Dissertation deadlines
Fall 2018 graduation
- Deadline to schedule defense: Oct. 19
- Last day to hold defense: Nov. 2
- Defended dissertation to Graduate College: Nov. 9
- Commencement: Dec. 15
Spring 2019 graduation
- Deadline to schedule defense: March 1
- Last day to hold defense: March 15
- Defended dissertation to Graduate College: March 22
- Commencement: April 27
Summer I 2019 graduation
- Deadline to schedule defense: May 3
- Last day to hold defense: May 17
- Defended dissertation to Graduate College: May 24
- Commencement: June 29
Summer II 2019 graduation
- Deadline to schedule defense: June 28
- Last day to hold defense: July 12
- Defended dissertation to Graduate College: July 19
- 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 2018 graduation
- Defended theses to Graduate College: Nov. 16
- Commencement: Dec. 15
April 2019 graduation
- Defended theses to Graduate College: March 29
- Commencement: April 27
Summer I 2019 graduation
- Defended theses to Graduate College: May 24
- Commencement: June 29
Summer II 2019 graduation
- Defended theses to Graduate College: July 19
Other important dates for graduate students
- Academic Year Calendar
- For other program-specific dissertation/thesis deadlines, please contact your WMU department.