# novathesis LaTeX Template --- > ### ⚠️ Upgrading from 7.10.x or earlier? Read this first. > > **Version 8.0 changes where glossary entries live.** Acronyms, glossary terms and > symbols moved from `.tex` files (`\newacronym`, `\newglossaryentry`, processed by > `makeglossaries`) to `.bib` files processed by **`bib2gls`**. > > * Run **`make glsbib`** to convert your entry files, then **re-add any `sort` keys** — > the converter drops them, which silently reorders symbols and any entry whose name > is a command. The build still succeeds, so nothing warns you. > * Delete `\glsaddall` if your document calls it. > * **`bib2gls` needs a Java runtime.** Overleaf has one; check locally with > `bib2gls --version`. > > A registered `.tex` entry file now stops the build with an explanatory error, so you > cannot miss the migration. Full procedure: the *Migrating from 7.10.x* appendix of > the manual (`template.pdf`). > > **Why:** glossaries no longer consume any of pdfTeX's 16 write registers, so most > documents no longer need the `morewrites` package — a full pdfLaTeX build of the > manual went from **109 s to 36 s**.

A LaTeX template for MSc dissertations and PhD theses
Compliant covers, spines and formatting for 20+ Portuguese institutions.

novathesis.org · Find your school · Get started · Showcase

--- This README covers the essentials for working directly in this repository. For everything else — picking a pre-configured starter for your institution, a guided setup walkthrough, sample covers, and full documentation — see the website. [![GitHub forks](https://img.shields.io/github/forks/joaomlourenco/novathesis.svg?style=social&label=Fork)](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/novathesis) [![GitHub stars](https://img.shields.io/github/stars/joaomlourenco/novathesis.svg?style=social&label=Star)](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/novathesis) [![GitHub watchers](https://img.shields.io/github/watchers/joaomlourenco/novathesis.svg?style=social&label=Watch)](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/novathesis) [![GitHub followers](https://img.shields.io/github/followers/joaomlourenco.svg?style=social&label=Follow)](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/novathesis) [![Maintenance](https://img.shields.io/badge/Maintained%3F-yes-green.svg)](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/novathesis/graphs/commit-activity) [![made-with-latex](https://img.shields.io/badge/Made%20with-LaTeX-1f425f.svg?color=green)](https://www.latex-project.org/) [![GitHub license](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-LaTeX%20v1.3c-green.svg)](https://www.latex-project.org/lppl/lppl-1-3c) [![GitHub release](https://img.shields.io/github/release/joaomlourenco/novathesis.svg)](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/novathesis/releases/) ![GitHub Workflow Status (with branch)](https://img.shields.io/github/actions/workflow/status/joaomlourenco/novathesis/build-template.yml?branch=main) [![GitHub commits](https://img.shields.io/github/commits-since/joaomlourenco/novathesis/2.0.0.svg)](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/novathesis/commit/) ![![Last commit](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/novathesis)](https://img.shields.io/github/last-commit/joaomlourenco/novathesis?color=blue) [![DOI](https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.21938603.svg)](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21938603) [![GitHub license](https://img.shields.io/badge/SAY%20THANKS-€5-orange.svg)](https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8WA8FRVMB78W8) --- # Table of Contents * [1\. Overview](#1-overview) * [2\. Key Features](#2-key-features) * [3\. Who Is This For?](#3-who-is-this-for) * [4\. Installation Options](#4-installation-options) * [4\.1\. Local LaTeX Installation](#41-local-latex-installation) * [4\.2\. Cloud Services (Overleaf)](#42-cloud-services-overleaf) * [5\. Project Structure](#5-project-structure) * [6\. Getting Help & Contributing](#6-getting-help--contributing) * [7\. Supported Schools & Showcase](#7-supported-schools--showcase) * [8\. Disclaimer](#8-disclaimer) * [9\. Deprecated Word Templates](#9-deprecated-word-templates) * [10\. Related Packages](#10-related-packages) * [11\. Please give this repository a ⭐️](#11-please-give-this-repository-a-️%EF%B8%8F) * [12\. Contributors](#12-contributors-thank-you) * [13\. Say thank you! (and how to cite)](#13-say-thank-you-and-how-to-cite) --- # 1. Overview **nova**thesis is a complete LaTeX template for academic theses and dissertations. It provides: - Ready‑to‑use cover pages compliant with each institution's rules - A structured, extensible LaTeX codebase - Automated bibliography management via **biblatex** + **biber** - Professional typographic standards The template is open‑source and actively maintained. - Browse sample covers in the [showcase](https://novathesis.org/en/showcase.html) --- # 2. Key Features ### ✔ Beginner‑Friendly - Minimal setup - Clear configuration files - Works with any major LaTeX distribution ### ✔ Expert‑Ready - Uses the powerful `memoir` class - Supports extensive customization - Well‑organized and modular ### ✔ School‑Compliant - 25+ schools supported - Automatic generation of covers, spine, and formatting rules ### ✔ Modern Tooling - `latexmk` support - `biber` for bibliographies - `bib2gls` for glossaries, acronyms and symbols — ships with TeX Live, but **needs a Java runtime (JRE)** on your machine. Overleaf provides one; check a local install with `bib2gls --version`. - Overleaf‑ready --- # 3. Who Is This For? - MSc and PhD students - Supervisors preparing guidelines or templates - Institutions wanting a high‑quality standard - Anyone writing a large LaTeX document that needs structure --- # 4. Installation Options ## 4.1. Local LaTeX Installation This is the preferred option, especially for large projects. ### 4.1.1. Install LaTeX - **Windows:** [TeX Live](www.tug.org) or [MikTeX](miktex.org) - **macOS:** [MacTeX](www.tug.org/mactex/) or [MikTeX](miktex.org) - **Linux:** [TeX Live](www.tug.org) or [MikTeX](miktex.org) ### 4.1.2. Download novathesis Most institutions have a **pre-configured starter repository** — already set up with the right cover, spine, and formatting rules for that school — kept automatically in sync with this main repository. **➡️ [Find your school on novathesis.org](https://novathesis.org/en/schools.html)** for the full, up-to-date list (ZIP download, `git clone`, and Overleaf import links for each one). If your institution isn't listed, clone this main repository instead and configure your institution manually (see [§4.1.5](#415-configure--recompile)). ### 4.1.3. Compile If you have `make` installed in your computer, simply run ```bash make ``` otherwise run ```bash latexmk -pdflua -shell-escape -file-line-error template ``` (the settings in the `latexmkrc` file at the project root are loaded automatically by `latexmk`). > ⚠️ **Security note — `-shell-escape`.