Fall 2026 graduation deadlines
Graduate students, mark your calendars for these approaching graduation deadlines for fall 2026
September
Sept. 2 (preferred 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.
October
Oct. 1 (final 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
Graduate students mustapply online to graduatethroughon the “apply for graduation” card in order tohave the degree awarded in December.This is required even though there is no university-wide ceremony.PhD students must enter their dissertation title as part of the online graduation application; you may update the title through the portal until this date.This title will appearon your transcript after your degree is awarded.
November
Nov. 5
Doctoralstudents must complete the PhD dissertation defense or final examination by this date.Notice of the examination must be provided to the Graduate School using thedoctoral final examination formtwo weeks before the exam.
Nov. 12
PhD students mustsubmit the dissertationwith Thesis Approval Form (TAF) to ProQuest by this deadline. The dissertation must befor review and approval by Graduate School staff by the end of the business day. Thesingle-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.
Nov. 12
Master'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 themaster's final examination formtwo weeks before the exam.Certain units do not require an exam for non-thesis students.Please contact your department with any questions.
Nov. 12
PhD and DMA students must fill out theby this deadline.Learn more about the survey on the .
Nov. 19
Master's thesis plan students mustsubmit 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.
Nov. 23
Grade changes for doctoral students must besubmitted for incomplete courses taken during previous or current semesters
December
Dec. 7
Grade changes for master’s students must besubmitted for incomplete courses taken during previous semesters.
Dec. 7
Deadline for falldoctoral graduates toupdate diploma name or addressin Buff Portal
Students in programs on Coursera: Please note that CU ǸԹ students completing degrees hosted on the Coursera platform do not need to apply to graduate. Degree conferrals are processed automatically for students who have met the degree requirements for these programs. However, students are invited to attend graduation ceremonies on campus. Please visit your degree program's website for information on participating in graduation events.