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.
What are early deadlines? Find out more about this option.
2025
February 21
5:00pm
TRACE Preliminary Deadline
For Spring Graduates
A preliminary draft of a thesis or dissertation must be submitted online in TRACE for review by the Coordinator of Student Services.
March 7
Graduation Specialist Submission Deadline
For Early Summer Graduates
- A preliminary draft of a thesis or dissertation must be submitted online in TRACE for review by the Coordinator of Student Services.
- 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.
April 11
Defense of Thesis/Dissertation Deadline
For Spring Graduates
All students must defend a thesis or dissertation by this date.
April 25
5:00pm
Final Deadline
For Spring Graduates
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted by the Graduate School. 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.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted.
- The Thesis or Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted.
May 9
Incomplete and NR Grades Deadline
For Spring Graduates
The removal of Incomplete and NR grades. Contact the Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.
May 16
Graduation Specialist Submission Deadline
For Early Summer Graduates
- 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
5:00pm
Final Deadline
For Early Summer Graduates
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted by the Graduate School. 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.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted.
- The Thesis or Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted.
- The removal of Incomplete and NR grades must be verified.
May 30
Graduation Specialist Submission Deadline
For Summer Graduates
- 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
5:00pm
TRACE Preliminary Deadline
For Summer and Early Fall Graduates
A preliminary draft of a thesis or dissertation must be submitted online in TRACE for review by the Coordinator of Student Services.
July 18
Defense of Thesis/Dissertation Deadline
For Summer Graduates
All students must defend a thesis or dissertation by this date.
August 1
Graduation Specialist Submission Deadline
For Early Fall Graduates
- This is the last day to pass the thesis or dissertation defense.
- 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. - The Early Deadline Application must be submitted by this date.
- Any remaining paperwork for degree conferral must be submitted. Email the Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.
August 5
5:00pm
Final Deadline
For Summer Graduates
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted by the Graduate School. 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.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted.
- The Thesis or Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted.
August 8
Incomplete and NR Grades Deadline
For Summer Graduates
The removal of Incomplete and NR grades. Contact the Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.
August 15
5:00pm
Final Deadline
For Early Fall Graduates
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted by the Graduate School. 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.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted.
- The Thesis or Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted.
August 18
Fall Full and 1st Sessions Begin
Faculty submit attendance.
August 25
Graduation Specialist Submission Deadline
For Fall Graduates
- 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 25
5:00pm
TRACE Preliminary Deadline
For Fall and Early Spring Graduates
A preliminary draft of a thesis or dissertation must be submitted online in TRACE for review by the Coordinator of Student Services.
October 3
Fall 1st Session Ends
Faculty grades submission opens.
October 6–7
Fall Break
No classes.
October 8
Fall 2nd Session Begins
Faculty submit attendance.
November 4
Election Day
No classes.
November 7
Defense of Thesis/Dissertation Deadline
For Fall Graduates
All students must defend a thesis or dissertation by this date.
November 21
5:00pm
Final Deadline
For Fall Graduates
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted in TRACE . 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.
- The Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted.
November 25
Fall 2nd Session Ends
Faculty grades submission opens.
November 26–28
Thanksgiving Recess
No classes.
December 2
Fall Full Session Ends
Faculty grades submission opens.
December 4–10
Exams for Fall
Exams take place Thursday through Wednesday.
December 5
Incomplete and NR Grades Deadline
For Fall Graduates
The removal of Incomplete and NR grades. Contact the Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.
December 8
Graduation Specialist Submission Deadline
For Early Spring Graduates
- 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.
- 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.
December 13
Official Degree Conferral Date for Fall
This is the official date of degree conferral that will appear on the transcript.
2026
January 5
Winter Mini Term Begins
Faculty submit attendance.
January 16
Final Deadline
For Early Spring Graduates
- Winter Mini Term Ends. Faculty grades submissions open.
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted in TRACE . 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.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted.
- The Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted.
- The removal of Incomplete and NR grades. Contact Graduation Specialists at gradspec@utk.edu with any questions.
January 20
Spring Full and 1st Sessions Begin
Faculty submit attendance.
January 26
Graduation Specialist Submission Deadline
For Spring Graduates
- 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. - 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 20
5:00pm
TRACE Preliminary Deadline
For Spring and Early Summer Graduates
A preliminary draft of a thesis or dissertation must be submitted online in TRACE for review by the Coordinator of Student Services.
March 6
Spring 1st Session Ends
Faculty grades submission opens.
March 9-13
Spring Break
No classes.
March 18
Spring 2nd Session Ends
Faculty grades submission opens.
April 2-3
Spring Recess
No classes.
April 10
Defense of Thesis/Dissertation Deadline
For Spring Graduates
- All students must defend a thesis or dissertation by this date.
April 30
5:00pm
Final Deadline
For Spring Graduates
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted in TRACE . 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.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted.
- The Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted.
May 6
Spring Full and 2nd Session Ends
Faculty grades submission opens.
May 8
Incomplete and NR Grades Deadline
For Spring Graduates
The removal of Incomplete and NR grades.
May 8–10
Exams for Spring
Exams take place Friday through Thursday.
May 11
Graduation Specialist Submission Deadline
For Early Summer Graduates
- 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.
- 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 15
May Mini Term Begins
Faculty submit attendance.
May 16
Official Degree Conferral Date for Spring
This is the official date of degree conferral that will appear on the transcript.
May 20
5:00pm
Final Deadline
For Early Summer Graduates
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted in TRACE . 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.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted.
- The Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted.
May 22
Incomplete and NR Grades Deadline
For Early Summer Graduates
Incomplete and NR Grades removal must be complete.
May 25
Memorial Day
No classes.
May 26
Summer 1st Session Begins
Faculty must submit attendance.
May 29
Graduation Specialist Submission Deadline
For Summer Graduates
- May Mini Term ends. Faculty grade submission opens.
- 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 16
5:00pm
TRACE Preliminary Deadline
For Summer Graduates
A preliminary draft of a thesis or dissertation must be submitted online in TRACE for review by the Coordinator of Student Services.
June 19
Juneteenth
No classes.
June 22
Summer Full Session Begins
Faculty submit attendance.
July 1
Summer 1st Session Ends
Faculty submit grades.
July 2–3
Independence Day
No classes.
July 7
Summer 2nd Session Begins
Faculty submit grades.
July 13
Summer 3rd Session Begins
Faculty submit grades.
July 20
Defense of Thesis/Dissertation Deadline
For Summer Graduates
All students must defend a thesis or dissertation by this date.
July 24
Summer 3rd Session Ends
Faculty grade submission opens.
August 4
5:00pm
Final Deadline
For Summer Graduates
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted in TRACE . 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.
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form (doctoral or master’s) must be submitted.
- The Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form must be submitted.
August 7
Incomplete and NR Grades Deadline
For Summer Graduates
The removal of Incomplete and NR grades must be completed.
August 11
Summer Full and 2nd Sessions End
Faculty grade submission opens.
August 15
Official Degree Conferral Date for Spring
This is the official date of degree conferral that will appear on the transcript.