** The template compiles with shell‑escape **enabled**, because some features run external programs during the build: `minted` (source‑code highlighting) calls Pygments, and selecting a bundled proprietary font (e.g. Calibri, Arial) downloads it over the network. (Glossaries no longer require shell‑escape: since 8.0 they are built by `bib2gls`, which `latexmk` runs directly.) Shell‑escape means that **compiling a document can run commands on your computer with your user account's privileges** — there is no sandbox. In practice this is safe when you build the official template and your own content, but you should **only compile `.tex` files, school configurations, and font styles that you trust.** Treat a thesis project you received from someone else the same way you would treat any script before running it. **Important:** The template uses **`biber`** by default, not `bibtex`. However, `bibtex` can be also be used. ### 4.1.4. Makefile Targets The `Makefile` is a thin wrapper around `latexmk` and provides several targets to simplify your workflow: - **Compilation Engines:** - `make` or `make lua`: Build using `lualatex` (recommended default). - `make pdf`: Build using `pdflatex`. - `make xe`: Build using `xelatex`. - **Viewing & Logs:** - `make v` or `make view`: Build the PDF and open it in your default viewer. - `make watch`: Rebuild automatically every time a file is saved (LuaLaTeX). - `make watch-pdf` / `make watch-xe`: Same, with pdfLaTeX / XeLaTeX. - `make log`: Show the LaTeX log file. - **Cleaning:** - `make clean`: Remove build artifacts (keeps the PDF and `AUXDIR/matrix/`). - `make distclean`: Also remove the PDF and SyncTeX files. - **Help:** - `make help`: Display a help message with all targets and variables. - `make help-dev`: Maintainer-only targets (`school`, `matrix`, `zip`, version bumps, …) — not shipped in releases, only available from a git checkout. The behavior can be adjusted with variables, e.g.: ```bash make V=1 # verbose (raw LaTeX output) make NT="doctype=msc,lang=pt" # override any \ntsetup option make view VIEWER="open -a Skim" # choose the PDF viewer make BATCH=1 # never stop at errors (good for CI) make TL=2024 # build against a specific TeX Live release make SIZE=10 # cap the final PDF at ~10 MB ``` `SIZE=x` is for submission systems with a file-size limit: after the build, Ghostscript binary-searches the highest raster-image resolution that still fits under *x* megabytes. Text, fonts and vector graphics are untouched, so a document with few raster images may not reach a very small target — it says so and keeps the smallest it managed. The pre-shrink build is kept alongside as `.pdf.orig`. Requires Ghostscript (`gs`) on `PATH`. The `NT` variable accepts any comma-separated list of `\ntsetup` options and takes precedence over `0-Config/1_novathesis.tex`, without editing any file. This is handy for testing another school, language, or document type. Other variables (`FILE`, `FASTWRITES`, `PAGER`, `FLAGS`) are documented in the header comment of the `Makefile` itself. ### 4.1.5. Configure & Recompile **Carefully edit** the files inside the `0-Config/` directory to set your document metadata, e.g.: - Document type; - School; - Language(s) used; - Cover metadata; - Bibliography settings; - … --- ## 4.2. Cloud Services (Overleaf) **nova**thesis is available as an official Overleaf template. Despite the regular updates, the version in Overleaf, although fully operational, may be slightly outdated. 1. Find your school on **[novathesis.org](https://novathesis.org/en/schools.html)** and click 📦 to open its starter repository directly in Overleaf (this uploads the ZIP archive and sets `template.tex` as the root document automatically); 2. Compile; 3. Follow the steps above (*4.1.5. Configure & Recompile*) to customize your document. **Warning:** You will need a paid Overleaf account. The template will not compile under Overleaf Free Plan, which has a 20‑second compilation limit. --- # 5. Project Structure ``` template.tex # Document main file (do not change this file) 0-Config/ # Document configuration and customization ├── 0_memoir.tex # low level customization (for advanced users only) ├── 1_novathesis.tex # main document customization file ├── 2_biblatex.tex # bibliography customization ├── 3_cover.tex # cover contents/metadata ├── 4_files.tex # files to include in the document ├── 5_packages.tex # user customization (packages and commands) ├── 6_list_of.tex # ordering for the lists (for advanced users only) ├── 7-aidisclose.tex # AI usage disclosure statement └── 9_*.tex # School‑specific configs 1-FrontMatter/ # Abstract, Dedicatory, … 2-MainMatter/ # Document main content (main chapters) 3-BackMatter/ # Appendices and Annexes 4-Bibliography/ # Bibliography database (your .bib files) 5-Figures/ # All the figures used in the document ``` Each configuration file has a single, well‑defined purpose to keep the project modular. --- # 6. Getting Help & Contributing Full documentation, along with support and contributing guides, now live on **[novathesis.org](https://novathesis.org)**: - 📖 **[Docs](https://novathesis.org/en/docs.html)** — configuration options, school-specific notes - 🆘 **[Support](https://novathesis.org/en/support.html)** — where to ask usage questions vs. report bugs - 🤝 **[Contributing](https://novathesis.org/en/contributing.html)** — adding a school, fixing a formatting rule, improving the docs, translating Quick links that stay on GitHub: - Usage questions → [GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/novathesis/discussions) - Bug reports & feature requests → [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/novathesis/issues) > **Please don’t contact the author directly.** Support is community‑based. --- # 7. Supported Schools & Showcase **[novathesis.org](https://novathesis.org)** hosts the up-to-date, browsable versions of both: - 🏫 **[Find your school](https://novathesis.org/en/schools.html)** — the full list of 25+ supported institutions, each with a ready-to-use starter repository - 🖼️ **[Showcase](https://novathesis.org/en/showcase.html)** — sample covers, spines, and chapters for every supported school --- # 8. Disclaimer This is **not** an official template from any school. Compliance has been ensured to the best extent possible using public documentation. --- # 9. Deprecated Word Templates The Word templates (unmaintained) can be found at The Word template for NOVA FCT DI-ADC is available at -------- # 10. Related Packages Other LaTeX packages by the same author, usable on their own outside novathesis: | Package | Description | | --- | --- | | [aidisclose](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/aidisclose) | Generative AI disclosure checklist and statements (bundled in novathesis; see [3-BackMatter/app-aidisclose.tex](3-BackMatter/app-aidisclose.tex)) | | [biblatex-cse](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/biblatex-cse) | biblatex support for the Council of Science Editors (CSE) citation style | | [biblatex-np405](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/biblatex-np405) | biblatex citation and bibliography style implementing the Portuguese Standard NP 405 | | [coloredtheorem](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/coloredtheorem) | A colourful boxed theorem environment | | [stocksize](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/stocksize) | Changes the paper (stock) size independently of the text area (bundled in novathesis as `stocksize.sty`) | -------- # 11. Please give this repository a ⭐️

