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Timelines & Deadlines

Milestones, Registration Cutoffs, and Convocation


Important to know

Important Registration & Fee Warning

If your thesis revisions and final submission continue into a new academic term, your registration and related fee charges will also continue into the new term until the final copy of the thesis is officially submitted. Registration status in a new term will also impact your Convocation eligibility.

To avoid extra fees and graduation delays, your final thesis submission must take place by the last day of your current term.

Note on Revision Windows: The deadlines outlined below assume a tight one-week window to complete required revisions and final submissions after a successful thesis examination. If you prefer more buffer time, you should aim to complete your preliminary submission and defense earlier in the term.

Program Timelines & Convocation Deadlines

To graduate in a specific term, your examination and submission process must align with critical institutional milestones. Review the schedule below based on your degree level. Doctoral Candidates: The complete preliminary-to-convocation process requires approximately eight weeks. Master's Candidates: The complete preliminary-to-convocation process requires approximately five weeks. Important Reminder: The schedules below allow for a tight one-week window for post-exam revisions. If your revisions or final upload slip past the final submission deadline into a new term, your registration and fee charges will automatically continue. Select your program track below to view your exact deadlines:

Normally the entire process, from the Graduate Chair's request for a Thesis Examination to the placement of your name on the convocation list, requires approximately eight weeks.

Convocation Eligibility Notes for Registration & Fees Final Date for Program to Submit Exam Request Final Date for Candidate Preliminary Submission Final Date for Thesis Examination Final Date for Final Thesis Submission
Fall (October) 2026 Last term of registration is Summer 2026 July 13, 2026 July 20, 2026 August 24, 2026 August 31, 2026
February in Absentia 2027 Last term of registration is Fall 2026 November 5, 2026 November 12, 2026 December 17, 2026 Final business day of term, December 2026
Spring (June) 2027 Last term of registration is Winter 2027 March 12, 2027 March 19, 2027 April 23, 2027 April 30, 2027
Fall (October) 2027 Last term of registration is Summer 2027 July 13, 2027 July 20, 2027 August 24, 2027 August 31, 2027

Normally the entire process, from the Graduate Chair's request for a Thesis Examination to the placement of your name on the convocation list, requires approximately five weeks.

Convocation Eligibility Notes for Registration & Fees Final Date for Program to Submit Exam Request Final Date for Candidate Preliminary Submission Final Date for Thesis Examination Final Date for Final Thesis Submission
Fall (October) 2026 Last term of registration is Summer 2026 July 27, 2026 August 3, 2026 August 24, 2026 August 31, 2026
February in Absentia 2027 Last term of registration is Fall 2026 November 19, 2026 November 26, 2026 December 17, 2026 Final business day of term, December 2026
Spring (June) 2027 Last term of registration is Winter 2027 March 25, 2027 April 2, 2027 April 23, 2027 April 30, 2027
Fall (October) 2027 Last term of registration is Summer 2027 July 27, 2027 August 3, 2027 August 24, 2027 August 31, 2027