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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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January 15
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.
January 15
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
January 15
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 26
Submit a preliminary draft of your dissertation online in TRACE for review by the Coordinator of Student Services. Preliminary drafts do not need to be complete. Failure to submit a preliminary draft by the deadline may result in your dissertation not being reviewed prior to the final deadline for acceptance in TRACE. For instructions on submitting your dissertation please visit the submission page. If you have questions about the submission process please contact thesis@utk.edu.
March 29
Submit your Scheduling of Defense of Dissertation form to the Graduate School.
April 16
Defend your dissertation.
April 23
Your dissertation must be accepted in TRACE by 5:00 p.m. Failure to have your document accepted by this date can result in postponement of your graduation. Dissertations are approved and accepted by the Coordinator of Student Services. Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must also be submitted by this date.
April 23
Submit your Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form and Dissertation Approval Form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School.
April 30
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 summer 2021 without being required to register for dissertation credit in summer 2021.

April 30
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
April 30
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 19
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 2021, but will not be required to register for dissertation credit in summer 2021.


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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 11
Submit a preliminary draft of your dissertation online in TRACE for review by the Coordinator of Student Services. Preliminary drafts do not need to be complete. Failure to submit a preliminary draft by the deadline may result in your dissertation not being reviewed prior to the final deadline for acceptance in TRACE. For instructions on submitting your dissertation please visit the submission page. If you have questions about the submission process please contact thesis@utk.edu.
July 2
Submit your Scheduling of Defense of Dissertation form to the Graduate School.
July 9
Defend your dissertation.
July 23
Your dissertation must be accepted in TRACE by 5:00 p.m. Failure to have your document accepted by this date can result in postponement of your graduation. Dissertations are approved and accepted by the Coordinator of Student Services. Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate of completion must also be submitted by this date.
July 23
Submit your Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form and Dissertation Approval Form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School.
July 30
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 2021 without being required to register for dissertation credit in fall 2021.

July 30
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
July 30
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 Fall Graduation.
August 17
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 2021, but will not be required to register for dissertation credit in fall 2021. There will be no exceptions to this final deadline.


Master’s/EdS Thesis Programs

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

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January 15
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
January 15
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 26
Submit a preliminary draft of your thesis online in TRACE for review by the Coordinator of Student Services. Preliminary drafts do not need to be complete. Failure to submit a preliminary draft by the deadline may result in your thesis not being reviewed prior to the final deadline for acceptance in TRACE. For instructions on submitting your thesis please visit the submission page. If you have questions about the submission process please contact thesis@utk.edu.
April 16
Defend your thesis.
April 23
Your thesis must be accepted in TRACE by 5:00 p.m. Failure to have your document accepted by this date can result in postponement of your graduation. Theses are approved and accepted by the Coordinator of Student Services.
April 23
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 30
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 summer 2021 without being required to register for thesis credit in summer 2021.

April 30
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
April 30
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 19
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 2021, but will not be required to register for thesis credit in summer 2021.


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 11
Submit a preliminary draft of your thesis online in TRACE for review by the Coordinator of Student Services. Preliminary drafts do not need to be complete. Failure to submit a preliminary draft by the deadline may result in your thesis not being reviewed prior to the final deadline for acceptance in TRACE. For instructions on submitting your thesis please visit the submission page. If you have questions about the submission process please contact thesis@utk.edu.
July 9
Defend your thesis.
July 23
Your thesis must be accepted in TRACE by 5:00 p.m. Failure to have your document accepted by this date can result in postponement of your graduation. Theses are approved and accepted by the Coordinator of Student Services.
July 23
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.
July 30
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 fall 2021 without being required to register for thesis credit in fall 2021.

July 30
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
July 30
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 17
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 2021, but will not be required to register for thesis credit in fall 2021. There will be no exceptions to this final deadline.


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.

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January 15
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
January 15
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 23
Submit Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School.
April 30
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 23
Submit Report of Final Examination (Pass/Fail) form by 5:00 p.m. to the Graduate School.
July 30
Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.


Graduate Certificate Programs

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January 15
Submit Graduate Certificate Course Verification form to the Graduate School.
January 15
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 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.