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Graduation Deadlines

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. The following are the specific deadlines for each type of degree and term.

Doctoral Programs


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August 9
If you are in a PhD program, submit your PhD Committee Form to the Graduate School. If you are in a non-PhD doctoral program (DSW, DrPH, DNP, EdD), submit your Doctoral (Non-PhD) Committee Form to the Graduate School.
August 9
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
August 9
Submit your Graduation Application on line at MyUTK. A non-refundable graduation fee of $75 will be charged upon submission and must be paid at MyUTK.
October 2
Submit a draft of your dissertation online for preliminary review by the Dissertation Consultant. Contact thesis@utk.edu for submission instructions.
October 29
Submit your Scheduling of Defense of Dissertation form to the Graduate School at least one week before your defense.
November 5
Defend your dissertation.
November 19
Submit your final dissertation to Trace and have it accepted by 5:00 p.m. Dissertations are approved and accepted by Dissertation Consultant. Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must also be submitted by this date.
November 19
Submit your Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form and Dissertation Approval Form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School.
December 4
Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.

Second Deadline for Dissertation Submission

These deadlines are for students who cannot meet the regular summer deadline dates. Fulfilling these obligations will allow you to graduate in spring 2020 without being required to register for dissertation credit in fall 2019.

December 4
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
December 4
This is the last day to pass your dissertation defense. Scheduling of your defense and all other procedures listed must be successfully completed before this date. A new graduation application must be submitted for Spring Graduation.
January 7, 2020
If the dissertation, approval sheet, and pass/fail form are submitted and accepted by 5:00 p.m. on this date, you may graduate spring 2020, but will not be required to register for dissertation credit in spring 2020.


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December 4, 2019
If you are in a PhD program, submit your PhD Committee Form to the Graduate School. If you are in a non-PhD doctoral program (DSW, DrPH, DNP, EdD), submit your Doctoral (Non-PhD) Committee Form to the Graduate School.
December 4, 2019
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
December 4, 2019
Submit your Graduation Application on line at MyUTK. A non-refundable graduation fee of $75 will be charged upon submission and must be paid at MyUTK.
February 19
Submit a draft of your dissertation online for preliminary review by the Dissertation Consultant. Contact thesis@utk.edu for submission instructions.
March 26
Submit your Scheduling of Defense of Dissertation form to the Graduate School at least one week before your defense.
April 2
Defend your dissertation.
April 16
Submit your final dissertation to Trace and have it accepted by 5:00 p.m. Dissertations are approved and accepted by Dissertation Consultant. Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must also be submitted by this date.
April 16
Submit your Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form and Dissertation Approval Form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School.
April 24
Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.

Second Deadline for Dissertation Submission

These deadlines are for students who cannot meet the regular spring deadline dates. Fulfilling these obligations will allow you to graduate in summer 2020 without being required to register for dissertation credit in summer 2020.

April 24
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
April 24
This is the last day to pass your dissertation defense. Scheduling of your defense and all other procedures listed must be successfully completed before this date. A new graduation application must be submitted for summer graduation.
May 20
If the dissertation, approval sheet, and pass/fail form are submitted and accepted by 5:00 p.m. on this date, you may graduate summer 2020, but will not be required to register for dissertation credit in summer 2020.


Download as PDF

April 24
If you are in a PhD program, submit your PhD Committee Form to the Graduate School. If you are in a non-PhD doctoral program (DSW, DrPH, DNP, EdD), submit your Doctoral (Non-PhD) Committee Form to the Graduate School.
April 24
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
April 24
Submit your Graduation Application on line at MyUTK. A non-refundable graduation fee of $75 will be charged upon submission and must be paid at MyUTK.
June 5
Submit a draft of your dissertation online for preliminary review by the Dissertation Consultant. Contact thesis@utk.edu for submission instructions.
July 9
Submit your Scheduling of Defense of Dissertation form to the Graduate School at least one week before your defense.
July 16
Defend your dissertation.
July 30
Submit your final dissertation to Trace and have it accepted by 5:00 p.m. Dissertations are approved and accepted by Dissertation Consultant. Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must also be submitted by this date.
July 30
Submit your Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form and Dissertation Approval Form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School.
August 7
Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.

Second Deadline for Dissertation Submission

These deadlines are for students who cannot meet the regular summer deadline dates. Fulfilling these obligations will allow you to graduate in fall 2020 without being required to register for dissertation credit in fall 2020.

August 7
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
August 7
This is the last day to pass your dissertation defense. Scheduling of your defense and all other procedures listed must be successfully completed before this date. A new graduation application must be submitted for Spring Graduation.
August 18
If the dissertation, approval sheet, and pass/fail form are submitted and accepted by 5:00 p.m. on this date, you may graduate fall 2020, but will not be required to register for dissertation credit in fall 2020.


Master’s/EdS Thesis Programs

These deadlines are for Master’s or Specialist in Education programs that include a thesis requirement.


