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.
2026
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 [email protected] with any questions.
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
Vireo Preliminary Deadline
For Summer and Early Fall Graduates
A preliminary draft of a thesis or dissertation must be submitted online in Vireo 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 Vireo . To ensure the document can be accepted, submission to Vireo must occur prior to this date. Contact the Coordinator of Student Services at [email protected] with any questions.
- The Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must be submitted by EdD and PhD students to [email protected].
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form must be submitted for any student who does not have a thesis/dissertation requirement.
- A signed thesis/dissertation approval form must be submitted to [email protected]. Any initial embargo request (if applicable) must be approved.
August 7
Incomplete and NR Grades Deadline
For Summer Graduates
The removal of Incomplete and NR grades must be completed.
Graduate Records Specialist Submission Deadline
For Early 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.
- 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 Graduate Records Specialists at [email protected] with any questions.
Defense of Thesis/Dissertation Deadline
For Early Fall Graduates
All students must defend a thesis or dissertation by this date.
August 11
Summer Full and 2nd Sessions End
Faculty grade submission opens.
August 14
5:00pm
Final Deadline
For Early Fall Graduates
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted in Vireo. To ensure the document can be accepted, submission to Vireo must occur prior to this date. Contact the Coordinator of Student Services at [email protected] with any questions.
- The Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must be submitted by EdD and PhD students to [email protected].
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form must be submitted for any student who does not have a thesis/dissertation requirement.
- A signed thesis/dissertation approval form must be submitted to [email protected] for any student who has a thesis/dissertation. Any initial embargo request (if applicable) must be approved.
- The removal of incomplete and NR Grades must be completed.
August 15
Official Degree Conferral Date for Summer
This is the official date of degree conferral that will appear on the transcript.
August 25
Graduate Records 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
Vireo Preliminary Deadline
For Fall and Early Spring Graduates
A preliminary draft of a thesis or dissertation must be submitted online in Vireo for review by the Coordinator of Student Services.
November 6
Defense of Thesis/Dissertation Deadline
For Fall Graduates
All students must defend a thesis or dissertation by this date.
November 20
5:00pm
Final Deadline
For Fall Graduates
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted in Vireo . To ensure the document can be accepted, submission to Vireo must occur prior to this date. Contact the Coordinator of Student Services at [email protected] with any questions.
- The Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must be submitted by EdD and PhD students to [email protected].
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form must be submitted for any student who does not have a thesis/dissertation requirement.
- A signed thesis/dissertation approval form must be submitted to [email protected]. Any initial embargo request (if applicable) must be approved.
December 4
Incomplete and NR Grades Deadline
For Fall Graduates
Incomplete and NR Grades removal must be complete. Contact the Graduate Records Specialists at [email protected] with any questions.
December 8
Graduate Records Specialist Submission Deadline
For Early 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.
- 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 Graduate Records Specialists at [email protected] with any questions.
2027
January 15
5:00pm
Final Deadline
For Early Spring Graduates
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted in Vireo. To ensure the document can be accepted, submission to Vireo must occur prior to this date. Contact the Coordinator of Student Services at [email protected] with any questions.
- The Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must be submitted by EdD and PhD students to [email protected].
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form must be submitted for any student who does not have a thesis/dissertation requirement.
- A signed thesis/dissertation approval form must be submitted to [email protected] for any student who has a thesis/dissertation. Any initial embargo request (if applicable) must be approved.
- The removal of incomplete and NR Grades must be completed.
January 26
Graduate Records 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), 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 Graduate Records Specialists at [email protected] with any questions.
February 19
Vireo Preliminary Deadline
For Spring and Early Summer Graduates
A preliminary draft of a thesis or dissertation must be submitted online in Vireo for review by the Coordinator of Student Services.
April 9
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 Vireo. To ensure the document can be accepted, submission to Vireo must occur prior to this date. Contact the Coordinator of Student Services at [email protected] with any questions.
- The Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must be submitted by EdD and PhD students to [email protected].
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form must be submitted for any student who does not have a thesis/dissertation requirement.
- A signed thesis/dissertation approval form must be submitted to [email protected] for any student who has a thesis/dissertation. Any initial embargo request (if applicable) must be approved.
- The removal of incomplete and NR Grades must be completed.
May 7
Incomplete and NR Grades Deadline
For Spring Graduates
Incomplete and NR Grades removal must be complete. Contact the Graduate Records Specialists at [email protected] with any questions.
May 11
Graduate Records 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 Graduate Records Specialists at [email protected] with any questions.
Defense of Thesis/Dissertation Deadline
For Early Summer Graduates
All students must defend a thesis or dissertation by this date.
May 21
5:00pm
Final Deadline
For Early Summer Graduates
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted in Vireo. To ensure the document can be accepted, submission to Vireo must occur prior to this date. Contact the Coordinator of Student Services at [email protected] with any questions.
- The Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must be submitted by EdD and PhD students to [email protected].
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form must be submitted for any student who does not have a thesis/dissertation requirement.
- A signed thesis/dissertation approval form must be submitted to [email protected] for any student who has a thesis/dissertation. Any initial embargo request (if applicable) must be approved.
- The removal of incomplete and NR Grades must be completed.
May 24
Graduate Records Specialist Submission Deadline
For Summer Graduates
- May Mini Term ends. Faculty grad 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 18
Vireo Preliminary Deadline
For Summer and Early Fall Graduates
A preliminary draft of a thesis or dissertation must be submitted online in Vireo for review by the Coordinator of Student Services.
July 23
Defense of Thesis/Dissertation Deadline
For Summer Graduates
All students must defend a thesis or dissertation by this date.
August 6
5:00pm
Final Deadline
For Summer Graduates
- The thesis or dissertation must be accepted in Vireo. To ensure the document can be accepted, submission to Vireo must occur prior to this date. Contact the Coordinator of Student Services at [email protected] with any questions.
- The Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must be submitted by EdD and PhD students to [email protected].
- The Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) Form must be submitted for any student who does not have a thesis/dissertation requirement.
- A signed thesis/dissertation approval form must be submitted to [email protected] for any student who has a thesis/dissertation. Any initial embargo request (if applicable) must be approved.
- The removal of incomplete and NR Grades must be completed.