--- # 12. Contributors (thank you!)

Made with [contrib.rocks](https://contrib.rocks). --- # 13. Say thank you! (and how to cite)

1. **Star this repository** by clicking the (⭐️) at the top right of the [project's page](https://github.com/joaomlourenco/novathesis). 2. **Make a [small donation](https://paypal.me/novathesis)** (*pay me a beer!*) 3. **Cite novathesis** — see below.

[![GitHub license](https://img.shields.io/badge/SAY%20THANKS-€5-orange.svg)](https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8WA8FRVMB78W8)

### How to cite novathesis is archived on Zenodo with a DOI: **[10.5281/zenodo.21938603](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21938603)**. This is the *concept* DOI, so it is version-independent and always resolves to the latest release. **If you write your thesis with the template, you need do nothing:** the reference is added to your bibliography automatically. Turn it off with `\ntsetup{cite/template=false}` if you prefer. To cite it explicitly in the text, use `\cite{novathesis-manual}` — the bibliographic entry is supplied by the template, so there is no BibTeX to copy. Anywhere else, use: ```bibtex @Manual{novathesis-manual, title = {{novathesis}: A {LaTeX} Template for Academic Theses and Dissertations}, author = {João M. Lourenço}, organization = {NOVA University Lisbon}, year = {2026}, doi = {10.5281/zenodo.21938603}, } ``` > J. M. Lourenço. *novathesis: A LaTeX Template for Academic Theses and Dissertations.* NOVA University Lisbon, 2026. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.21938603 GitHub's **“Cite this repository”** button (right-hand sidebar) generates the same reference in BibTeX or APA, from [`CITATION.cff`](CITATION.cff).