tex_styles.sty

% latex packages
\usepackage{setspace}
\usepackage{float}

% commands for document metadata
\newcommand{\University}{Zeppelin University}
\newcommand{\StudyProgramme}{Sociology, Politics \& Economics}
\newcommand{\Class}{Quantitative Methods}
\newcommand{\AssignmentName}{Term Paper}
\newcommand{\Title}{An Informative Title}

\setlength{\abovedisplayskip}{-15pt}
\setlength{\belowdisplayskip}{0pt}
\setlength{\abovedisplayshortskip}{0pt}
\setlength{\belowdisplayshortskip}{0pt}

\newcommand{\Name}{Student Name}
\newcommand{\MatriculationNumber}{123456789}
\newcommand{\Date}{Month Day, 20xx}
\newcommand{\Place}{Friedrichshafen}
\newcommand{\Semester}{Spring 20xx}
\newcommand{\Supervisor}{Prof Dr X}

% let figures and tables be placed exactly where they are created in the rmarkdown document
\let\origfigure\figure
\let\endorigfigure\endfigure
\renewenvironment{figure}[1][2] {
    \expandafter\origfigure\expandafter[H]
} {
    \endorigfigure
}