Important dates for graduation and deadlines for submitting forms are listed below. Forms must be submitted on or before the dates indicated for graduation in the specified term.
Select one of the terms below to navigate to the deadlines for that term.
Summer 2026
Fall 2026
Winter 2027
Spring 2027
Summer 2027
| |Summer 2026 | Deadline Date |
|---|
GO-16 Appointment of Master's Thesis Committee
For all master's students completing a thesis. | June 1 |
Early Term Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation for Early Term Graduation | June 16 |
Application for Graduation
For all graduate students. No student will graduate without submitting this form. | June 26 |
Thesis/Dissertation Defense
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. The student must deliver a draft of the thesis or dissertation to all members of the approved committee no fewer than 14 days before the defense date. | July 24 |
Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. Final copies of theses and dissertations must be prepared in compliance with the ETD Formatting Requirements. | August 7 |
Non-Thesis Defense
For all master's and professional doctorate students completing a non-thesis examination, including a final project presentation. | August 28 |
Date of Degree Conferral
Date of official degree conferral that will be listed on all diplomas and transcripts. See "Date Degree Awarding Begins" below for additional information. | August 29 |
GO-17 Recommendation for the Master's or Doctoral Degree
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. This form not to be handled by students. | September 1 |
Date Degree Awarding Begins
Date the Graduate School will begin degree awarding. The process will continue into the first few days of Fall term. | September 2 |
| |Fall 2026 | Deadline Date |
|---|
GO-16 Appointment of Master's Thesis Committee
For all master's students completing a thesis. | September 21 |
Early Term Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation for Early Term Graduation | September 1 |
Application for Graduation
For all graduate students. No student will graduate without submitting this form. | October 2 |
Thesis/Dissertation Defense
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. The student must deliver a draft of the thesis or dissertation to all members of the approved committee no fewer than 14 days before the defense date. | November 6 |
Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. Final copies of theses and dissertations must be prepared in compliance with the ETD Formatting Requirements. | November 20 |
Non-Thesis Defense
For all master's and professional doctorate students completing a non-thesis examination, including a final project presentation. | December 11 |
Date of Degree Conferral
Date of official degree conferral that will be listed on all diplomas and transcripts. See "Date Degree Awarding Begins" below for additional information. | December 12 |
GO-17 Recommendation for the Master's or Doctoral Degree
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. This form not to be handled by students. | December 15 |
Date Degree Awarding Begins
Date the Graduate School will begin degree awarding. The process will continue into mid January. | December 16 |
| |Winter 2027 | Deadline Date |
|---|
GO-16 Appointment of Master's Thesis Committee
For all master's students completing a thesis. | November 30 |
Early Term Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation for Early Term Graduation | December 15 |
Application for Graduation
For all graduate students. No student will graduate without submitting this form. | January 8 |
Thesis/Dissertation Defense
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. The student must deliver a draft of the thesis or dissertation to all members of the approved committee no fewer than 14 days before the defense date. | February 12 |
Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. Final copies of theses and dissertations must be prepared in compliance with the ETD Formatting Requirements. | February 26 |
Non-Thesis Defense
For all master's and professional doctorate students completing a non-thesis examination, including a final project presentation. | March 19 |
Date of Degree Conferral
Date of official degree conferral that will be listed on all diplomas and transcripts. See "Date Degree Awarding Begins" below for additional information. | March 20 |
GO-17 Recommendation for the Master's or Doctoral Degree
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. This form not to be handled by students. | March 23 |
Date Degree Awarding Begins
Date the Graduate School will begin degree awarding. The process will continue into late April. | March 24 |
| |Spring 2027 | Deadline Date |
|---|
GO-16 Appointment of Master's Thesis Committee
For all master's students completing a thesis. | March 8 |
Early Term Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation for Early Term Graduation | March 23 |
Application for Graduation
For all graduate students. No student will graduate without submitting this form. | April 2 |
Thesis/Dissertation Defense
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. The student must deliver a draft of the thesis or dissertation to all members of the approved committee no fewer than 14 days before the defense date. | May 7 |
Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. Final copies of theses and dissertations must be prepared in compliance with the ETD Formatting Requirements. | May 21 |
Non-Thesis Defense
For all master's and professional doctorate students completing a non-thesis examination, including a final project presentation. | June 11 |
Date of Degree Conferral
Date of official degree conferral that will be listed on all diplomas and transcripts. See "Date Degree Awarding Begins" below for additional information. | June 12 |
GO-17 Recommendation for the Master's or Doctoral Degree
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. This form not to be handled by students.
Doctoral students can only participate in the PSU Spring Commencement ceremony if they have met all Spring term deadlines, completed all degree requirements, and have been certified for graduation by the Graduate School; therefore, GO-17Ds for Spring term doctoral applicants are due one week earlier, June 8. | June 15 |
Date Degree Awarding Begins
Date the Graduate School will begin degree awarding. The process will continue into late July. | June 16 |
| |Summer 2027 | Deadline Date |
|---|
GO-16 Appointment of Master's Thesis Committee
For all master's students completing a thesis. | May 31 |
Early Term Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation for Early Term Graduation | June 15 |
Application for Graduation
For all graduate students. No student will graduate without submitting this form. | June 25 |
Thesis/Dissertation Defense
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. The student must deliver a draft of the thesis or dissertation to all members of the approved committee no fewer than 14 days before the defense date. | July 23 |
Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. Final copies of theses and dissertations must be prepared in compliance with the ETD Formatting Requirements. | August 6 |
Non-Thesis Defense
For all master's and professional doctorate students completing a non-thesis examination, including a final project presentation. | August 27 |
Date of Degree Conferral
Date of official degree conferral that will be listed on all diplomas and transcripts. See "Date Degree Awarding Begins" below for additional information. | August 28 |
GO-17 Recommendation for the Master's or Doctoral Degree
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. This form not to be handled by students. | August 31 |
Date Degree Awarding Begins
Date the Graduate School will begin degree awarding. The process will continue into the first few days of Fall term. | September 1 |