Graduation Deadlines and Checklist

Step 1: Apply for Graduation

Discuss the prospects for graduating with your graduate advisor. If you both agree that you are in a position to graduate during the next graduation cycle (May, August, December), please have your department notify the Assistant Director for the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Kerri Bennett. Following your department's notification, our office will give you access to apply for graduation on .  From the Student Homepage --> Academic Records tile --> Apply for Graduation link. 

If you or your advisor conclude at any point that your graduation needs to be postponed, please immediately notify Kerri Bennett. You will apply for graduation separately for the next attempt.

Please note: Lyle School of Engineering students should submit theses/dissertations, obtain LaTeX templates, forms, etc. to the Lyle Thesis Dissertation page.  

Deadlines to Apply for Graduation:

Graduation Deadline
December 2024 Wednesday, September 11
May 2025 Wednesday, February 5
August 2025 Wednesday, June 11
December 2025 Wednesday, September 10

Step 2: Submit Dissertation/Thesis for Mandatory Format Review (Front Matter Only)

You must submit a first draft of your dissertation or thesis for a mandatory format check.  Please submit a copy in PDF format through the  (select "First Format Check" under Submission Type).  You will receive comments on your dissertation or thesis within approximately one week of submission. 

Deadlines for Dissertation/Thesis Check:

Graduation Deadline
December 2024 Monday, September30
May 2025 Friday, March 7
August 2025 Friday, June 14
December 2025 Monday, September 30

Step 3: Submit Establishment of Examination Committee Form

Once your dissertation/thesis examination committee is finalized, you must submit the member names to the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.  You can   If at any time a member of your committee changes, you will need to submit another form online.

Deadline for Establishment of Examination Committee Form Submission:

Graduation Deadline
December 2024 Friday, October 11
May 2025 Friday, March 14
August 2025 Friday, June 13
December 2025 Friday, October 10

Step 4: Submit Dissertation Defense Scheduler Form (Ph.D. candidates only)

Once your dissertation defense is scheduled, you must submit the Dissertation Defense Scheduler form to the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.  You can .  Should your defense date change, you will need to submit another form online in addition to emailing Jean Nixon.

Deadline for the Dissertation Defense Scheduler Form Submission:

Graduation Deadline
December 2024 14 days before the defense
May 2025 14 days before the defense
August 2025 14 days before the defense
December 2025 14 days before the defense

Step 5: Submit Dissertation/Thesis for Mandatory Format Check (Reviewing Main Text Only)

After you have made the required correction to the Front Matter, you must submit the corrections for another review in addition to the Main Text for another format check.  Please submit a copy in PDF format through the  (select "Corrected Thesis/Dissertation (Revisions)" under Submission Type).  You will receive comments on your dissertation or thesis within approximately one week of submission.  

    Deadline for Mandatory Dissertation/Thesis Format Check:

    Graduation Deadline
    December 2024 Monday, October 28
    May 2025 Friday, March 28
    August 2025 Friday, June 27
    December 2025 Monday, October 27

    Step 6: Submit Dissertation/Thesis for Mandatory Format Check (Reviewing Back Matter)

    After you have made the required corrections to the front matter and main text, your dissertation or thesis must be submitted for a final format check by the Moody School.  You may submit the corrected version  (select "Corrected Thesis/Dissertation (Revisions)" under Submission Type).  

    Graduation Deadline
    December 2024 Monday, November 18
    May 2025 Friday, April 18
    August 2025 Friday, July 13
    December 2025 Monday, November 17

    Step 7: Complete Oral/Written Comprehensive Exams

    As required by your department, you must successfully complete your oral or written examinations with sufficient time to process your graduation.  Locate the form applicable to your program on the Forms and Policies page here.

    Last Day to Take Oral/Written Comprehensive Exams:  

    Graduation Deadline
    December 2024 Thursday, December 5
    May 2025 Friday, May 2
    August 2025 Friday, July 18
    December 2025 Thursday, December 4

    Step 8: Submit Examination Report

    After you have completed your defense, the signed examination report must be submitted to the Moody School.  The DocuSign form should be initiated by the student 24-48hrs prior to their scheduled defense; therefore, the defense should be scheduled before the Exam Report deadline listed below.  Originals copies are no longer required.  Please locate the proper Examination Report on the Forms and Policies page here.

    Deadlines for Examination Report Submission:

    Graduation Deadline
    December 2024 Monday, December 9
    May 2025 Monday, May 5
    August 2025 Monday, July 21
    December 2025 Monday, December 8

    Step 9: Submit Final Version of Dissertation/Thesis to 黑料老司机Scholar and Deposit Agreement

    Once all revisions have been made to your dissertation and thesis, both formatting and content, all Master's and Ph.D. candidates must submit a final copy of their dissertation or thesis to 黑料老司机Scholar, the university's ETD platform. No final paper copies required by SMU.  During this process, you will need to upload your signed Deposit Agreement to 黑料老司机Scholar, look for the option under the Supplemental Content section.  Please locate the Deposit Agreement form on the Forms and Policies page here.  

              

    Deadlines for Final Thesis/Dissertation Submission:

    Graduation Deadline
    December 2024 Friday, December 13
    May 2025 Friday, May 9
    August 2025 Friday, July 25
    December 2025 Friday, December 12

    Step 10: Complete Exit Survey

    The final step to receive your diploma is to complete an exit survey with the Moody School.  All graduates are required to take this survey; submissions will not be reviewed until after your degree is conferred.  In addition to the Moody School survey, Ph.D. candidates are requested to participate in the National Science Foundation's Survey of Earned Doctorates. Only Ph.D. graduates should submit the SED Survey.

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    Also, please check and update demographic information on .

    Exit Survey Deadlines:

    Graduation Deadline
    December 2024 Sunday, December 15
    May 2025 Monday, May 12
    August 2025 Sunday, August 3
    December 2025 Sunday, December 14

    Degrees Conferred

    Graduation Conferral Date
    December 2024 Saturday, December 21
    May 2025 Saturday, May 17
    August 2025 Tuesday, August 5
    December 2025 Saturday, December 20