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 2025
Fall 2025
Winter 2026
Spring 2026
Summer 2026
| |Summer 2025 | Deadline Date |
|---|
GO-16 Appointment of Master's Thesis Committee
For all master's students completing a thesis. | June 2 |
Early Term Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation for Early Term Graduation | June 17 |
Application for Graduation
For all graduate students. No student will graduate without submitting this form. | June 27 |
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 25 |
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 8 |
Non-Thesis Defense
For all master's students completing a non-thesis examination, including a final project presentation. | August 29 |
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 30 |
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 2 |
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 3 |
| |Fall 2025 | Deadline Date |
|---|
GO-16 Appointment of Master's Thesis Committee
For all master's students completing a thesis. | September 22 |
Early Term Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation for Early Term Graduation | September 2 |
Application for Graduation
For all graduate students. No student will graduate without submitting this form. | October 3 |
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 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. | November 21 |
Non-Thesis Defense
For all master's students completing a non-thesis examination, including a final project presentation. | December 12 |
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 13 |
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 16 |
Date Degree Awarding Begins
Date the Graduate School will begin degree awarding. The process will continue into mid January. | December 17 |
| |Winter 2026 | Deadline Date |
|---|
GO-16 Appointment of Master's Thesis Committee
For all master's students completing a thesis. | December 1 |
Early Term Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation for Early Term Graduation | December 16 |
Application for Graduation
For all graduate students. No student will graduate without submitting this form. | January 9 |
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 13 |
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 27 |
Non-Thesis Defense
For all master's students completing a non-thesis examination, including a final project presentation. | March 20 |
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 21 |
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 24 |
Date Degree Awarding Begins
Date the Graduate School will begin degree awarding. The process will continue into late April. | March 25 |
| |Spring 2026 | Deadline Date |
|---|
GO-16 Appointment of Master's Thesis Committee
For all master's students completing a thesis. | March 9 |
Early Term Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School
For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation for Early Term Graduation | March 24 |
Application for Graduation
For all graduate students. No student will graduate without submitting this form. | April 3 |
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 8 |
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 22 |
Non-Thesis Defense
For all master's students completing a non-thesis examination, including a final project presentation. | June 12 |
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 13 |
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 9. | June 16 |
Date Degree Awarding Begins
Date the Graduate School will begin degree awarding. The process will continue into late July. | June 17 |
| |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 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 |