All theses and dissertations must be submitted electronically. Please note the deadlines below that pertain to your desired graduation date. If you have applied for graduation and find you will not be able to meet one of the deadlines, you must notify the Graduate School prior to the deadline or your file may be placed on inactive status. Email: [email protected].

Graduate students must register for a minimum of 3 hours in at least two semesters per academic year (Fall, Spring, Summer), including the 3 hours of graduate credit required during the semester in which degree requirements are completed. To review the Graduate Enrollment policy, please click here.

A graduate student who misses a graduation deadline by failing to file the application for graduation, advisory committee form or completed Program of Study form will have the option of paying a single fee of $50 for late processing of all required forms. A Late Filing for Graduation form, all required graduation forms and late fee payment must be submitted to the Graduate School, Office of Enrolled Student Services within 45 calendar days of the original deadline. After the 45‐day late period, no students will be added to the commencement roster for the current semester without special approval.

Table View


Important Dates by Semester

Spring 2026

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Jan 23, 2026

Final date to apply for degree/certificate for Spring 2026 graduation. (Apply in Athena)

Jan. 23, 2026

Final date for submitting Program of Study forms to the Graduate School for graduation in Spring 2026. An Advisory Committee form for Thesis – Master of Arts, Thesis – Master of Science, and all doctoral candidates must be on file by this date. (Use Program of Study form G138 in gradstatus.uga.edu.)

Jan. 23, 2026

Final date for submitting applications for Admission to Candidacy to the Graduate School for doctoral candidates who plan to graduate in Spring 2026. If you were not admitted to candidacy prior to October 1, 2025, you must register for 10 hours Spring 2026.

Feb. 23, 2026

Final date for submitting requests for Transfer of Credit, with accompanying transcripts, to the Graduate School for students graduating in Spring 2026.

Mar. 06, 2026

Final date for doctoral students to submit information for Spring 2026 graduation. (Use the G120 form in gradstatus.uga.edu.)

Mar. 23, 2026

Final date for electronically submitting one complete copy of a thesis or dissertation for a format check for Spring 2026 graduation. (Note: this is the “first format check” deadline.)

Apr. 13, 2026

Final date for receipt of the following by the Graduate School: Final Defense Approval Form & ETD Submission Approval Form (all doctoral, Thesis – MS, Thesis – MA, MHP, MUPD, and MLA) and corrected copy of thesis/dissertation for Spring 2026 graduation. (Note: this is the final format check, final defense approval form, and the release option form for all dissertation and thesis degrees.)

May 1, 2026

Final date for completing all requirements except submission of theses / dissertations (see earlier deadlines – April 13, 2026). The Graduate School must receive notification concerning removal of incomplete grades, certificate completions, final examinations, etc., for Spring 2026 graduation. (Note: this does not include grades for courses in which students are currently enrolled.)

TBD

Graduation: The Office of the Registrar will mail diplomas approximately six to eight weeks after graduation. Address changes, if necessary, should be made with the Office of the Registrar to ensure receipt of diploma.

Jun. 1, 2026

Date the Graduate School will accept theses / dissertations for format checks for future graduations.

Summer 2025

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June 20, 2025

Final date to apply for degree/certificate for Summer 2025 graduation. (Apply in Athena)

June 20, 2025

Final date for submitting Program of Study forms to the Graduate School for graduation in Summer 2025. An Advisory Committee form for Thesis – Master of Arts, Thesis – Master of Science, and all doctoral Candidates must be on file by this date. (Use Program of Study form G138 in gradstatus.uga.edu.)

June 20, 2025

Final date for submitting applications for Admission to Candidacy to the Graduate School for doctoral candidates who plan to graduate in Summer 2025. If you were not admitted to candidacy prior to January 17, 2025, you must register for 10 hours Summer 2025.

June 23, 2025

Final date for submitting requests for Transfer of Credit, with accompanying transcripts, to the Graduate School for students graduating in Summer 2025.

