Heriot-Watt University PhD thesis template (Word and LaTeX)

Start your Heriot-Watt University PhD thesis with the formatting already done, then write it with AI that works from your own sources. Kahubi opens a thesis with these rules set, drafts sections with real citations, and exports to Word or PDF in this format.

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A4 paper
Times New Roman 12 pt
1.5 line spacing
Front matter in order

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United Kingdom · Rules last checked 12 October 2026

Chapter 1

Introduction

The rapid growth of empirical work in this area has produced a fragmented evidence base, with findings that are difficult to compare across settings and designs. We collected data across three sites over a period of eighteen months, combining survey responses with administrative records to construct a longitudinal panel. Results indicate a robust association between the intervention and the primary outcome, an effect that persists across all model specifications considered here. These findings extend earlier work by demonstrating that the mechanism operates independently of contextual moderators identified in previous studies. The rapid growth of empirical work in this area has produced a fragmented evidence base, with findings that are difficult to compare across settings and designs. We collected data across three sites over a period of eighteen months, combining survey responses with administrative records to construct a longitudinal panel. Results indicate a robust association between the intervention and the primary outcome, an effect that persists across all model specifications considered here.

Heriot-Watt University format · \documentclass{book} · single column · 12pt — visual approximation

Formatting rules at a glance

Paper size	A4 (210 x 297 mm)[1]
Margins	one-sided
Fonts	body text Times New Roman 12 pt, headings Times New Roman 14 pt[1]
Line spacing	1.5 lines[1]
Paragraphs	Space between paragraphs, no indent[1]
Heading numbering	Numbered (1, 1.1, 1.1.1)[1]
Page numbers	roman numerals (i, ii, iii) in the front matter, arabic from chapter 1, bottom centre[1]
Title page	Title, Subtitle, Volume number, Author, Qualifications, Degree, Institution, School, Month and year, Copyright statement[1]
Front matter order	Title page, Abstract, Dedication, Acknowledgements, Table of contents, List of tables, List of figures, Abbreviations, List of papers[1]
Thesis type	Monograph[1]
Reference style	Decided by the department or field[1]
Length	PhD thesis normally not exceed 80,000 words and 400 pages, with absolute limit 100,000 words.[1]
Printing	Hard copies are arranged directly by the candidate; no specific printer or number of copies specified.[1]
Publishing online	ROS[2]
Official template	Yes (Word and other)[2]

Checked against the official pages on 12 October 2026. Rules can change: confirm with your graduate school or library before printing.

Front matter and structure

1Title page
2Abstract
3Dedication
4Acknowledgements
5Table of contents
6List of tables
7List of figures
8Abbreviations
9List of papers

The main text is set up as chapters (Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusions), followed by the reference list.

Writing your PhD thesis at Heriot-Watt University?

Spend your time on the research, not on the template

Kahubi is an AI workspace built for theses: your sources, your writing style and your university's format in one place.

The formatting is done before you write
Margins, fonts, title page and front matter follow the Heriot-Watt University rules from the first page. Export to Word or PDF in this format whenever you need to.
Citations that actually exist
The AI cites only papers in your own library and marks every claim that still needs a source, instead of inventing a reference your examiner will look up.
Drafts that sound like you
Kahubi learns your writing style from your own papers, so chapters read like your thesis, not like generic AI text.
Your literature in one place
Import from Zotero or by DOI, read and annotate PDFs, and pull quotes and figures straight into the chapter you are writing.
Your supervisor in the loop
Share chapters for comments in the same workspace. Invite your supervisor and you both get 30 days of the full plan free.
Your research stays yours
Hosted in the EU and GDPR compliant. Unpublished chapters and data are never shared or published.

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Official template

Heriot-Watt University also publishes its own template. Kahubi does not copy it: writing in Kahubi starts from the rules below, and you can open the official file any time.

Official template

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Is this the official Heriot-Watt University thesis template?

No. Heriot-Watt University has its own template, linked above. We do not copy it; this page summarises the formatting rules and links to the sources.

Which reference style should I use?

The reference style is decided by your department or field. Ask your supervisor; the template uses APA as a placeholder you can switch.

Can I write my Heriot-Watt University thesis in Kahubi instead of Word?

Yes. Open the template in Kahubi and your thesis starts with these rules already applied. You write in the browser with your sources next to you, the AI drafts and edits chapters in your own style, and you export to Word or PDF in the Heriot-Watt University format whenever you need to hand something in.

Where is the thesis published online?

The rules mention ROS. Your library registers the thesis there, usually before the public defence.

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Write your Heriot-Watt University thesis with AI

The format is already set. Kahubi drafts from your library with real citations, and exports to Word or PDF when you are ready.

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