Download as PDF
August 9
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
August 9
Submit your Graduation Application on line at MyUTK. A non-refundable graduation fee of $30 will be charged upon submission and must be paid at MyUTK.
October 2
Submit a draft of your thesis online for preliminary review by the Thesis Consultant. Contact thesis@utk.edu for submission instructions.
November 5
Defend your thesis.
November 19
Submit your final thesis to Trace and have it accepted by 5:00 p.m. Theses are approved and accepted by the Thesis Consultant.
November 19
Submit your Report of Final Examination/Defense of Thesis (Pass/Fail) form and Thesis Approval Form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School.
December 4
Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.

Second Deadline for Thesis Submission

These deadlines are for students who cannot meet the regular fall deadline dates. Fulfilling these obligations will allow you to graduate in spring 2020 without being required to register for thesis credit in spring 2020.

December 4
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
December 4
This is the last day to pass your thesis defense. All other procedures listed must be successfully completed before final submission of thesis. A new graduation application must be submitted for spring graduation.
January 7, 2020
If the thesis, approval sheet, and pass/fail form are submitted and accepted by 5:00 p.m. on this date, you may graduate spring 2020, but will not be required to register for thesis credit in spring 2020.


Download as PDF
December 4, 2019
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
December 4, 2019
Submit your Graduation Application on line at MyUTK. A non-refundable graduation fee of $30 will be charged upon submission and must be paid at MyUTK.
February 19
Submit a draft of your thesis online for preliminary review by the Thesis Consultant. Contact thesis@utk.edu for submission instructions.
April 2
Defend your thesis.
April 16
Submit your final thesis to Trace and have it accepted by 5:00 p.m. Theses are approved and accepted by the Thesis Consultant.
April 16
Submit your Report of Final Examination/Defense of Thesis (Pass/Fail) form and Thesis Approval Form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School.
April 24
Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.

Second Deadline for Thesis Submission

These deadlines are for students who cannot meet the regular Spring deadline dates. Fulfilling these obligations will allow you to graduate in summer 2020 without being required to register for thesis credit in summer 2020.

April 24
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
April 24
This is the last day to pass your thesis defense. All other procedures listed must be successfully completed before final submission of thesis. A new graduation application must be submitted for Summer Graduation.
May 20
If the thesis, approval sheet, and pass/fail form are submitted and accepted by 5:00 p.m. on this date, you may graduate summer 2020, but will not be required to register for thesis credit in summer 2020.


Download as PDF
April 24
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
April 24
Submit your Graduation Application on line at MyUTK. A non-refundable graduation fee of $30 will be charged upon submission and must be paid at MyUTK.
June 5
Submit a draft of your thesis online for preliminary review by the Thesis Consultant. Contact thesis@utk.edu for submission instructions.
July 16
Defend your thesis.
July 30
Submit your final thesis to Trace and have it accepted by 5:00 p.m. Theses are approved and accepted by the Thesis Consultant.
July 30
Submit your Report of Final Examination/Defense of Thesis (Pass/Fail) form and Thesis Approval Form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School.
August 7
Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.

Second Deadline for Thesis Submission

These deadlines are for students who cannot meet the regular Summer deadline dates. Fulfilling these obligations will allow you to graduate in fall 2020 without being required to register for thesis credit in fall 2020.

August 7
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
August 7
This is the last day to pass your thesis defense. All other procedures listed must be successfully completed before final submission of thesis. A new graduation application must be submitted for Fall Graduation.
August 18
If the thesis, approval sheet, and pass/fail form are submitted and accepted by 5:00 p.m. on this date, you may graduate fall 2020, but will not be required to register for thesis credit in fall 2020.


Master’s/EdS Non-Thesis Programs

These deadlines are for candidates in the Specialist in Education Program, or any other degree program that does not have a thesis requirement.


Download as PDF
August 9
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
August 9
Submit your Graduation Application on line at MyUTK. A non-refundable graduation fee ($30 for Master’s and $45 for EdS) will be charged upon submission and must be paid at MyUTK.
December 2
Submit Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School.
December 4
Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.


Download as PDF
December 4, 2019
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
December 4, 2019
Submit your Graduation Application on line at MyUTK. A non-refundable graduation fee ($30 for Master’s and $45 for EdS) will be charged upon submission and must be paid at MyUTK.
April 22
Submit Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School.
April 24
Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.


Download as PDF
April 24
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
April 24
Submit your Graduation Application on line at MyUTK. A non-refundable graduation fee ($30 for Master’s and $45 for EdS) will be charged upon submission and must be paid at MyUTK.
July 30
Submit Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School.
August 7
Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.


Graduate Certificate Programs


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August 9
Submit Graduate Certificate Course Verification form to the Graduate School.
August 9
Submit Graduation Application online at MyUTK. If you are only earning a graduate certificate this term, a non-refundable processing fee ($30) will be charged upon submission and must be paid at MyUTK.


Download as PDF

December 4, 2019
Submit Graduate Certificate Course Verification form to the Graduate School.
December 4, 2019
Submit Graduation Application online at MyUTK. If you are only earning a graduate certificate this term, a non-refundable processing fee ($30) will be charged upon submission and must be paid at MyUTK.


Download as PDF

April 24
Submit Graduate Certificate Course Verification form to the Graduate School.
April 24
Submit Graduation Application online at MyUTK. If you are only earning a graduate certificate this term, a non-refundable processing fee ($30) will be charged upon submission and must be paid at MyUTK.


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