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. Procedures and final deadlines required by the Graduate School are described below.

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

Commencement Dates & Requirements​

For December 19, 2024*

DateDetails
Oct. 1Doctoral students who have not already done so must apply online to graduateٳdzܲ on the “apply for graduation” card in order to have the degree awarded in December. This is required even though there is no university-wide ceremony. 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. This title will appear on your transcript after your degree is awarded.
Nov. 14Doctoral students must complete the PhD dissertation defense or final examination by this date. Notice of the examination must be provided to the Graduate School using the doctoral final examination form two weeks before the exam.
Nov. 21PhD students must submit the dissertation with Thesis Approval Form to ProQuest by this deadline. The dissertation must be  for review and approval by Graduate School staff by the end of the business day. The single-page Thesis Approval Form (TAF) must be uploaded as a supplemental file with the dissertation in order for the submission to be complete. Students whose dissertations are received after this deadline, or those not submitted with the TAF, must apply to graduate at the following semester's commencement.
Nov. 21PhD and DMA students must fill out the  by this deadline. .
Dec. 2Grade changes must be submitted for incomplete courses taken during previous or current semesters.
Dec. 13Deadline for fall doctoral graduates to update diploma name or address in Buff Portal.

For May 8, 2025

DateDetails
March 1, 2025Doctoral students who have not already done so must apply online to graduateٳdzܲ on the “apply for graduation” card in order to have the degree awarded in May. This is required whether or not you plan to attend the university-wide ceremony. 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. This title will appear on your transcript after your degree is awarded. 
April 8, 2025Doctoral students must complete the PhD dissertation defense or final examination by this date. Notice of the examination must be provided to the Graduate School using the doctoral final examination form two weeks before the exam.
April 15, 2025PhD students must submit the dissertation with Thesis Approval Form to ProQuest by this deadline. The dissertation must be  for review and approval by Graduate School staff by the end of the business day. The single-page Thesis Approval Form (TAF) must be uploaded as a supplemental file with the dissertation in order for the submission to be complete. Students whose dissertations are received after this deadline, or those not submitted with the TAF, must apply to graduate at the following semester's commencement.
April 15, 2025PhD and DMA students must fill out the  by this deadline. .
April 21, 2025Grade changes must be submitted for incomplete courses taken during previous or current semesters.
TBDDeadline for fall doctoral graduates to update diploma name or address in Buff Portal.

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