Submitting a dissertation is one of the biggest milestones in graduate school. You spend months sometimes years researching, writing, and revising. But all that work can hit a wall if your formatting doesn't meet APA standards, and something as small as picking the wrong font can send your manuscript back for corrections. Understanding APA style recommended font choices for dissertations is about making sure the technical presentation of your document never undermines the substance of your research. Getting this detail right from the start saves you time, stress, and unnecessary revision rounds with your committee.

What fonts does APA 7th edition actually allow for dissertations?

The APA Publication Manual (7th edition) lists several acceptable fonts. These are not suggestions they are the fonts your university's formatting reviewer will check against. The approved options include:

Each font comes with a specific required point size. The size matters just as much as the typeface itself. A 12 pt Calibri is not the same as an 11 pt Calibri under APA rules the 11 pt version is the one that's accepted.

What font size does APA require, and does it change between fonts?

Yes, and this trips up a lot of students. APA doesn't set a single universal font size. Instead, it assigns a recommended size to each approved typeface because different fonts have different visual weights and x-heights. Times New Roman at 12 pt looks roughly the same size on the page as Calibri at 11 pt. If you used Calibri at 12 pt, it would appear noticeably larger and your page count would shift which can affect how your formatting looks overall.

Always match the font to its specified size from the APA manual. Don't assume every font should be set to 12. If you're unsure which pairing your program expects, check the APA font guidelines for dissertations before you begin drafting.

Does my university require a specific APA-approved font?

Many programs accept any font from the APA-approved list, but some departments or universities narrow it down. A dissertation committee might require Times New Roman only, or they might allow Calibri as a modern alternative. Always check your program's specific formatting handbook or template before choosing.

This matters because APA itself gives you options, but your institution may not. A safe approach is to pick Times New Roman 12 pt unless told otherwise it's the most widely recognized and accepted serif font in academic writing.

Can I use different fonts for headings and body text in APA format?

APA does not prohibit using a different font for headings, but consistency is strongly recommended. Most dissertation templates use the same typeface throughout the entire document body text, headings, block quotes, and references. Mixing fonts can make your document look inconsistent and may raise questions during the formatting review.

If your program provides a template, follow it exactly. If you're formatting on your own, pick one approved font and stick with it. This is especially important in the reference list, where font changes are immediately visible and often flagged. For more on how font choice affects different parts of an academic paper, you can explore this guide on font choices for academic papers.

What are the most common font mistakes students make in dissertations?

After working with graduate students for years, the same formatting errors come up again and again:

  • Using a non-approved font. Fonts like Cambria, Garamond, or Palatino are not on the APA-approved list for the 7th edition. Even if they look professional, they will get flagged.
  • Setting the wrong point size. Using 11 pt Times New Roman or 12 pt Arial are common errors that cost students extra revision time.
  • Copying text from other sources that carries hidden formatting. When you paste a quote from a PDF or website, the original font settings come with it. Always paste as plain text and reformat.
  • Using inconsistent fonts across sections. Sometimes the abstract appears in one font and the introduction in another usually because content was written in different documents and merged.
  • Ignoring table and figure text. The text inside your tables and figures also needs to be legible and consistent with APA expectations.

Which APA-approved font is easiest to read for long dissertations?

Readability matters when your reader usually a committee member is going through 200 or more pages. Here's how the approved options compare:

  • Times New Roman is the traditional choice. It's a serif font, which means the small strokes at the end of each letter help guide the eye along lines of text. It works well in print and is familiar to every academic reader.
  • Calibri is a sans-serif font with a clean, modern look. It renders well on screens, which matters if your committee reads the draft digitally.
  • Arial is another sans-serif option. It's slightly wider than Calibri, which can make pages feel less dense.
  • Georgia is a serif font designed for screen reading. Its larger x-height makes it easier to read at smaller sizes.
  • Lucida Sans Unicode is less commonly used but acceptable. It's a sans-serif font with a wide character set, useful for documents with special symbols.

For most dissertations, Times New Roman remains the safest and most expected choice. If your advisor prefers a more contemporary look, Calibri is a strong alternative. The best approach is to ask your chair early. Comparing these options side by side in a test document helps you decide what works for your content. Students writing other types of coursework can also look at recommended typefaces used in MLA formatting for comparison.

Does font choice affect how my dissertation looks after printing or converting to PDF?

Absolutely. Fonts that look fine on your laptop can appear differently once converted to PDF or printed. Here's why:

  • PDF embedding. Most word processors embed the font into the PDF automatically, but if the font isn't embedded properly, it may substitute a default font and shift your formatting.
  • Print margins and spacing. Some fonts are wider than others at the same point size. Arial at 11 pt takes up more horizontal space than Calibri at 11 pt. This can cause text to reflow and push content onto the next page.
  • Screen vs. print rendering. A font designed for screen display (like Georgia) might look slightly softer in print compared to a font designed for print (like Times New Roman).

Before you submit, always print a test copy of at least your title page, first content page, and a page with tables or figures. Check that nothing shifted.

How do I change the font for my entire dissertation at once?

If you've already written most of your dissertation and need to switch fonts, you don't have to reformat everything manually. In Microsoft Word:

  1. Press Ctrl + A (Windows) or Cmd + A (Mac) to select all text.
  2. Go to the Home tab and select your approved font from the dropdown.
  3. Set the correct point size for that specific font.
  4. Check your headings some styles may override the body font selection, so verify each heading level individually.
  5. Review your tables, figures, and block quotes separately.
  6. Check the header and footer these are often formatted independently.

This approach works for most documents, but always scroll through the full manuscript after making the change. Formatting errors hide in places like table notes, figure captions, and the reference list.

Do LaTeX users follow the same APA font rules?

Yes, but with a small adjustment. LaTeX default documents use Computer Modern, which APA does accept at 10 pt. Many graduate students in STEM fields write their dissertations in LaTeX, and as long as the output matches APA formatting standards, it's perfectly acceptable.

That said, some programs expect a more traditional look and may ask you to switch to Times New Roman. In LaTeX, this requires installing a Times-compatible package like mathptmx or newtxtext. Check with your department before investing time in LaTeX-specific formatting.

What if my advisor tells me to use a font that isn't on the APA list?

This happens more than you'd think. A committee member might ask you to use Garamond or Book Antiqua because they "look nicer." Politely explain that APA 7th edition limits the approved options and that your university's formatting office will likely reject non-approved fonts during the final submission review. Most advisors will back down once they understand it's a compliance issue, not a stylistic preference.

If your program specifically allows deviations from APA for example, some programs permit a decorative font on the title page get that approval in writing. Otherwise, stay within the approved list.

Practical checklist before submitting your dissertation

  • Confirm which fonts your specific program or university accepts from the APA list
  • Match each font to its required point size (don't use 12 pt for everything)
  • Use one consistent font throughout the entire document body, headings, references, and tables
  • Run a "Select All" check to catch any hidden font changes from pasted content
  • Check that your PDF exports correctly embed the chosen font
  • Print at least three sample pages to verify spacing, line breaks, and readability
  • Review headers, footers, and page numbers separately they often carry different formatting
  • Ask a peer to check your document in a fresh Word session or on a different computer to catch rendering issues