Yes, APA style uses a title page on the first page, with specific details that differ for student and professional papers.
Many students type “does apa have a title page?” into a search bar right before a deadline and feel unsure about how the first page should look.
APA style does require a dedicated title page, but the exact layout depends on whether you are writing a student paper or a professional manuscript and which edition of APA your instructor expects.
Once you understand the structure, you can set up the page in a few minutes and move on to the research and writing that matter most.
Does APA Have A Title Page? Basic Layout Answer
APA style papers start with a separate title page that appears as page 1 of the document, followed by the main text on the next page.
Under the current seventh edition, there are two versions of the APA title page, one for student papers and one for professional papers such as journal submissions.
Both versions share a common core: a clear paper title, the author name or names, and an institutional affiliation, all centered in the upper half of the page and double spaced.
The student version adds course information, instructor name, and assignment due date, while the professional version adds an author note instead of course details and often includes a running head in the page header.
| Element | Student Paper (APA 7) | Professional Paper (APA 7) |
|---|---|---|
| Page number | Required in top right of header | Required in top right of header |
| Running head text | Not needed unless instructor asks | Required, short version of title in all caps |
| Paper title | Centered, bold, title case | Centered, bold, title case |
| Author name | Full name of student author | Full names of all authors |
| Affiliation | Department and institution | Department and institution for each author |
| Course information | Course number and course name | Not included |
| Instructor name | Included on separate line | Not included |
| Due date | Included on final line | Not included |
| Author note | Normally not used | Optional section for disclosures and contact details |
The table shows that the answer to the title page question stays the same across versions of APA: the style expects a title page, but the details shift slightly between student and professional work.
In practice, many instructors ask for the student title page layout from the seventh edition, since it matches the official diagrams on the APA Style website and in university writing guides.
APA Title Page Requirements For Students
The student version of the APA title page is designed for coursework, so it shows who wrote the paper, which course it belongs to, and when it is due.
According to the official APA guidance, a student title page normally lists the paper title, student author names, institutional affiliation, course number and name, instructor name, and assignment due date.
Each item appears on its own double spaced line, centered on the page, with a page number in the top right corner of the header.
For a visual reference, many students use the official title page diagram on the APA Style site or a sample student paper from a university writing center. When you follow one of these current examples line by line, you mirror the spacing, order, and capitalization that graders look for without guessing about format details.
Paper Title Placement And Style
The paper title sits three or four lines below the top margin, centered, bold, and written in title case rather than all caps.
Title case means you capitalize major words but leave short connecting words such as articles and some prepositions in lower case unless they appear at the start of the title.
APA recommends a short, clear title that states the main topic of the paper without extra phrases or informal wording.
Student Name And Affiliation Lines
Two double spaced lines under the title, you type your full name, including any middle initials that you usually use in academic writing.
On the next line, you add your department and university, such as “School of Nursing, Trent University,” with a comma separating the two parts.
These lines show the reader where the work comes from and link the paper to the program or course of study that assigned it.
Course, Instructor, And Due Date Details
Under the affiliation line, you add the course number and name, the instructor name, and the due date of the assignment, each on its own line.
Many universities ask students to write the course number first, followed by a colon and the full course title, such as “PSYC 2600: Introduction To Learning.”
The due date usually appears in month day, year order, using the style preferred by your institution, such as “July 1, 2025.”
Page Header For Student Papers
In the seventh edition, student papers use a simple page header that contains only the page number in the top right corner.
The old sixth edition rule that required a running head with the label “Running head” on the first page no longer applies to student title pages unless your instructor still follows the older manual.
Most current university guides now show a plain numeric header for student work, with the full paper title appearing only on the title page itself.
APA Title Page For Professional Papers
Professional APA title pages appear in manuscripts prepared for publication, conference submissions, and some graduate level work.
The core layout still starts with the paper title, author names, and institutional affiliations, but a professional title page also includes a running head and may include an author note.
Course information, instructor names, and due dates drop away in this version, because the focus shifts from a class setting to a wider scholarly audience.
Running Head And Page Header In Professional Papers
The running head is a shortened version of the paper title that appears in all capital letters in the top left of the page header.
APA limits the running head to fifty characters including spaces, so writers often trim the title down to its main phrase while keeping the meaning clear.
In a professional paper, the header on every page shows the running head on the left and the page number on the right, starting on the title page.
If you write a thesis, dissertation, or article for submission, your department or journal may give its own template for the professional APA title page. In that case, treat the template as the main model and then check it against the running head and header rules in the current APA manual so the layout stays consistent across every page.
Author Note And Professional Context
An author note sits on the lower half of the professional title page when journals or supervisors request it.
This section can describe affiliation changes, declarations of funding or conflicts of interest, brief acknowledgments, or a way for readers to contact the corresponding author.
In most undergraduate and many taught postgraduate courses, students do not use an author note unless a rubric or template explicitly asks for it.
Formatting Details That Keep Your APA Title Page Clear
Beyond the words on the page, clear formatting helps readers see at a glance that your work follows APA conventions.
Both student and professional title pages use the same basic page setup: one inch margins on all sides, double spaced text, and a readable font such as 12 point Times New Roman, 11 point Calibri, or 11 point Arial.
Pick one approved font and keep that same choice consistent across your title page, abstract, headings, and main text pages.
The entire title page stays double spaced with no extra blank lines between elements, other than the standard spacing that comes from pressing Enter on the keyboard once between each line.
| Feature | Student Paper | Professional Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Margins | One inch all around | One inch all around |
| Line spacing | Double spaced, no extra spacing between lines | Double spaced, no extra spacing between lines |
| Font options | Standard APA fonts such as Times New Roman 12 pt | Same set of approved fonts |
| Title position | Centered, in upper half of page | Centered, in upper half of page |
| Header content | Page number only | Running head on left, page number on right |
| Extra sections | Course, instructor, due date lines | Optional author note |
| Images or graphics | Normally not used on title page | Normally not used on title page |
Following these layout rules gives instructors, editors, and reviewers a familiar structure, which keeps attention on the content of your research rather than on formatting problems.
If you match the official examples from APA and from your university or library writing center, you also reduce the chance of small grading deductions for presentation issues.
Common Mistakes With The APA Title Page
Even strong writers sometimes lose marks because of small errors on the first page of an assignment or manuscript.
Knowing the usual trouble spots helps you check your page quickly before you print or upload the file.
- Leaving out the title page and starting the paper with a heading instead of a proper first page.
- Mixing rules from the sixth and seventh editions, such as adding the old running head label to a student paper.
- Forgetting the page number on the title page or putting it in the wrong corner of the header.
- Using all caps for the title or centering every line on the page, including the header.
- Adding quotes, pictures, or decorative lines to the title page, which distracts from the basic information.
- Guessing the layout instead of checking a current example from the APA Style site or a trusted academic writing guide.
Quick Steps To Handle The APA Title Page For Any Assignment
When you face the question “does apa have a title page?” for a new piece of work, a short checklist can keep you on track.
First, read your assignment instructions and note which edition of APA the course uses, since some programs still work with the sixth edition while others expect the seventh.
Next, confirm whether the paper counts as a student assignment or a professional style manuscript, because that choice determines whether you add course and due date lines or use a running head and author note.
Then open the official student or professional title page example that matches your version of APA and copy the structure with your own details.
Before you submit, scan your page from top to bottom: page number, title position, name and affiliation, course lines or author note, and consistent font and spacing throughout.
Once you follow those checks, the answer to “does apa have a title page?” stops feeling mysterious, and your first page supports the clear, professional tone that readers expect from academic writing.