Info for Graduate Students

Mark Your Calendars: Ceremonies for Graduates

Students must have submitted their graduation application through Buff Portal to be eligible to graduate and participate in graduation ceremonies.

⭐ University Commencement (May 11)

The University of Colorado Boulder will host the Spring 2023 University Commencement Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, May 11, in Folsom Field Stadium.

The commencement is for CU Boulder students graduating across the university.
Stadium gates open at 7 a.m. No tickets are required for people to attend.

⭐ CMCI Recognition Ceremony (May 12)

CU Boulder colleges, schools, departments and programs also celebrate the class of 2023 with individual recognition ceremonies.

CMCI's graduation recognition ceremony will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, May 12, at the CU Events Center. Graduates must arrive by 8 a.m.
Doors open for seating at 8 a.m. No tickets are required for people to attend.
The ceremony will be live streamed.
We ask that you complete this form to participate in the recognition ceremony. The extended completion date is May 8.

Get your cap and gown!

Students at graduation To participate in either the University Commencement Ceremony or the CMCI Graduation Recognition Ceremony, you must wear academic regalia.

The deadline to order your regalia online has passed and any regalia ordered via this method will not arrive to you in time for our ceremonies.

However, Jostens will be on-site with a limited supply of regalia available for purchase the week of commencement in Balch Fieldhouse.

Learn more

Spring 2023 Graduates

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.

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

Go to the Graduate School’s website for complete information on upcoming Graduate School deadlines →

Upcoming deadlines for master’s students

March 1: Final deadline to apply to graduate and submit a candidacy application.
- Apply to graduate: Those planning to graduate in May 2023, go to Buff Portal and apply to graduate in order to have your degree awarded in May.
- Candidacy application: March 1 was the final deadline for master’s students to submit their Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree. The academic department must approve your application before it's submitted to the Graduate School by the March 1 deadline.
  - Please contact your department with any questions.
April 1: Final deadline to register to participate in CMCI's May 12 recognition ceremony. Completing this form also ensures you will receive pictures of yourself at CMCI’s ceremony following the event.
April 18: Complete thesis defense/final examination.
- Master’s students must complete the thesis defense or final examination by this date. At least two weeks before the exam occurs, your academic unit must fill out an examination report form that provides the Graduate School a notice of the final examination. Certain units do not require an exam for non-thesis students.
  - Please contact your department with any questions.
April 25: Submit thesis and Thesis Approval Form.
- Master's thesis plan students must submit the thesis and Thesis Approval Form by this deadline.
  - The thesis must be submitted electronically for review and approval by Graduate School staff by the end of the business day.
  - The Thesis Approval Form (TAF) must be uploaded as a supplemental file with the dissertation in order for the submission to be complete.

All Deadlines

Upcoming deadlines for PhD students

March 1: Final deadline to apply to graduate.
- Those planning to graduate in May 2023, go to Buff Portal and apply to graduate in order to have your degree awarded in May.
  - 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 1: Final deadline to register to participate in CMCI's May 12 recognition ceremony. Completing this form also ensures you will receive pictures of yourself at CMCI’s ceremony following the event.
April 11: Complete the PhD dissertation defense or final examination.
- Doctoral students must complete the PhD dissertation defense or final examination by this date. At least two weeks before the exam occurs, your academic unit must fill out an examination report form that provides the Graduate School a notice of the final examination.
April 18: Submit dissertation with Thesis Approval Form and complete survey.
- Dissertation: PhD students must submit the dissertation with Thesis Approval Form by this deadline.
  - The dissertation must be submitted electronically for review and approval by Graduate School staff by the end of the business day.
  - The Thesis Approval Form (TAF) must be uploaded as a supplemental file with the dissertation in order for the submission to be complete.
- Survey: PhD and DMA students must fill out the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) online by this deadline. Additional information about the survey »

All Deadlines

By May 8: RSVP for CMCI’s Recognition Ceremony

By May 8, complete CMCI’s form to ensure your information is correct. Completing this form ensures you will receive pictures of yourself at CMCI’s ceremony following the event.

Want to be in the May 2023 graduation ceremonies? Graduate students who plan to have their degrees awarded in August 2023 but would like to participate in a May 2023 commencement ceremony (and be listed in the commencement program) must apply to graduate via Buff Portal by April 1.

Although you plan to participate in a May ceremony, please select summer 2023 as the semester of graduation, if that is when your degree will be awarded.
Note: PhD students must also enter their dissertation title as part of the graduation application.
To be included in CMCI’s May 12 ceremony, complete this form by April 1 as well.

If you do not want to participate in the May 2023 graduation ceremonies, the deadline to apply to graduate via Buff Portal is June 15.

See the full list of graduation requirements and deadlines on the Graduate School’s website. There are different requirements for master’s students and for PhD students.

Be sure to check the Graduate School’s website for a full list of graduation requirements and deadlines as they are made available. There will be different requirements for master’s students and for PhD students.

Have additional questions? Check out the Graduation and Diploma FAQs →

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Info for Graduate Students

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Mark Your Calendars: Ceremonies for Graduates

⭐ University Commencement (May 11)

⭐ CMCI Recognition Ceremony (May 12)

Get your cap and gown!

Spring 2023 Graduates

By May 8: RSVP for CMCI’s Recognition Ceremony

Summer and Winter 2023 Graduates