Graduation Deadlines

Graduation Deadlines Guidance:

As a graduate student** at the University of Maryland, Baltimore it is your responsibility to obtain the appropriate signatures and submit all required forms for graduation by the respective deadlines.

Begin obtaining signatures at five (5) business days before the due date, as most forms require several signatures.
Submit each form only once to the specific contact person or e-mail account listed below. If you have submitted a form electronically, do NOT send a hard copy unless requested.
You will be notified of any missing items after your file has been reviewed. Be patient; there are many graduating students submitting documentation.
Dual degree students must complete all requirements and forms for each degree and submit a separate diploma application for each degree.
Required forms are available on our forms page. Contact information is listed below the chart.

** Nursing MS and Certificate students must submit only the required SON forms to the School of Nursing Registration Office Rm 108.

Spring 2026

Requirements	PhD Deadlines	MS Thesis Deadlines	MS Non-Thesis & DMSc Deadlines	Certificate Deadlines	Accepted Format(s) (submit each form only once)
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Doctoral Examination Committee” form	Six months before defense date AND no later than November 13, 2025	NA	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to School of Graduate Studies
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Master’s Examination Committee” form at least	NA	Two months before defense date AND no later than February 13, 2026	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to School of Graduate Studies
Register for at least one credit of coursework or research through SURFS by...	January 11, 2026	January 11, 2026	January 11, 2026	January 11, 2026	Electronic (SURFS)
Submit “Fulfillment of Course Requirements " form by...	February 3, 2026	February 3, 2026	February 3, 2026	February 3, 2026	E-mail, fax, mail or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies.
Apply for your diploma through SURFS Graduation Application by...	February 13, 2026	February 13, 2026	February 13, 2026	February 13, 2026	Electronic (SURFS)
Provide your dissertation or thesis to your entire Committee at least...	One month before defense date	One month before defense date	NA	NA
Submit “Certification of Completion for Doctoral Dissertation" or "Certification of Master's Degree with Thesis" form at least...	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than March 30, 2026	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than March 30, 2026	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies
Submit “Announcement of Defense” form at least	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than March 30, 2026	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than March 30, 2026	NA	NA	Electronic via SGS website preferred; e-mail, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies. No faxes or photocopies accepted.
Defense Deadline	No later than April 13, 2026 Note: A student must request prior permission from the School of Graduate Studies to defend after this date.	No later than April 13, 2026 Note: A student must request prior permission from the School of Graduate Studies to defend after this date.	NA	NA	Submit each form only once.
Submit your dissertation or thesis through ProQuest within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense	NA	NA	Electronic
Submit your Approval Sheet within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies
(Optional) Register for an ORCID Identifier	Before completion of "Electronic Publication form"	Before completion of "Electronic Publication form"	NA	NA	Visit http://orcid.org/ to learn more and register.
Submit the Electronic Publication Form within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense	NA	NA	Electronic
Complete the “Survey of Earned Doctorates”	Two weeks after your successful defense	NA	NA	NA	Send Certificate of Completion via e-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies
Graduation Ceremonies	May 20, 2026	May 20, 2026	May 20, 2026	May 20, 2026
Spring Semester ends	G term ends May 13, 2026	G term ends May 13, 2026	G term ends May 13, 2026	G term ends May 13, 2026
Dissertations and theses forwarded for publishing by	Mid-June, 2026	Mid-June, 2026	NA	NA
Diplomas	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.

Requirements	PhD Deadlines	MS Thesis Deadlines	MS Non-Thesis & DMSc PhD Deadlines	Certificate Deadlines	Accepted Format(s) (submit each form only once)
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Doctoral Examination Committee” form	Six months before defense date AND no later than January 7, 2026	NA	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to School of Graduate Studies
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Master’s Examination Committee” form at least	NA	Two months before defense date AND no later than May 7, 2026	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to School of Graduate Studies
Register for at least one credit of coursework or research through SURFS by	May 28, 2026	May 28, 2026	May 28, 2026	May 28, 2026	Electronic (SURFS)
Submit “Fulfillment of Course Requirements " form by...	June 26, 2026	June 26, 2026	June 26, 2026	June 26, 2026	E-mail, fax, mail or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies.
Apply for your diploma through SURFS Graduation Application	June 26, 2026	June 26, 2026	June 26, 2026	June 26, 2026	Electronic (SURFS)
Provide your dissertation or thesis to your entire Committee at least	One month before defense date	One month before defense date	NA	NA
Submit "Certification of Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation/Master's Thesis" form at least	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than June 22, 2026	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than June 22, 2026	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies.
Submit “Announcement of Defense” form at least	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than June 22, 2026	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than June 22, 2026	NA	NA	Electronic via SGS website preferred; e-mail, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies. No faxes or photocopies accepted.
Defense Deadline	No later than July 6, 2026 Note: A student must request prior permission from the School of Graduate Studies to defend after this date.	No later than July 6, 2026 Note: A student must request prior permission from the School of Graduate Studies to defend after this date.	NA	NA	Submit each form only once.
Submit your dissertation or thesis through ProQuest within	Two weeks after your successful defense AND no later than July 20, 2026	Two weeks after your successful defense AND no later than July 20, 2026	NA	NA	Electronic
Submit your Approval Sheet within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies
(Optional) Register for an ORCID Identifier	Before completion of "Electronic Publication form"	Before completion of "Electronic Publication form"	NA	NA	Visit http://orcid.org/ to learn more and register.
Submit the Electronic Publication Form within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense	NA	NA	Electronic
Complete the “Survey of Earned Doctorates”	Two weeks after your successful defense	NA	NA	NA	Send Certificate of Completion via e-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies
Graduation Ceremonies	May 18, 2027	May 18, 2027	May 18, 2027	May 18, 2027
Summer semester ends	July 27, 2026	July 27, 2026	July 27, 2026	July 27, 2026
Dissertations and theses forwarded for publishing by	Mid-August, 2026	Mid-August, 2026	NA	NA
Diplomas	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.

