Deadlines for Master's Degree Candidates

To be eligible to earn an advanced degree, students must fulfill appropriate requirements as established by their major department and the Graduate School, and have an approved Candidacy Application.Procedures and final deadlines required by the Graduate School are described below.

Note:Please submit paperwork first to your department and allow time for review before Graduate School deadlines.

Commencement Dates &Requirements

For Dec. 11, 2026*

DateDetails
Sept. 2, 2026Preferred Deadline- ​Master's students must submit to the Graduate School a .Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School.
Oct. 1, 2026Final Deadline- ​Master's students who have not already done so must submit to the Graduate School a .Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School.
Oct. 1, 2026Master's students who have not already done somustapply online to graduate through on the “apply for graduation” card in order to have the degree awarded in December.This is required even though there is no university-wide ceremony.
Nov. 12, 2026Master's students must complete the thesis defense or final examination by this date.Notice of the examination must be provided to the Graduate School using the master's final examination form two weeks before the exam.Certain units do not require an exam for non-thesis students.Please contact your department with any questions.
Nov. 19, 2026Master's thesis plan students must submit the thesisand Thesis Approval Form (TAF) to ProQuest by this deadline. The thesis must befor review and approval by Graduate School staff by the end of the business day. The single-pageTAF must be uploaded as a supplemental file with the dissertation in order for the submission to be complete.Students whose dissertationsare received after this deadline, or those not submitted with the TAF,must apply to graduate at the following semester'scommencement.
Dec. 7, 2026Grade changes must besubmitted for incomplete courses taken during previous semesters.
Jan. 4, 2027Deadline for fall master's graduates to update diploma name or address in Buff Portal

For May 1, 2027

DateDetails
Feb. 1, 2027Preferred Deadline: ​Master's students must submit to the Graduate School a .Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School.
March 1, 2027Master's students who have not already done somustapply online to graduate throughon the “apply for graduation” card in order to have the degree awarded in May.
March 1, 2027Final Deadline: ​Master's students who have not already done so must submit to the Graduate School a .Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School.
April 1, 2027Graduate students who plan to have their degrees awarded in August but would like to be listed in the commencement program must apply online to graduatethroughon the “apply for graduation” card.Though you plan to participate in aMay ceremony, please select August 2026 as the semester of graduation if that is when your degree will be awarded.
April 8, 2027Master's students must complete the thesis defense or final examination by this date.Notice of the examination must be provided to the Graduate School using the master's final examination form two weeks before the exam.Certain units do not require an exam for non-thesis students.Please contact your department with any questions.
April 15, 2027Master's thesis plan students must submit the thesisand Thesis Approval Form (TAF) to ProQuest by this deadline. The thesis must befor review and approval by Graduate School staff by the end of the business day. The single-pageTAF must be uploaded as a supplemental file with the dissertation in order for the submission to be complete.Students whose dissertationsare received after this deadline, or those not submitted with the TAF,must apply to graduate at the following semester'scommencement.
April 19, 2027Grade changes must besubmitted for incomplete courses taken during previous semesters.
TBADeadline for spring master's graduates to update diploma name or address in Buff Portal.

For Aug. 12, 2027*

DateDetails
April 1, 2027Graduate students who plan to have their degrees awarded in August but would like to be listed in the commencement program must apply online to graduatethroughon the “apply for graduation” card.Though you plan to participate in aMay ceremony, please select August 2026 as the semester of graduation if that is when your degree will be awarded.
May 17, 2027Preferred Deadline: ​Master's students must submit to the Graduate School a .Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School.
June 15, 2027Master's students who have not already done somustapply online to graduate throughon the “apply for graduation” card in order to have the degree awarded in August.
June 15, 2027Final Deadline: ​Master's students who have not already done so must submit to the Graduate School a .Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School.
July 27, 2027Master's students must complete the thesis defense or final examination by this date.Notice of the examination must be provided to the Graduate School using the master's final examination form two weeks before the exam.Certain units do not require an exam for non-thesis students.Please contact your department with any questions.
Aug. 3, 2027Master's thesis plan students must submit the thesisand Thesis Approval Form (TAF) to ProQuest by this deadline. The thesis must befor review and approval by Graduate School staff by the end of the business day. The single-pageTAF must be uploaded as a supplemental file with the dissertation in order for the submission to be complete.Students whose dissertationsare received after this deadline, or those not submitted with the TAF,must apply to graduate at the following semester'scommencement.
Aug. 9, 2027Grade changes must besubmitted for incomplete courses taken during previous semesters.
Aug. 27, 2027Deadline for summer master's graduates to update diploma name or address in Buff Portal.

*Note:Although there is no campus-wide ceremony, students may have degrees awarded in August and December.