Dissertation, Specialist Project, and Thesis Defense Submission Deadlines
Dissertation, Specialist Project, and Master’s Thesis 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.
2025 Dissertation Deadlines and Other Important Dates for Graduate Students
| Friday, February 28, 2025 | Deadline to schedule dissertation defense for Spring 2025 graduation |
| Friday, March 14, 2025 | Last day for doctoral candidates to hold dissertation defense for Spring 2025 |
| Friday, March 21, 2025 | Defended dissertations due in the Graduate College for Spring 2025 graduation |
| Saturday, April 26, 2025 | Spring commencement |
| Friday, May 2, 2025 | Deadline to schedule dissertation defense for Summer I 2025 graduation |
| Friday, May 16, 2025 | Last day for doctoral candidates to hold dissertation defense for Summer I 2025 |
| Friday, May 23, 2025 | Defended dissertations due in the Graduate College for Summer I 2025 graduation |
| Friday, June 20, 2025 | Deadline to schedule dissertation defense for Summer II 2025 graduation |
| Saturday, June 28, 2025 | Summer I commencement |
| Thursday, July 3, 2025 | Last day for doctoral candidates to hold dissertation defense for Summer II 2025 |
| Friday, July 11, 2025 | Defended dissertations due in the Graduate College for Summer II 2025 graduation |
| Friday, August 15, 2025 | Summer II semester ends; no commencement ceremonies |
| Friday, October 17, 2025 | Deadline to schedule dissertation defense for Fall 2025 graduation |
| Friday, October 31, 2025 | Last day for doctoral candidates to hold dissertation defense for Fall 2025 graduation |
| Friday, November 7, 2025 | Defended dissertations due in the Graduate College for Fall 2025 graduation |
| Saturday, December 13, 2025 | Fall commencement |
2025 Specialist Project, and Master's Thesis Deadlines
| Friday, April 18, 2025 | Defended master’s theses due in the Graduate College for Spring 2025 graduation |
| Saturday, April 26, 2025 | Spring commencement |
| Friday, June 20, 2025 | Defended master’s theses due in the Graduate College for Summer I 2025 graduation |
| Saturday, June 28, 2025 | Summer I commencement |
| Friday, August 8, 2025 | Defended master’s theses due in the Graduate College for Summer II 2025 graduation |
| Friday, August 15, 2025 | Summer II session ends, no commencement |
| Friday, December 5, 2025 | Defended master’s theses due in the Graduate College for Fall 2025 graduation |
| Saturday, December 13, 2025 | Fall commencement |
2026 Dissertation Deadlines and Other Important Dates for Graduate Students
| Friday, February 27, 2026 | Deadline to schedule dissertation defense for Spring 2026 graduation |
| Friday, March 13, 2026 | Last day for doctoral candidates to hold dissertation defense for Spring 2026 |
| Friday, March 20, 2026 | Defended dissertations due in the Graduate College for Spring 2026 graduation |
| Saturday, May 2, 2026 | Spring commencement |
| Friday, May 1, 2026 | Deadline to schedule dissertation defense for Summer I 2026 graduation |
| Friday, May 15, 2026 | Last day for doctoral candidates to hold dissertation defense for Summer I 2026 |
| Friday, May 22, 2026 | Defended dissertations due in the Graduate College for Summer I 2026 graduation |
| Friday, June 19, 2026 | Deadline to schedule dissertation defense for Summer II 2026 graduation |
| Saturday, June 27, 2026 | Summer I commencement |
| Friday, July 3, 2026 | Last day for doctoral candidates to hold dissertation defense for Summer II 2026 |
| Friday, July 10, 2026 | Defended dissertations due in the Graduate College for Summer II 2026 graduation |
| Friday, August 14, 2026 | Summer II semester ends; no commencement ceremonies |
| Friday, October 16, 2026 | Deadline to schedule dissertation defense for Fall 2026 graduation |
| Friday, October 30, 2026 | Last day for doctoral candidates to hold dissertation defense for Fall 2026 graduation |
| Friday, November 6, 2026 | Defended dissertations due in the Graduate College for Fall 2026 graduation |
| Saturday, December 12, 2026 | Fall commencement |
2026 Specialist Project, and Master's Thesis Deadlines
| Friday, April 17, 2026 | Defended master’s theses due in the Graduate College for Spring 2026 graduation |
| Saturday, May 2, 2026 | Spring commencement |
| Friday, June 19, 2026 | Defended master’s theses due in the Graduate College for Summer I 2026 graduation |
| Saturday, June 27, 2026 | Summer I commencement |
| Friday, August 7, 2026 | Defended master’s theses due in the Graduate College for Summer II 2026 graduation |
| Friday, August 14, 2026 | Summer II session ends, no commencement |
| Friday, December 4, 2026 | Defended master’s theses due in the Graduate College for Fall 2026 graduation |
| Saturday, December 12, 2026 | Fall commencement |
- Academic Year Calendar
- For other program-specific dissertation/thesis deadlines, please contact your WMU department.