June 30, 2025

Final date for electronically submitting one complete copy of a thesis or dissertation for a format check for Summer 2025 graduation. (Note: this is the “first format check” deadline.)

  • Format check – Please be aware that this link will send you to ProQuest. All ETD submissions are handled through ProQuest.
July 14, 2025

Final date for receipt of the following by the Graduate School: Final Defense Approval Form & ETD Submission Approval Form (all doctoral, Thesis – MS, Thesis – MA, MHP, MUPD, and MLA) and corrected copy of thesis / dissertation for Summer 2025 graduation. (Note: this is the final format check, final defense approval form, and the release option form for all dissertation and thesis degrees.)

July 18, 2025

Final date for doctoral students to submit information for the Commencement Program for Fall 2025 graduation. (Use the G120 form in gradstatus.uga.edu.) (Note: students graduating summer have the option to walk in the fall commencement ceremony.)

August 1, 2025

Final date for completing all requirements except submission of theses / dissertations (see earlier deadlines – July 14, 2025). The Graduate School must receive notification concerning removal of incompletes, certificates completions, final examinations, etc., for Summer 2025 graduation. (Note: this does not include grades for courses in which students are currently enrolled.)

August 4, 2025

Graduation. The Office of the Registrar will mail diplomas approximately six to eight weeks after graduation. Address changes, if necessary, should be made with the Office of the Registrar to ensure receipt of diploma. Students completing degree requirements Summer 2025 will have the option to participate in the Fall 2025 commencement ceremony.

August 25, 2025

Date the Graduate School will accept theses / dissertations for format checks for future graduations.

Fall 2025

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Aug. 29, 2025

Final date to apply for degree/certificate for Fall 2025 graduation. (Apply in Athena)

Aug. 29, 2025

Final date for submitting Program of Study forms to the Graduate School for graduation in Fall 2025. An Advisory Committee form for Thesis – Master of Arts, Thesis – Master of Science, and all doctoral Candidates must be on file by this date. (Use Program of Study form G138 in gradstatus.uga.edu.)

Oct. 1, 2025

Final date for submitting applications for Admission to Candidacy to the Graduate School for doctoral candidates who plan to graduate in Fall 2025. If you were not admitted to candidacy prior to June 20, 2025, you must register for 10 hours Fall 2025.

Oct. 3, 2025

Final date for submitting requests for Transfer of Credit, with accompanying transcripts, to the Graduate School for students graduating in Fall 2025.

Oct. 10, 2025

Final date for doctoral students to submit information for the Commencement Program for Fall 2025 graduation. (Use the G120 form in gradstatus.uga.edu.)

Oct. 27, 2025

Final date for electronically submitting one complete copy of a thesis or dissertation for a format check for Fall 2025 graduation. (Note: this is the “first format check” deadline.)

  • Format check – Please be aware that this link will send you to ProQuest. All ETD submissions are handled through ProQuest.
Nov. 19, 2025

Final date for the receipt of the following by the Graduate School: Final Defense Approval Form & ETD Submission Approval Form (all doctoral, Thesis – MS, Thesis – MA, MHP, MUPD, and MLA) and corrected copy of thesis / dissertation document for Fall 2025 graduation. (Note: this is the final format check, final defense approval form, and the release option form for all dissertation and thesis degrees.)

Dec. 5, 2025

Final date for completing all requirements except submission of theses / dissertations (see earlier deadlines – November 19, 2025). The Graduate School must receive notification concerning removal of incomplete grades, certificate completions, final examinations, etc., for Fall 2025 graduation. (Note: this does not include grades for courses in which students are currently enrolled.)

TBD

Graduation: The Registrar’s Office will mail diplomas approximately six to eight weeks after graduation. Address changes, if necessary, should be made with the Office of the Registrar to ensure receipt of diploma.

Jan. 5, 2026

Date the Graduate School will accept theses / dissertations for format checks for future graduations.

 
 
 

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