Length of Thesis for the PhD Degree

University of London Ordinance 12 requires that the length of the thesis in any field shall not, other than in the most exceptional circumstances, exceed 100,000 words inclusive of footnotes and appendices, other than documentary or statistical appendices, and exclusive of bibliography. This word limit and those below do not apply to editions of a text or texts. In the following fields the thesis shall not normally exceed the number of words indicated, but a candidate wishing to exceed the prescribed limit may apply for permission to the College through his/her supervisor, such application being made in writing at least six months before the presentation of the thesis:

Biology: normally 65,000 words, exclusive of experimental data, appendices and bibliography
Classics: 80,000
Crystallography: 60,000, exclusive of tables and figures
Geography: 75,000
Geology: 60,000
German: 80,000, exclusive of quotations from primary and secondary texts
Materials Science: 40,000 - 50,000 and in any event not exceeding 80,000 (exclusive of any accompanying data in microfiche form)
Philosophy: 75,000