Dissertation deadlines
Fall 2020 graduation
- Deadline to schedule defense: Oct. 16
- Last day to hold defense: Oct. 30
- Defended dissertation to Graduate College: Nov. 6
- Commencement: Dec. 19
Spring 2021 graduation
- Deadline to schedule defense: Feb. 26, 2021
- Last day to hold defense: March 12, 2021
- Defended dissertation to Graduate College: March 19, 2021
- Commencement: May 1, 2021
Summer I 2021 graduation
- Deadline to schedule defense: April 30, 2021
- Last day to hold defense: May 14, 2021
- Defended dissertation to Graduate College: May 21.2021
- Commencement: June 26, 2021
Summer II 2021 graduation
- Deadline to schedule defense: June 25, 2021
- Last day to hold defense: July 9, 2021
- Defended dissertation to Graduate College: July 16, 2021
- Commencement: —please note: there is no commencement ceremony in August. Students wishing to participate in commencement will walk in December.
Specialist Project and Master's Thesis deadlines
Please note that Master's thesis defenses are not scheduled in the Graduate College. Please contact your department to schedule a thesis defense.
Fall 2020 graduation
- Defended theses to Graduate College: Nov. 13
- Commencement: Dec. 19
Spring 2021 graduation
- Defended theses to Graduate College: March 26, 2021
- Commencement: May 1, 2021
Summer I 2021 graduation
- Defended theses to Graduate College: May 21, 2021
- Commencement: June 26, 2021
Summer II 2021 graduation
- Defended theses to Graduate College: July 16, 2021
Other dates to consider
Other important dates for graduate students
- Academic Year Calendar
- For other program-specific dissertation/thesis deadlines, please contact your WMU department.