The title page is the first thing an instructor or reviewer sees. Each citation style has different rules for what information to include and where to place it. This guide shows the exact format for student title pages in APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, and Chicago/Turabian — with examples you can replicate directly.
APA Title Page (7th Edition, Student Version)
APA distinguishes between student papers and papers for journal submission. Most academic papers use the student format:
| Element | Format and position |
|---|---|
| Paper title | Centered, bold, upper half of the page; title case |
| Author name(s) | Centered, not bold; line below the title |
| Affiliation | Department and institution name; centered, not bold |
| Course number and name | As assigned by the instructor; centered |
| Instructor name | As the instructor prefers; centered |
| Due date | Full date format (e.g., May 15, 2026); centered |
| Page number | Top right corner of the header (page 1) |
| Running head | NOT included in student papers (only in manuscripts for submission) |
APA Student Title Page Example
1
The Effect of Sleep Duration on Academic Performance
in First-Year University Students
Maria J. Gonzalez
Department of Psychology, State University
PSY 301: Research Methods in Psychology
Professor Dr. Sarah T. Williams
May 15, 2026MLA Title Page (9th Edition)
MLA does not traditionally use a separate title page — the title information appears on the first page of the paper. A separate title page is only used when an instructor specifically requires it:
MLA standard: information on the first page (no separate title page)
Student Name
Professor Name
Course Name
Day Month Year
Paper Title Here
[First paragraph begins here...]| Element | MLA format |
|---|---|
| Student name | Top left, above the title |
| Professor name | Line below student name, top left |
| Course name | Line below professor name |
| Date | Day Month Year format (15 May 2026); line below course |
| Title | Centered, below the date block; title case; no bold, no italics, no quotation marks |
| Header | Top right: Last name and page number (Smith 1) |
MLA separate title page (when required by instructor)
Paper Title Here
Student Name
Professor Name
Course Name
15 May 2026Chicago/Turabian Title Page
Turabian (the student adaptation of Chicago) provides detailed title page specifications. Unlike APA, Chicago does not include course or instructor information in the same position — these appear separately or at the bottom of the page:
| Element | Format and position |
|---|---|
| Title (and subtitle) | Centered, approximately ⅓ from the top; title case; no bold required |
| Student name | Centered, approximately in the middle of the page |
| Course name and number | Centered, lower portion of the page |
| Instructor name | Centered, below course info |
| Institution name | Centered |
| Date | Month Day, Year format; bottom area |
| Page number | Title page is NOT numbered (or counted but not shown) |
The Effect of Sleep Duration on Academic Performance
in First-Year University Students
Maria J. Gonzalez
History 301: Research Methods
Professor Dr. Sarah T. Williams
State University
May 15, 2026Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | APA (student) | MLA | Chicago/Turabian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separate title page? | Yes, required | No (unless required) | Yes, required |
| Title position | Upper half, centered | Centered after info block | Upper third, centered |
| Title formatting | Bold, title case | Title case, no styling | Title case, no bold required |
| Running head | No (student papers) | No | No |
| Page number on title | Yes (page 1 in header) | No separate title page | No (page not shown) |
| Date format | Month Day, Year | Day Month Year | Month Day, Year |
For full APA paper formatting — margins, spacing, abstract, and headings — see the APA format guide.