Publishing your PhD theses

• English thesis template, updated 10 December 2024 (.docx).
• English demo template with examples, updated 10 December 2024 (.docx). The document provides a template for structuring the dissertation in Word format.

The thesis template follows the principles of universal design. Software other than Word may be used, such as Latex and Overleaf. However, please adhere to the structure and layout of the Word template, with regard to:

Font and font size

Arial is OsloMet's profile font. The body text must be 14 pt as it needs to be scaled down to 80 % for printing.

Headings and levels

Heading H1-H3 numbered. Headings on a lower lever are unnumbered.

• Level 1 (H1) Arial 28 bold
• Level 2 (H2) Arial 24 bold
• Level 3 (H3) Arial 20 bold
• Level 4 (H4) Arial 17 bold
• Level 5 (H5) Arial 14 bold
• Level 6 (H6) Arial 14 italic

There are separate heading styles for forewords and abstracts [Front H1 …], as well as appendices and articles [Back H1 …].

Line spacing

Line spacing in body text is 1,25.

Paging

Book pages are numbered so that odd numbers are placed on the right-hand page and even numbers on the left. The actual page number is centered at the bottom of the page. Please pay attention to the following.

1. Title page: Right page (odd number)
2. Colophon page: Left page (even number)
3. Dedications, quotes and mottos, where used: Right page, blank page behind
4. Preface, abstract, summary: Starts on right page, remember blank page behind if the section ends on the right page
5. Table of contents: Starts on right page, remember blank page behind if the section ends on the right page
6. The actual text: Starts on right page
7. Index, bibliography: Continuous, blank page behind if the section ends on the right page
8. Attachments, where used: Starts on right page. Please note: Only the page with the heading "appendices" should have page numbers
9. Articles, where used: Starts on right page
10. Dividers between articles: Right page, blank page behind. Please note: Must not have page numbers

Appendices should be numbered in the order in which they are to appear in the thesis. The same applies to the articles.

If the thesis does not follow this layout, it will be sent back for adjustment. This will come into effect from 15 May, 2025.

The candidate sends the final manuscript and appendices to the administration at the doctoral program. The University Library assists with the compilation. If the thesis doesn't comply with OsloMet's thesis template, it will be returned for adjustments.

When submitted for assessment, the thesis is usually sent as a PDF to the commission.

The administration handles ordering and payment for the required publications to be distributed at the examination.

Once the manuscript is approved and the date for the disputation has been set, the dissertation is sent for printing.

The University Library designs the front page and colophon and handles communication with the print firm. The thesis is sent to the candidate for review and approval before it is sent to the printer

A legal deposit of the dissertation is sent to the Norwegian National Library.

The University Library no longer incorporates printed versions of dissertations into its collection. The dissertation is published in digital, downloadable format, either in OsloMet's institutional repository ODA (oda.oslomet.no) and/or in OsloMet's Publication Series, Skriftserien (skriftserien.oslomet.no) after the examination. Readers have the option to order a printed edition from the Skriftserien website.

In order to have the dissertation published online, the candidate must sign a publishing agreement (.docx). A signed PDF version of the agreement can be sent by e-mail to the University Library.

Please consider the following:

• whether the thesis should be available for print ordering as well.
• the type of public copyright license to be used (i. e. Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY-SA) or other).
• the need for assistance in rights clearance of articles that have already been published.

For article-based theses, please refer to the publishing agreement with the publisher for details about publication rights. The University Library (e-mail) is available for assistance with potential rights clearances.

Articles that were published in Open Access journals will be published as the publisher version in (Skriftserien (skriftserien.oslomet.no) and ODA (oda.oslomet.no). 

If the existing publishing agreement does not allow for re-publication, you may ask the publisher to publish a pre-print version of the article. If this is denied, the specific article is removed from the thesis, but can still be linked to.