Deadlines for Doctoral Degree Candidates

To be eligible to earn an advanced degree, students must fulfill appropriate requirements as established by their major department and the Graduate School, and have an approved Candidacy Application.听Procedures and final deadlines required by the Graduate School are described below.

Note:听Please submit paperwork first to your department and allow time for review before Graduate School deadlines.

Commencement Dates &听Requirements鈥

For May 8, 2025

DateDetails
March 1, 2025Doctoral students who have not already done so听must听apply online to graduate听迟丑谤辞耻驳丑听听on the 鈥渁pply for graduation鈥 card in order to听have the degree awarded in May.听This is required whether or not you plan to attend the university-wide ceremony.听PhD students must enter their dissertation title as part of the online graduation application; you may update the title through the portal until this date.听This title will appear听on your transcript after your degree is awarded.听
April 8, 2025Doctoral听students must complete the PhD dissertation defense or final examination by this date.听Notice of the examination must be provided to the Graduate School using the doctoral final examination form two weeks before the exam a minimum of two weeks (but no more than 4 weeks) before the exam.
April 15, 2025PhD students must submit the dissertation听with Thesis Approval Form to ProQuest by this deadline. The dissertation must be听听for review and approval by Graduate School staff by the end of the business day. The听single-page听Thesis Approval Form听(TAF) must be uploaded as a supplemental file with the dissertation in order for the submission to be complete.听Students whose dissertations听are received after this deadline, or those not submitted with the TAF,听must apply to graduate at the following semester's听commencement.
April 15, 2025PhD and DMA students must fill out the 听by this deadline.听.
April 21, 2025Grade changes must be听submitted for incomplete courses taken during previous or current semesters.
May 2, 2025Deadline for fall听doctoral graduates to听update diploma name or address听in Buff Portal.

For August 20, 2025*

DateDetails
April 1, 2025Doctoral students who plan to have their degrees awarded in August but would like to be listed in the commencement program must听听apply online to graduate听through听on the 鈥渁pply for graduation鈥 card.听 PhD students must also enter their dissertation title as part of the graduation application.听 Though you plan to participate in a听May ceremony, please select August 2025 as the semester of graduation if that is when your degree will be awarded.
June 15, 2025Doctoral students who have not already done so听must听apply online to graduate听迟丑谤辞耻驳丑听听on the 鈥渁pply for graduation鈥 card in order to听have the degree awarded in August.听This is required even though there is no university-wide ceremony.听PhD students must enter their dissertation title as part of the online graduation application; you may update the title through the portal until this date.听This title will appear听on your transcript after your degree is awarded.
July 22, 2025Doctoral听students must complete the PhD dissertation defense or final examination by this date.听Notice of the examination must be provided to the Graduate School using the doctoral final examination form a minimum of two weeks (but no more than 4 weeks) before the exam.
July 29, 2025PhD students must submit the dissertation听with Thesis Approval Form to ProQuest by this deadline. The dissertation must be听听for review and approval by Graduate School staff by the end of the business day. The听single-page听Thesis Approval Form听(TAF) must be uploaded as a supplemental file with the dissertation in order for the submission to be complete.听Students whose dissertations听are received after this deadline, or those not submitted with the TAF,听must apply to graduate at the following semester's听commencement.
July 29, 2025PhD and DMA students must fill out the 听by this deadline.听.
Aug. 4, 2025Grade changes must be听submitted for incomplete courses taken during previous or current semesters.
TBDDeadline for summer听doctoral graduates to听update diploma name or address听in Buff Portal.

*Note: although there is no campus-wide ceremony, students may have degrees awarded in August and December.