Deadlines for Master's 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 9, 2024

• February 1, 2024- Preferred Deadline
  
  • ​Master's students are requested to submit to the Graduate School a Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree.  Students in a BAM or Dual program are asked to meet this deadline. Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School.
• March 1, 2024
  
  • Master's students 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 you plan to attend the university-wide ceremony or not.
• March 1, 2024- Final Deadline
  • ​Master's students who have not done so must submit to the Graduate School a Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree.  Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School.
• April 16, 2024
  
  • Master's students must complete the thesis defense or final examination by this date. Notice of the examination must be provided to the Graduate School using the master's final examination form two weeks before the exam. Certain units do not require an exam for non-thesis students.  Please contact your department with any questions.
• April 23, 2024
  
  • Master's thesis plan students must submit the thesis and Thesis Approval Form to ProQuest by this deadline. The thesis must be submitted electronically for review and approval by Gradaute 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 29, 2024
  
  • Grade changes must be submitted for incomplete courses taken during previous semesters.
• May 31, 2024
  • Deadline for spring graduates to update diploma name or address in Buff Portal

For August 22, 2024*

• April 1, 2024
  • Graduate 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.  Though you plan to participate in a May ceremony, please select August as the semester of graduation if that is when your degree will be awarded.
• June 14, 2024
  • ​Master's students must submit to the Graduate School a Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree.  Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School.
• June 15, 2024
  
  • Master's 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.  
• July 30, 2024
  
  • Master's students must complete the thesis defense or final examination by this date. Notice of the examination must be provided to the Graduate School using the master's final examination form two weeks before the exam. Certain units do not require an exam for non-thesis students.  Please contact your department with any questions.
• August 6, 2024
  
  • Master's thesis plan students must submit the thesis and Thesis Approval Form to ProQuest by this deadline. The thesis must be submitted electronically for review and approval by Gradaute 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.
• August 12, 2024
  
  • Grade changes must be submitted for incomplete courses taken during previous semesters.
• Date TBD
  • Deadline for summer master's 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.