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
- August 10
- 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 10
- Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
- August 10
- 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 25
- Submit your Scheduling of Defense of Dissertation form to the Graduate School at least one week before your defense.
- November 1
- Defend your dissertation.
- November 15
- 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 15
- Submit your Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form (this will be provided to you by your graduation specialist) and Dissertation Approval Form by 5:00pm to the Graduate School. Original signatures are required for both forms, and both must be the original paper hard copies (not photocopies).
- 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 fall deadline dates. Fulfilling these obligations will allow you to graduate in spring 2019 without being required to register for dissertation credit in spring 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 8, 2019
- 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 2019, but will not be required to register for dissertation credit in spring 2019.
- December 4, 2018
- 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, 2018
- Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
- December 4, 2018
- 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 28
- Submit your Scheduling of Defense of Dissertation form to the Graduate School at least one week before your defense.
- April 4
- 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 (this will be provided to you by your graduation specialist) and Dissertation Approval Form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School. Original signatures are required for both forms, and both must be the original paper hard copies (not photocopies).
- April 26
- 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 2019 without being required to register for dissertation credit in summer 2019.
- April 26
- This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
- April 26
- 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 16
- 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 2019, but will not be required to register for dissertation credit in summer 2019.
- April 26
- 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 26
- Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
- April 26
- 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 10
- 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 (this will be provided to you by your graduation specialist) and Dissertation Approval Form by 5:00pm to the Graduate School. Original signatures are required for both forms, and both must be the original paper hard copies (not photocopies).
- August 9
- 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 2019 without being required to register for dissertation credit in fall 2019.
- August 9
- This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
- August 9
- 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 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 fall 2019, but will not be required to register for dissertation credit in fall 2019.
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 10
- Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
- August 10
- 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 1
- Defend your thesis.
- November 15
- 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 15
- 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. Original signatures are required for both forms, and both must be the original paper hard copies (not photocopies).
- 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 2019 without being required to register for thesis credit in spring 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 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 8, 2019
- 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 2019, but will not be required to register for thesis credit in spring 2019.
Download as PDF
- December 4, 2018
- Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
- December 4, 2018
- 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 4
- 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. Original signatures are required for both forms, and both must be the original paper hard copies (not photocopies).
- April 26
- 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 2019 without being required to register for thesis credit in summer 2019.
- April 26
- This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
- April 26
- 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 16
- 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 2019, but will not be required to register for thesis credit in summer 2019.
Download as PDF
- April 26
- Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
- April 26
- 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 10
- 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. Original signatures are required for both forms, and both must be the original paper hard copies (not photocopies).
- August 9
- 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 2019 without being required to register for thesis credit in fall 2019.
- August 9
- This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
- August 9
- 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 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 fall 2019, but will not be required to register for thesis credit in fall 2019.
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.
- November 1
- Take final examination (pay exam fee if not registered for classes this term).
- November 15
- Submit Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form by 5:00pm to the Graduate School. Original signatures are required for this form, and must be the original paper hard copy (not a photocopy).
- December 4
- Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.
Download as PDF
- December 4
- Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
- December 4
- 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 4
- Take final examination (pay exam fee if not registered for classes this term).
- April 16
- Submit Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form by 5:00pm to the Graduate School. Original signatures are required for this form, and must be the original paper hard copy (not a photocopy).
- April 26
- Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.
Download as PDF
- April 26
- Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
- April 26
- 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 16
- Take final examination (pay exam fee if not registered for classes this term).
- July 30
- Submit Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form by 5:00pm to the Graduate School. Original signatures are required for this form, and must be the original paper hard copy (not a photocopy).
- August 9
- Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.
Graduate Certificate Programs
- August 10
- Submit Graduate Certificate Course Verification form to the Graduate School.
- August 10
- 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.
- December 4
- Submit Graduate Certificate Course Verification form to the Graduate School.
- December 4
- 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.
- April 26
- Submit Graduate Certificate Course Verification form to the Graduate School.
- April 26
- 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.