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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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December 1, 2016
Submit Doctoral Committee Appointment form to the Graduate School.
December 1, 2016
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
December 1, 2016
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 24
Submit a draft of your dissertation online for preliminary review by the Dissertation Consultant. Contact thesis@utk.edu for submission instructions.
March 31
Submit your Scheduling of Defense of Dissertation form to the Graduate School at least one week before your defense.
April 7
Defend your dissertation.
April 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.
April 19
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 28
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 2017 without being required to register for dissertation credit in Summer 2017.

April 28
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
April 28
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 2017, but will not be required to register for dissertation credit in Summer 2017.


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April 28
Submit Doctoral Committee Appointment form to the Graduate School.
April 28
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
April 28
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 15
Submit a draft of your dissertation online for preliminary review by the Dissertation Consultant. Contact thesis@utk.edu for submission instructions.
July 6
Submit your Scheduling of Defense of Dissertation form to the Graduate School at least one week before your defense.
July 13
Defend your dissertation.
July 27
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 27
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 11
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 2017 without being required to register for dissertation credit in Fall 2017.

August 11
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
August 11
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 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 2017, but will not be required to register for dissertation credit in Fall 2017.


Download as PDF

August 11
Submit Doctoral Committee Appointment form to the Graduate School.
August 11
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
August 11
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 6
Submit a draft of your dissertation online for preliminary review by the Dissertation Consultant. Contact thesis@utk.edu for submission instructions.
October 27
Submit your Scheduling of Defense of Dissertation form to the Graduate School at least one week before your defense.
November 3
Defend your dissertation.
November 17
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 17
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 5
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 2018 without being required to register for dissertation credit in spring 2018.

December 5
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
December 5
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 5, 2018
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 2018, but will not be required to register for dissertation credit in spring 2018.


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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December 1, 2016
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
December 1, 2016
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 24
Submit a draft of your thesis online for preliminary review by the Thesis Consultant. Contact thesis@utk.edu for submission instructions.
April 7
Defend your thesis.
April 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.
April 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. Original signatures are required for both forms, and both must be the original paper hard copies (not photocopies).
April 28
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 2017 without being required to register for thesis credit in Summer 2017.

April 28
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
April 28
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 2017, but will not be required to register for thesis credit in Summer 2017.


Download as PDF
April 28
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
April 28
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 15
Submit a draft of your thesis online for preliminary review by the Thesis Consultant. Contact thesis@utk.edu for submission instructions.
July 13
Defend your thesis.
July 27
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 27
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 11
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 2017 without being required to register for thesis credit in Fall 2017.

August 11
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
August 11
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 2017, but will not be required to register for thesis credit in Fall 2017.


Download as PDF
August 11
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
August 11
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 6
Submit a draft of your thesis online for preliminary review by the Thesis Consultant. Contact thesis@utk.edu for submission instructions.
November 3
Defend your thesis.
November 17
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 17
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 5
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 2018 without being required to register for thesis credit in spring 2018.

December 5
This is the last day to submit your application for the Second Deadline.
December 5
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 5, 2018
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 2018, but will not be required to register for thesis credit in spring 2018.


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
December 1, 2016
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
December 1, 2016
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 7
Take final examination (pay exam fee if not registered for classes this term).
April 19
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 28
Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.


Download as PDF
April 28
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
April 28
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 13
Take final examination (pay exam fee if not registered for classes this term).
July 27
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 11
Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.


Download as PDF
August 11
Submit your Admission to Candidacy form to the Graduate School, if this is the first semester to apply.
August 11
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 3
Take final examination (pay exam fee if not registered for classes this term).
November 17
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 5
Verify the removal of incompletes and NR grades for graduation with your graduation specialist.


Graduate Certificate Programs


April 19
Submit your Application for Graduate Certificate form by 5:00 p.m. on this date.


July 27
Submit your Application for Graduate Certificate form by 5:00 p.m. on this date.


November 17
Submit your Application for Graduate Certificate form by 5:00 p.m. on this date.


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