Timeline for Graduation

Keep track of your deadlines and graduation requirements as you progress toward your degree. Listed here are general degree requirements for all graduate students.

Be sure to check with your program or department for any additional requirements or deadlines.

Detailed deadlines specific to theses and dissertations are listed in the Theses and Dissertations section.

Master's Students

1. Complete your coursework.
2. If completing a thesis, submit it for review by the 15th of the month you wish to graduate. Degrees are granted monthly. Deadlines for May and December graduation will vary each year. Check the deadlines »
3. If completing a thesis, following your defense, submit the "Defense Signatures edoc" located on the University Graduate School One.IU task page.
4. Fill out the Master's Application for Advanced Degree E-Doc, which is used for both for Commencement participation and graduation purposes. If you are completing a thesis, please make sure to let us know if you want the title included on your transcript by selecting the appropriate box on the E-Doc. For Commencement participation purposes, this E-Doc must be received by the University Graduate School no later than September 25th for the December Commencement and no later than February 25th for the May Commencement. For graduation purposes, your Master's Application for Advanced Degree E-Doc must be received by the University Graduate School no later than the 15th of the month in which you wish to graduate. May and December have different deadlines, so please make sure to review the Deadlines. Each Master's student should only submit one application, selecting the most appropriate deadline above. You will find the Master’s Application for Advanced Degree E-Doc on the University Graduate School One.IU Task Page. 
5. Verify that the Office of the Registrar has the correct spelling of your name and your correct diploma mailing address by visiting Student Central on Union. The registrar mails the diploma to your student home address. You will receive the diploma for your degree within about three months of your award date. Confirm your address at Student Central on Union »

Learn more about how to submit your thesis »

Ph.D. Students

1. Complete your coursework.
2. Pass your qualifying exams. The qualifying exams must be passed at least eight months before graduation.
3. Once you’ve completed your coursework and passed your exams, submit your Nomination to Candidacy form. This form must be approved by the University Graduate School before the Nomination of Research Committee form can be approved. Submit your Nomination to Candidacy e-doc through the University Graduate School One.IU task page» Track your Nomination to Candidacy e-doc to ensure timely approval. To track edocs see the "How to search for an eDoc" aid under Guides and Job Aids on the UGS website.
4. Once your candidacy has been approved by the University Graduate School, you will have seven years, starting with the day you passed your final qualifying exams, to complete your degree. Beginning the first fall or spring semester immediately following the semester in which you pass your qualifying exams, you are required to enroll every fall and spring semester until you graduate. If you will graduate during the summer term, enrollment in that summer term is required as well.
5. Submit your Nomination of Research Committee form. Your nomination form must be approved six months before you defend your dissertation. Submit your Nomination of Research Committee e-doc through the University Graduate School One.IU task page» Track your Nomination of Research Committee e-doc to ensure timely approval.

6. Announce your defense through the PhD Defense Announcement edoc. Your defense announcement must be received by the UGS at least 30 days before the date your plan to defend.

   1. Plan to submit the PhD Defense Announcement edoc a minimum of 40 days before the defense date. This allows time for the edoc to be processed by your department, approved by your research chair, and still reach the UGS at least 30 days before your defense date. 30-day deadline applies to the date the University Graduate School receives your announcement, not when you send it or when the UGS approves it.

   2. The summary included on the PhD Defense Announcement edoc should be informative and contain a brief statement of the principal results and conclusions. Unlike the abstract, which is intended for specialists in the field, an attempt should be made in the summary to communicate the findings in language and style that can be understood by the University community at large. The summary should be no less than 150 and no more than 300 words in length.

   3. The PhD Defense Announcement e-doc is located on the University Graduate School One.IU task page» 

   4. Track your PhD Defense Announcement e-doc to ensure timely approval. 

7. Defend your dissertation in front of your research committee. Following your defense, submit the "Defense Signatures edoc" through the University Graduate School One.IU task  page.  Track your Defense Signatures e-doc to ensure timely approval.
8. Complete any revisions to your dissertation that your committee may request post-defense. Finalize any formatting revisions as well. See the formatting guidelines on the UGS website University Graduate School Formatting
9. Remind your research chair to remove any “R”s from your dissertation, research, or G901 hours.
10. Submit your dissertation for review by the 15th of the month you wish to graduate. Degrees are granted monthly. Deadlines for May and December graduation will vary each year. Check the deadlines » Learn more about how to submit your dissertation »
11. Submit any formatting changes the UGS requested be made on your dissertation after initial review by the doctoral recorder by the 27th of the month you wish to graduate. The Defense Signatures edoc and any other requirements outlined to you by the doctoral recorder following the initial review must also be completed by the 27th of the month you wish to graduate. Deadlines for May and December graduation will vary each year.
12. Complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED).  Complete the earned doctorates survey » Note that the online version of the SED remains confidential and is reported only in aggregate form or in a manner that does not identify information about an individual. 
    Survey of Earned Doctorates - Informational Brocure
13. If you wish to have your name appear in the commencement ceremony program, complete the Ph.D. Commencement Participation Application by September 25 for the December Commencement and by February 25 for the May Commencement. This is necessary to be listed in the Commencement program but not to only participate in the ceremony. Students who graduate in September through December in a year are eligible for the inclusion in the December ceremony program. Students who graduate in January through August in a year are eligible for inclusion in the May ceremony program.  You may be required to obtain approval from your department or program chairperson. Submit your Ph.D. Commencement Participation Application through the University Graduate School One.IU task page » 
14. Verify that the Office of the Registrar has the correct spelling of your name and your correct diploma mailing address by visiting Student Central on Union. The registrar mails the diploma to your student home address. You will receive the diploma for your degree within about three months of your award date. Confirm your address at Student Central on Union »