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 May 8, 2025

DateDetails
March 1, 2025Doctoral students who have not already done so must apply online to graduate through buff portal 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 a minimum of two weeks (but no more than 4 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 submitted electronically 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 Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) online by this deadline. See additional information about the survey.
April 21, 2025Grade changes must be submitted for incomplete courses taken during previous or current semesters.
May 2, 2025Deadline for fall doctoral graduates to update diploma name or address 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  apply online to graduate through buff portal on the “apply for graduation” card.  PhD students must also enter their dissertation title as part of the graduation application.  Though you plan to participate in a 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 must apply online to graduate through buff portal on the “apply for graduation” card in order to have the degree awarded in August. 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.
July 22, 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 a minimum of two weeks (but no more than 4 weeks) before the exam.
July 29, 2025PhD students must submit the dissertation with Thesis Approval Form to ProQuest 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 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.
July 29, 2025PhD and DMA students must fill out the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) online by this deadline. See additional information about the survey.
Aug. 4, 2025Grade changes must be submitted for incomplete courses taken during previous or current semesters.
TBDDeadline for summer 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.