by hand.
3. Place the cursor on a blank contents page and choose References, then Table of Contents, then Custom Table of Contents.
4. Set "Show levels" to 2 or 3 and choose dot leaders if your guide expects them.
5. Insert section breaks between the preliminary pages and Chapter 1 so you can use roman and arabic page numbers.
6. Before submission, right-click the table and choose Update Field, then Update entire table.

Google Docs and LaTeX can generate contents automatically too. In LaTeX, the \tableofcontents command builds it from your section commands; compile twice to update page numbers.

Lists of Tables, Figures and Abbreviations

If your dissertation contains tables or figures, most universities expect separate lists after the table of contents. Each entry shows the number, the caption and the page.

• Insert captions with Word's Insert Caption tool so they can be listed automatically.
• Generate each list with References, then Insert Table of Figures, choosing "Table" or "Figure" as the label.
• Number tables and figures either continuously (Table 1, 2, 3) or by chapter (Table 3.1, 3.2), as your guide requires.
• List abbreviations alphabetically with their full forms, and still define each one at first use in the text.

How Contents Pages Vary by Country and Format

There is no universal template. The differences below are common, but your graduate school or department template always wins.

Thesis by Publication

In an article-based thesis, each paper usually appears as a chapter in the contents, often with its publication status noted in the chapter itself rather than in the contents. The framing introduction and discussion chapters are listed as usual.

If papers keep their own internal headings and reference lists, show only their chapter titles and main sections, so the contents stay readable.

Common Table of Contents Mistakes

How DissertationHorse Helps with Your Table of Contents

Send your draft and your university's formatting guide or template. An editor applies consistent heading styles, sets up roman and arabic page numbering, generates the table of contents and lists of tables and figures, and checks that every entry matches the text.

Formatting is done without changing your content. Free revisions within the scope of your original request are included.