Download the LaTeX Thesis Template
LaTeX allows you to create beautifully typeset and consistent looking documents with only a little learning at the beginning. Using a template means using LaTeX is even easier as the formatting and layout is already set for you so you just need to supply the content.
I have made a LaTeX thesis template that you can use to write your own thesis with. It comes with a comprehensive help guide (that also uses the template) to get you started quickly. The template also provides a framework for organising and writing your work and a lot of subtle formatting at the finest level of detail that will produce the most beautiful looking thesis.
Since the template contains all the formatting commands, the framework and layout structure, you can just concentrate on the writing.
The LaTeX Thesis Template was made when I wrote my own thesis, it is a heavily modified version of the ECS thesis template by Steve Gunn (original available here 
) from the University of Southampton.
To use the thesis template, simply extract the contents of the Zip file. The folder created contains the skeleton structure you will need as you begin writing your thesis, including the style files and extra LaTeX packages. It helps you keep organised by putting all the files you will generate in their correct places.
Note: Don't forget to read the included Help Guide and "Specific Issues" before you get started.
Specific Issues
There are three main issues that may occur when trying to compile the LaTeX Thesis Template on your system:
- Missing packages
- "epstopdf" and "bounding box" errors (for images)
- pdftex "shell escape not enabled" and "badbox" warnings
1. Missing Packages
The LaTeX Thesis Template requires a series of LaTeX packages to be installed for it to compile completely. If any of the required packages are missing, it will fail. As LaTeX distributions vary greatly in what packages they include by default, you may come across a compile error when certain packages that are required by the LaTeX Thesis Template are not installed and hence "not found".
If your LaTeX distribution comes without certain packages needed by the LaTeX Thesis Template, then the included folder named, "Missing Packages" contains the most common packages that you are likely to need. Simply copy the ".sty" file with the missing package name into the root directory of the LaTeX Thesis Template. You may need to repeat this for more than one package until all the packages needed by the LaTeX Thesis Template are present and it compiles without errors.
2. "epstopdf" and "bounding box" errors (for images)
The "epstopdf" and "unable to determine bounding box" errors occur on Windows and Linux systems when you compile the LaTeX Thesis Template using the "LaTeX => PS" and then "PS => PDF" route. This is a setting in your LaTeX Editor and needs to be changed so that you use the direct "LaTeX => PDF" route using a program called, "pdftex":
The way to switch to using "pdftex" will depend on the LaTeX Editor you use, in most cases there will be a drop-down menu or an option in the program preferences. When you are compiling directly to PDF, the bounding box errors will disappear.
3. pdftex "shell escape not enabled" and "badbox" warnings
The "pdftex: shell escape not enabled" warning has no effect upon the final PDF and you do not need to bother about it at all, however, if you do want to remove this warning, you need to append the option:
"--enable-write18"
to the "pdftex" command (ie. "pdftex --enable-write18"). You can set this as an option in the preferences for the LaTeX Editor you are using and the "shell escape" warning will disappear.
Finally, "badboxes" are generated when LaTeX cannot make an object or text fit into the space available on the page within the margins (eg. if a URL or formula is too long or an image or table is too wide). Most times, LaTeX will be able to hyphenate words to make them fit but sometimes, it is just not possible and the badbox remains. Most times, they are not noticeable and can usually be ignored. If you still do not like having badboxes (whether "overfull" or "underfull" badboxes), then the only option it to actually re-word the sentence or paragraph until the offending badbox disappears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to use this LaTeX Thesis Template?
It is not compulsory to use the LaTeX Thesis Template or any other LaTeX template, but here is one, ready, tested, documented and supported for you to use. It is a template and structured framework and written to keep you organised and let you start writing your thesis straight away without spending time worrying about the formatting and layout.
Of course, you can do all of this yourself manually, but why re-invent the wheel?
Can I use this template for my thesis? Will my Institution/University accept it?
The use of the template - particularly the style - depends upon your institution. Sometimes, there are strict, imposed guidelines for the thesis style you must comply to and on these occasions, the institution will have their own template that you must use instead and so you should not use the LaTeX Thesis Template provided here in this situation.
In the majority of cases however, there is no set style and the phrase: "something that just looks professional and formal" will apply. In this case, the LaTeX Thesis Template is suitable as it has been designed to be as "generic" as possible with a style and layout suitable for many institutions.
My advice is to check your institution's style requirements by asking your advisor/supervisor and postgraduate administration office. It may also be helpful to print out the PDF Help file that comes with the LaTeX Thesis Template as it demonstrates the style used and in particular, pages such as the abstract, declaration, dedication etc.. and their order.
Can I change some of the formatting and layout in the LaTeX Thesis Template?
Yes you can, though the point of the LaTeX Thesis Template is that the formatting and layout is already done for you. If you need to change the template in someway and are somewhat knowledgeable in LaTeX, then this is fine.
