Dissertation Submission and Degree Completion Timeline

Commencement Procession

GSAS students have three dates on which their degree may be conferred during the calendar year. This will be of particular interest for students who are planning to submit their dissertations in the summer months. Below is an overview of the timeline associated with each degree conferral date (May, September, and December).

IMPORTANT: Students who submit their dissertations BEFORE the end of the add/drop course enrollment period (see the academic calendar) are NOT eligible to register as students for the remainder of that term. Students who wish to remain registered until the end of a given semester must submit their dissertations AFTER add/drop closes in order to remain registered for that semester.

May Degree Conferral

eadline to file degree petition for MA, MS, and MPhil to be awarded at Commencement 
 

*May degree recipients are eligible to apply for an August extension (coverage ends on August 31). Enrollment information will be sent in early June.

September Degree Conferral

*Students in the Humanities and Social Sciences who have summer funding remaining in their financial aid package will receive the final stipend payment on August 31 or as of the start of employment, whichever comes first. Students with no summer funding remaining receive the final stipend payment on May 31.

Deadline to file degree petition for MA, MS, and MPhil to be awarded in September 

*September 2026 degree recipients are also eligible for the August extension (coverage ends on August 31, 2026) and will become eligible for this option as of the date they submit their dissertation. 

*Students in the Humanities and Social Sciences who have summer funding remaining in their financial aid package will receive the final stipend payment on August 31 or as of the start of employment, whichever comes first. Students with no summer funding remaining receive the final stipend payment on May 31.

*Late-stage students in STEM programs should confer with their PIs to create a mutually agreed-upon schedule to complete their academic requirements, including the dissertation. They should also discuss whether and for how long in the semester they may remain in the lab after dissertation completion to finish a project. At a minimum, students who are registered full-time and making satisfactory progress should be funded through the date on which they submit the dissertation to the Graduate School.  The stipend cannot continue beyond August 31 for degrees conferred in September.

December Degree Conferral

Deadline to file degree petition for MA, MS, and MPhil to be awarded in December