Knowing the deadlines for submitting forms to the Graduate School can help to avoid delays in graduation. Review the Steps to Graduation to find out each of the steps and the necessary forms.
Graduate Programs with Dissertation/Thesis
These deadlines are for candidates in doctoral programs and for candidates in EdS and Master’s programs that have a thesis requirement.
Early Deadlines
The purpose of the early deadline is to allow thesis and dissertation students who complete all requirements for graduation before the semester starts to graduate at the end of fall 2024 without having to register for thesis or dissertation hours in fall 2024. Students’ official graduation date will be at the conclusion of the fall 2024 semester.
In order to be eligible, all materials must be completed, submitted, and accepted by the Graduate School by the established deadlines.
June 28
- A preliminary draft of dissertation/thesis must be submitted in TRACE for review by Graduate School.
- An Admission to Candidacy form (doctoral or masters) must be submitted.
- The Graduation Application must be submitted and graduation fee paid online at MyUTK.
- PhD students must submit a PhD Committee Form.
Students in a non-PhD doctoral program (DSW, DrPH, DNP, EdD) must submit a Doctoral (Non-PhD) Committee Form.
August 2
- The Early Deadline Application must be submitted by this date.
- This is the last day to pass the thesis or dissertation defense.
- Any remaining paperwork for degree conferral must be submitted. Email the Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.
August 16
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted by the Graduate School by 5:00 p.m. on this date. To ensure the document can be accepted, submission to TRACE must occur prior to this date (email thesis@utk.edu for questions).
- The Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must be submitted by EdD and PhD students to thesis@utk.edu by 5:00 p.m.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted by 5:00 p.m.
- The Thesis or Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted by 5:00 p.m.
- The removal of Incomplete and NR grades must be verified (email gradspec@utk.edu for questions).
Standard Deadlines
Students intending to graduate in fall 2024 must be registered for at least 3 hours of thesis or dissertation credits during the fall semester.
August 16
- PhD students must submit a PhD Committee Form.
Students in a non-PhD doctoral program (DSW, DrPH, DNP, EdD), submit your Doctoral (Non-PhD) Committee Form. - An Admission to Candidacy form (doctoral or masters) must be submitted.
- The Graduation Application must be submitted and graduation fee paid online at MyUTK.
September 20
- A preliminary draft of a thesis or dissertation must be submitted online in TRACE for review by the Coordinator of Student Services.
November 8
- All students must defend a thesis or dissertation by this date.
November 26
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted in TRACE by 5:00 p.m. To ensure the document can be accepted, submission to TRACE must occur prior to this date. Contact the Coordinator of Student Services at thesis@utk.edu with any questions.
- The Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must be submitted by EdD and PhD students to thesis@utk.edu by 5:00 p.m.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted by 5:00 p.m.
- The Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted by 5:00 p.m.
December 6
- The removal of Incomplete and NR grades must be verified. Contact the Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.
Early Deadlines
The purpose of the early deadline is to allow thesis and dissertation students who complete all requirements for graduation before the semester starts to graduate at the end of spring 2025 without having to register for thesis or dissertation hours in spring 2025. Students’ official graduation date will be at the conclusion of the spring 2025 semester.
In order to be eligible, all materials must be completed, submitted, and accepted by the Graduate School by the established deadlines.
October 11
- A preliminary draft of dissertation/thesis must be submitted in TRACE for review by Graduate School.
- An Admission to Candidacy form (doctoral or masters) must be submitted.
- The Graduation Application must be submitted and graduation fee paid online at MyUTK.
- PhD students must submit a PhD Committee Form.
Students in a non-PhD doctoral program (DSW, DrPH, DNP, EdD) must submit a Doctoral (Non-PhD) Committee Form.
December 16
- The Early Deadline Application must be submitted by this date.
- This is the last day to pass the thesis or dissertation defense.
- Any remaining paperwork for degree conferral must be submitted. Email the Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.
January 17
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted by the Graduate School by 5:00 p.m. on this date. To ensure the document can be accepted, submission to TRACE must occur prior to this date (email thesis@utk.edu for questions).
- The Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must be submitted by EdD and PhD students to thesis@utk.edu by 5:00 p.m.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted by 5:00 p.m.
- The Thesis or Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted by 5:00 p.m.
- The removal of Incomplete and NR grades must be verified (email gradspec@utk.edu for questions).
Standard Deadlines
Students intending to graduate in spring 2025 must be registered for at least 3 hours of thesis or dissertation credits during the spring semester.
January 24
- PhD students must submit a PhD Committee Form.
Students in a non-PhD doctoral program (DSW, DrPH, DNP, EdD), submit your Doctoral (Non-PhD) Committee Form. - An Admission to Candidacy form (doctoral or masters) must be submitted.
- The Graduation Application must be submitted and graduation fee paid online at MyUTK.
February 21
- A preliminary draft of a thesis or dissertation must be submitted online in TRACE for review by the Coordinator of Student Services.