In most cases you may only need to do some simple changes to the LaTeX Thesis Template in order to make it comply with your institution's guidelines. If you come across any problems or are unsure how to go about changing various aspects of the LaTeX Thesis Template, please contact me (with the email address at the bottom of this FAQ) and I will try and help as much as I can.
My subject is not mathematical, or even technical, can I still use the LaTeX Thesis Template?
Yes you can, although you wont need many of the initial preamble sections such as the "List of Symbols" and "List of Constants" etc so you can simply go ahead and delete those parts that you do not need. The "thesis.tex" file contains these sections and is heavily commented so you can quickly sift through and remove the parts you don't need, the LaTeX Thesis Template will still look and work fine.
Do I need to install anything for this LaTeX Thesis Template to work, are there any "system requirements"?
The LaTeX Thesis Template will work with any default install of the LaTeX system (of course, you need to have the LaTeX system installed on your computer). You can use your favourite text editor or a special editor for ".tex" files (such as WinEdt, Kile, TeXShop, TexNicCenter etc..) to edit the LaTeX Thesis Template files and write your thesis.
Any extra packages needed by the LaTeX Thesis Template are actually included with it so you should not have to find, download and install any extra LaTeX packages for the LaTeX Thesis Template to work.
Will this LaTeX Thesis Template work on my Windows/Linux/Mac system?
Yes, if you have a normal/default LaTeX system installed, then the template should work fine. If you have downloaded the LaTeX Thesis Template and it will not compile properly on your system (even after running it through LaTeX and BibTeX a few times) then please contact me with the error messages and I will help you through the trouble-shooting (email address is at the bottom of this FAQ).
The LaTeX Thesis Template has been tested on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X systems with the default LaTeX installed and there are currently no known issues.
I build the "thesis.tex" file for the first time and I get a load of warnings and the references and labels are missing, the Bibliography disappears too! What has happened?
This is a quirk of LaTeX and not the LaTeX Thesis Template. The "thesis.tex" file has to be compiled with LaTeX and BibTeX several times before the final document is "complete". Run through the "thesis.tex" file a couple of times with LaTeX and BibTeX to obtain the final output and there should be no warnings or errors (at this point you can stop). This process needs to be repeated every time you change or add labels, references and citations to your thesis.
I've spotted a mistake or error in the LaTeX Thesis Template, what do I do?
If you see an error with the LaTeX Thesis Template, no matter how small (from a single spelling mistake all the way up to a serious fault that causes a complile error) then please let me know immediately by emailing me at the address given at the bottom of this FAQ.
I've tried hard to get rid of any errors in the LaTeX Thesis Template and I would be very happy if you spotted any remaining ones so I can correct them.
What "Technical Support" comes with the LaTeX Thesis Template?
There is rapid email (usually less than 6 hours if I'm not on holiday) response that covers downloading, installing and getting started with the LaTeX Thesis Template. I also help you if the LaTeX Thesis Template does not work properly with your LaTeX system setup and will also help if the LaTeX Thesis Template suddenly stops working or compiling a while after you have been using it for writing your thesis.
Don't worry, you wont be abandoned with a broken template half-way through writing up if I can help. At present, all support requests and issues have been successfully answered and closed.
I will also help you with any LaTeX questions you may have, particularly things like LaTeX commands and syntax and questions like, "How do I make something italic?", "How do I insert figures?", "What is the best figure file format?" etc...
I will help you as much as I can but I can't write the content of your thesis for you.
What do you want in return for letting me use your LaTeX Thesis Template?
There is just one thing and that is if you use the LaTeX Thesis Template for your own thesis and find it to be very useful, then please tell others about it who may also benefit from the LaTeX Thesis Template when the time comes for them to write their own thesis.
My question hasn't been answered here!
Then please write your question in an email and send it to me. All queries, comments, feedback and suggestions are welcome and replied to. If the question is a very common one, it will appear in this FAQ list.
About the LaTeX Thesis Template
My thesis was written using a typesetting program called LaTeX. It is very different way of creating documents than using word processors such as Microsoft Word. With LaTeX, layout and formatting is done with commands and tags, very much like HTML. Though using commands and tags has a steeper learning curve, it pays to use LaTeX for long documents because if you use a ready-made template, there is very little formatting and layout editing you have to do as LaTeX sorts all this out for you.
- Learn about LaTeX here
- Learn about LaTeX on an Apple Mac and OS X here
- Read the "Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX" (PDF) here
LaTeX Thesis Template Help
To learn how to use the template, please read the included Help Guide and also refer to the LaTeX source. The LaTeX source file is heavily commented, so you can see exactly what each line of code does and why it is there. All you need to do now is fill your own details in and start writing!
Good luck - and if you use this template for your thesis, please let me know.