Graduate College

Dissertation, Specialist Project, and Thesis Defense Submission Deadlines

Please note that master's thesis and specialist project defenses are not scheduled in the Graduate College. Please contact your committee to schedule a defense.

2026 Dissertation Deadlines and Other Important Dates for Graduate Students

2026 Dissertation Deadlines*

*Updated as of Jan. 6, 2026: Since the Spring 2026 dissertation deadline to hold the defense lands during Spring Break, we modified the dissertation deadlines for Spring 2026 in an effort to make the deadlines more easily accessible for the faculty and student alike. The Spring 2026 thesis submission deadline will remain the same, Friday, April 17, 2026. 
 
Friday, March 6, 2026Deadline to schedule dissertation defense for Spring 2026 graduation
Friday, March 20, 2026Last day for doctoral candidates to hold dissertation defense for Spring 2026
Friday, March 27, 2026Defended dissertations due in the Graduate College for Spring 2026 graduation
Saturday, May 2, 2026Spring commencement
Friday, May 1, 2026Deadline to schedule dissertation defense for Summer I 2026 graduation
Friday, May 15, 2026Last day for doctoral candidates to hold dissertation defense for Summer I 2026
Friday, May 22, 2026Defended dissertations due in the Graduate College for Summer I 2026 graduation
Friday, June 19, 2026Deadline to schedule dissertation defense for Summer II 2026 graduation
Saturday, June 27, 2026Summer I commencement
Friday, July 3, 2026Last day for doctoral candidates to hold dissertation defense for Summer II 2026
Friday, July 10, 2026Defended dissertations due in the Graduate College for Summer II 2026 graduation
Friday, August 14, 2026Summer II semester ends; no commencement ceremonies
Friday, October 16, 2026Deadline to schedule dissertation defense for Fall 2026 graduation
Friday, October 30, 2026Last day for doctoral candidates to hold dissertation defense for Fall 2026 graduation
Friday, November 6, 2026Defended dissertations due in the Graduate College for Fall 2026 graduation
Saturday, December 12, 2026Fall commencement


2026 Specialist Project, and Master's Thesis Deadlines
 

Friday, April 17, 2026Defended master’s theses due in the Graduate College for Spring 2026 graduation
Saturday, May 2, 2026Spring commencement
Friday, June 19, 2026Defended master’s theses due in the Graduate College for Summer I 2026 graduation
Saturday, June 27, 2026Summer I commencement
Friday, August 7, 2026Defended master’s theses due in the Graduate College for Summer II 2026 graduation
Friday, August 14, 2026Summer II session ends, no commencement
Friday, December 4, 2026Defended master’s theses due in the Graduate College for Fall 2026 graduation
Saturday, December 12, 2026Fall commencement

 

  • Academic Year Calendar
  • For other program-specific dissertation/thesis deadlines, please contact your WMU department.