A table of contents (ToC) in Word is based on applying headings in your document. Either as you write or when you have finished, apply a hierarchy of headings e.g. a chapter may be Heading 1, a sub-heading would be Heading 2.

When you have applied to this to some or all of your document,  you can generate a ToC.

Select the References tab.  Put the cursor in the document where you want the ToC to appear. Click on Table of Contents and choose Automatic Table 1 or Automatic Table 2.

This should generate a ToC for you. If you make changes to your document that affect the table of contents, update the table of contents by right-clicking the ToC and choosing Update Field or update the whole table from the Table of Contents menu (see above).

Settings default to allowing you three levels of headings in your ToC. For most people this is enough (e.g. chapter, sub-heading, sub-sub, heading) but if you need more, you can edit the settings for your style.

Under the ToC menu on the References tab, select Custom Table of Contents. From here you can edit the settings for the number of headings that show. By clicking on Modify you can also change the size of font and other features of your ToC.

If you would like a separate Table of Figures (ToF), you need to add a special label to each figure, rather than using the headings options, which are reserved for items that you want to appear in your ToC.

Highlight your picture or table. Select the References tab, then Insert Caption. Name it (checking or unchecking the box that inserts the word 'Figure'; at the start of the name) and choose whether the caption sits above or below the figure.

When you have labeled your pictures and tables, move the cursor to where you want the ToF to appear (usually on a separate page after the ToC). Select the References tab and then click on Insert Table of Figures.This menu lets you modify the appearance of the table before creating it.

Here we show you how to insert a single set of numbers into a document as well as a second set, useful for pages at the start of the thesis (such as contents, acknowledgements etc.) or for an appendix.

To create a single run of number pages in a document, select the Insert tab and then Page number

This menu lets you alter the location of the number and the format in which it appears.

To insert a second set of numbers, you need to insert sections into your document (rather than just page breaks).

Choose where you want one set of numbers to appear and another to begin, for example, between the front matter and the Introduction. Insert the cursor into the document at this point. Select the Layout menu and click on Breaks. Click on Next Page or Continuous, depending on what fits your formatting.

If you want two running sets of numbers you'll need to specify which type of page number. For example, you may want Roman Numerals (i, ii, iii, ...) for the introductory pages. Change the format, as specified above. This will change the whole document. Then you need to specify where the Arabic Numerals (1,2,3,...) should begin.

Return to the Insert menu, insert your cursor into your document where you want to make the change. Select Page number and then Format page number.  Change the Number format to Arabic Numerals. Highlight the radio button next to Start at:  and change to 1.

Remember to update your Table of Contents if you have one.