Doctoral and master's students who are planning to graduate this spring must meet these April deadlines:

All grad students: April 1

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. 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.

Doctoral students: April 8

Doctoral 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 four weeks) before the exam.

Master’s students: April 15

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.

Doctoral students: April 15

PhD students must submit the dissertation with Thesis Approval Form (TAF) 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 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.

Doctoral students: April 15

PhD and DMA students must fill out the Survey of Earned Doctorates online by this deadline. Learn more about the survey on the National Science Foundation's website.