April 11
- All students must defend a thesis or dissertation by this date.
April 25
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted in TRACE by 5:00 p.m. To ensure the document can be accepted, submission to TRACE must occur prior to this date. Contact the Coordinator of Student Services at thesis@utk.edu with any questions.
- The Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must be submitted by EdD and PhD students to thesis@utk.edu by 5:00 p.m.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted by 5:00 p.m.
- The Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted by 5:00 p.m.
May 9
- The removal of Incomplete and NR grades must be verified. Contact the Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.
Early Deadlines
The purpose of the early deadline is to allow thesis and dissertation students who complete all requirements for graduation before the semester starts to graduate at the end of summer 2025 without having to register for thesis or dissertation hours in summer 2025. Students’ official graduation date will be at the conclusion of the summer 2025 semester.
In order to be eligible, all materials must be completed, submitted, and accepted by the Graduate School by the established deadlines.
March 7
- A preliminary draft of dissertation/thesis must be submitted in TRACE for review by Graduate School.
- An Admission to Candidacy form (doctoral or masters) must be submitted.
- The Graduation Application must be submitted and graduation fee paid online at MyUTK.
- PhD students must submit a PhD Committee Form.
Students in a non-PhD doctoral program (DSW, DrPH, DNP, EdD) must submit a Doctoral (Non-PhD) Committee Form.
May 16
- The Early Deadline Application must be submitted by this date.
- This is the last day to pass the thesis or dissertation defense.
- Any remaining paperwork for degree conferral must be submitted. Email the Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.
May 23
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted by the Graduate School by 5:00 p.m. on this date. To ensure the document can be accepted, submission to TRACE must occur prior to this date (email thesis@utk.edu for questions).
- The Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must be submitted by EdD and PhD students to thesis@utk.edu by 5:00 p.m.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted by 5:00 p.m.
- The Thesis or Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted by 5:00 p.m.
- The removal of Incomplete and NR grades must be verified (email gradspec@utk.edu for questions).
Standard Deadlines
Students intending to graduate in summer 2025 must be registered for at least 3 hours of thesis or dissertation credits during the summer semester.
May 30
- PhD students must submit a PhD Committee Form.
Students in a non-PhD doctoral program (DSW, DrPH, DNP, EdD), submit your Doctoral (Non-PhD) Committee Form. - An Admission to Candidacy form (doctoral or masters) must be submitted.
- The Graduation Application must be submitted and graduation fee paid online at MyUTK.
June 20
- A preliminary draft of a thesis or dissertation must be submitted online in TRACE for review by the Coordinator of Student Services.
July 18
- All students must defend a thesis or dissertation by this date.
August 5
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted in TRACE by 5:00 p.m. To ensure the document can be accepted, submission to TRACE must occur prior to this date. Contact the Coordinator of Student Services at thesis@utk.edu with any questions.
- The Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must be submitted by EdD and PhD students to thesis@utk.edu by 5:00 p.m.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted by 5:00 p.m.
- The Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted by 5:00 p.m.
August 8
- The removal of Incomplete and NR grades must be verified. Contact the Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.
Master’s/EdS Non-Thesis Programs and Graduate Certificates
These deadlines are for candidates in any program that does not have a thesis requirement, such as the Specialist in Education (EdS), or for any students completing a graduate certificate.
Any student graduating in fall 2024 must be registered for at least 1 credit hour during the fall semester.
Standard Deadlines
August 16
- Non-Thesis students must submit the Admission to Candidacy form.
- Graduate certificate students must submit a Graduate Certificate Course Verification form.
- The Graduation Application must be submitted and graduation fee paid online at MyUTK.
November 26
- Non-thesis students with comprehensive exams and/or a master’s project must submit a Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form by 5:00 p.m.
December 6
- The removal of Incomplete and NR grades must be verified. Contact the Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.
Any student graduating in spring 2025 must be registered for at least 1 credit hour during the spring semester.
Standard Deadlines
January 24
- Non-Thesis students must submit the Admission to Candidacy form.
- Graduate certificate students must submit a Graduate Certificate Course Verification form.
- The Graduation Application must be submitted and graduation fee paid online at MyUTK.
April 25
- Non-thesis students with comprehensive exams and/or a master’s project must submit a Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form by 5:00 p.m.
May 9
- The removal of Incomplete and NR grades must be verified. Contact the Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.
Any student graduating in summer 2025 must be registered for at least 1 credit hour during the summer semester.
Standard Deadlines
May 30
- Non-Thesis students must submit the Admission to Candidacy form.
- Graduate certificate students must submit a Graduate Certificate Course Verification form.
- The Graduation Application must be submitted and graduation fee paid online at MyUTK.
August 5
- Non-thesis students with comprehensive exams and/or a master’s project must submit a Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form by 5:00 p.m.
August 8
- The removal of Incomplete and NR grades must be verified. Contact the Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.