Requirements	PhD Deadlines	MS Thesis Deadlines	MS Non-Thesis & DMSc PhD Deadlines	Certificate Deadlines	Accepted Format(s) (submit each form only once)
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Doctoral Examination Committee” form	Six months before defense date AND no later than May 23, 2026	NA	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to School of Graduate Studies
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Master’s Examination Committee” form at least	NA	Two months before defense date AND no later than September 23, 2026	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to School of Graduate Studies
Register for at least one credit of coursework or research through SURFS by	August 23, 2026	August 23, 2026	August 23, 2026	August 23, 2026	Electronic (SURFS)
Submit “Fulfillment of Course Requirements " form by...	September 18, 2026	September 18, 2026	September 18, 2026	September 18, 2026	E-mail, fax, mail or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies.
Apply for your diploma through SURFS Graduation Application	September 18, 2026	September 18, 2026	September 18, 2026	September 18, 2026	Electronic (SURFS)
Provide your dissertation or thesis to your entire Committee at least	One month before defense date	One month before defense date	NA	NA
Submit "Certification of Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation/Master's Thesis" form at least	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than November 9, 2026	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than November 9, 2026	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies.
Submit “Announcement of Defense” form at least	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than November 9, 2026	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than November 9, 2026	NA	NA	Electronic via SGS website preferred; e-mail, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies. No faxes or photocopies accepted.
Defense Deadline	No later than November 23, 2026 Note: A student must request prior permission from the School of Graduate Studies to defend after this date.	No later than November 23, 2026 Note: A student must request prior permission from the School of Graduate Studies to defend after this date.	NA	NA	Submit each form only once.
Submit your dissertation or thesis through ProQuest within	Two weeks after your successful defense AND no later than December 11, 2026	Two weeks after your successful defense AND no later than December 11, 2026	NA	NA	Electronic
Submit your Approval Sheet within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies
(Optional) Register for an ORCID Identifier	Before completion of "Electronic Publication form"	Before completion of "Electronic Publication form"	NA	NA	Visit http://orcid.org/ to learn more and register.
Submit the Electronic Publication Form within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense	NA	NA	Electronic
Complete the “Survey of Earned Doctorates”	Two weeks after your successful defense	NA	NA	NA	Send Certificate of Completion via e-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies
Graduation Ceremonies	May 18, 2027	May 18, 2027	May 18, 2027	May 18, 2027
Fall G term semester ends	December 18, 2026	December 18, 2026	December 18, 2026	December 18, 2026
Dissertations and theses forwarded for publishing by	Mid-January, 2026	Mid-January, 2026	NA	NA
Diplomas	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.

Requirements	PhD Deadlines	MS Thesis Deadlines	MS Non-Thesis & DMSc PhD Deadlines	Certificate Deadlines	Accepted Format(s) (submit each form only once)
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Doctoral Examination Committee” form	Six months before defense date AND no later than October 9, 2026	NA	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to School of Graduate Studies
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Master’s Examination Committee” form at least	NA	Two months before defense date AND no later than February 9, 2026	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to School of Graduate Studies
Register for at least one credit of coursework or research through SURFS by	January 10, 2027	January 10, 2027	January 10, 2027	January 10, 2027	Electronic (SURFS)
Submit “Fulfillment of Course Requirements " form by...	February 12, 2027	February 12, 2027	February 12, 2027	February 12, 2027	E-mail, fax, mail or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies.
Apply for your diploma through SURFS Graduation Application	February 12, 2027	February 12, 2027	February 12, 2027	February 12, 2027	Electronic (SURFS)
Provide your dissertation or thesis to your entire Committee at least	One month before defense date	One month before defense date	NA	NA
Submit "Certification of Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation/Master's Thesis" form at least	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than March 26, 2027	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than March 26, 2027	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies.
Submit “Announcement of Defense” form at least	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than March 26, 2027	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than March 26, 2027	NA	NA	Electronic via SGS website preferred; e-mail, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies. No faxes or photocopies accepted.
Defense Deadline	No later than April 9, 2027 Note: A student must request prior permission from the School of Graduate Studies to defend after this date.	No later than April 9, 2027 Note: A student must request prior permission from the School of Graduate Studies to defend after this date.	NA	NA	Submit each form only once.
Submit your dissertation or thesis through ProQuest within	Two weeks after your successful defense AND no later than April 23, 2027	Two weeks after your successful defense AND no later than April 23, 2027	NA	NA	Electronic
Submit your Approval Sheet within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies
(Optional) Register for an ORCID Identifier	Before completion of "Electronic Publication form"	Before completion of "Electronic Publication form"	NA	NA	Visit http://orcid.org/ to learn more and register.
Submit the Electronic Publication Form within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense	NA	NA	Electronic
Complete the “Survey of Earned Doctorates”	Two weeks after your successful defense	NA	NA	NA	Send Certificate of Completion via e-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the School of Graduate Studies
Graduation Ceremonies	May 18, 2027	May 18, 2027	May 18, 2027	May 18, 2027
Spring G term semester ends	May 10, 2027	May 10, 2027	May 10, 2027	May 10, 2027
Dissertations and theses forwarded for publishing by	Mid-June, 2027	Mid-June, 2027	NA	NA
Diplomas	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.	Mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation.

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Graduation Deadlines

Graduation Deadlines Guidance:

Spring 2026

Summer 2026

Fall 2026

Spring 2027

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