Overview - ISO 7144:1986 (Documentation - Presentation of theses and similar documents)
ISO 7144:1986 specifies rules for the presentation and documentation of theses and similar academic documents. It applies to theses submitted or published in book form, as parts of books, as periodical articles, as typescripts, or as a bound set of separate publications, and to reproductions composed and printed, reduced (e.g., A4 → A5) or produced in microform. The standard defines the order of elements, legibility, page and section numbering, title-leaf content, and essential front- and end-matter components to support consistent thesis formatting, cataloguing and preservation.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope of presentation: Applies across disciplines and multiple publication forms (book, article, typescript, microform).
- Legibility and production: Typescripts must be clear with black, well-formed characters; drawings in black ink; paper white with sufficient opacity for reading and micro-reproduction.
- Page size and layout: Typescripts shall be A4; printed works should follow a standard book size. Margins must allow for binding and reproduction.
- Order of elements: Front matter (cover, title leaf, errata, abstract, preface, table of contents, lists), body (main text and references), annexes, and end matter (indexes, CV, accompanying material).
- Title-leaf content: Title, subtitle, author name(s) and qualifications, institution, degree sought, date of submission/defence, place/date of publication or availability, serial titles if applicable.
- Identifiers and cataloguing: Recommends ISBN for monographs and ISSN for serials; include Cataloguing-in-Publication (CIP) information where applicable.
- Numbering and references: Section numbering per ISO 2145; page numbering consecutive in Arabic numerals; bibliographic references per ISO 690.
- Illustrations, tables and equations: Placement near first reference, captions and legends rules, legibility when reduced, numbering conventions, and equation formatting.
- Supporting lists: Abstracts (per ISO 214), lists of figures/tables, abbreviations/symbols, glossary, and preface guidance.
Practical applications
- Ensures consistent thesis formatting for submission, publication and archival reproduction.
- Helps universities set clear submission guidelines and approval workflows for degrees.
- Facilitates accurate cataloguing and metadata (ISBN/ISSN, CIP), improving discoverability in libraries and repositories.
- Guides publishers and printers for reproduction, microfilming and standardized presentation.
Who uses this standard
- Academic authors and doctoral candidates preparing theses
- University administration and thesis offices
- Editors, publishers and reprographic services
- Librarians, cataloguers and archival staff
- Repository managers and digitization teams
Related standards
Commonly used with: ISO 1086, ISO 214, ISO 2145, ISO 690, ISO 2108 (ISBN), ISO 3297 (ISSN), ISO 6357 - these provide complementary rules for title-leaves, abstracts, numbering, bibliographic references and identifiers.