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.

Requirements	PhD Deadlines	MS Thesis Deadlines	MS Non-Thesis Deadlines	Certificate Deadlines	Accepted Format(s) Submit each form only once.
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Doctoral Examination Committee” form at least	Six months before defense date AND no later than May 28, 2023	NA	NA	NA	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to Erin Golembewski
Register for at least one credit of coursework or research through SURFS by	August 25, 2023				SURFS
Submit “Fulfillment of Course Requirements for Master’s Degree” or "Fulfillment of Course Requirements for Certificate" form by	N/A	September 20, 2023	September 20, 2023	September 20, 2023	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School
Submit “Certification of Master’s Degree without Thesis” or "Certification of Requirements for Certificate" form by	N/A	N/A	September 20, 2023	September 20, 2023	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School
Apply for your diploma through SURFS Student Records section by	September 12, 2023	September 12, 2023	September 12, 2023	September 12, 2023	SURFS
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Master’s Examination Committee” form at least	N/A	Two months before defense date AND no later than September 30, 2023	N/A	N/A	E-mail, fax, mail or deliver to Erin Golembewski
Provide your dissertation or thesis to your entire Committee at least	One month before defense date	One month before defense date	N/A	N/A	-----
Submit "Certification of Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation/Master's Thesis" form at least	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than November 16, 2023	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than November 16, 2023	N/A	N/A	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School
Submit “Announcement of Defense” form at least	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than November 16, 2023	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than November 16, 2023	N/A	N/A	Electronic via Graduate School website preferred; e-mail, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School No faxes or photocopies accepted.
Register for an ORCID Identifier (Optional)	Before completion of "Electronic Publication Form"	Before completion of "Electronic Publication Form"	N/A	N/A	Visit http://orcid.org/ to learn more and register.
Defend your dissertation or thesis	No later than November 30, 2023 Note: A student must request prior permission from the Graduate School to defend after this date.	No later than November 30, 2023 Note: A student must request prior permission from the Graduate School to defend after this date.	N/A	N/A	-----
Submit your dissertation or thesis through ProQuest within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense	N/A	N/A	Electronic
Submit your Approval Sheet	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense	N/A	N/A	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School
Submit the “Electronic Publication Form” by	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense	N/A	N/A	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School

Requirements	PhD Deadlines	MS Thesis Deadlines	MS Non-Thesis Deadlines	Certificate Deadlines	Accepted Format(s) (submit each form only once)
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Doctoral Examination Committee” form	At least six months before defense date AND no later than October 20, 2023				E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to Erin Golembewski
Register for at least one credit of coursework or research through SURFS by		January 12, 2024 (8-week courses) January 21, 2024 (16-week courses)			Electronic (SURFS)
Submit “Fulfillment of Course Requirements for Master's Degree" or "Fulfillment of Course Requirements for Certificate ” form by		February 5, 2024			E-mail, fax, mail or deliver to the Graduate School
Submit “Certification of Master's Degree Without Thesis” or "Certificate - Certification of Requirements Form" form by			February 5, 2024		E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School
Apply for your diploma through SURFS Graduation Application	February 5, 2024	February 5, 2024	February 5, 2024	February 5, 2024	Electronic (SURFS)
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Master's Examination Committee” form at least		Two months before defense date AND no later than March 1, 2024			E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to Erin Golembewski
Provide your dissertation or thesis to your entire Committee at least	One month before defense date	One month before defense date
Submit "Certification of Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation/Master's Thesis" form at least	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than April 8, 2024	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than April 8, 2024			E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School
Submit “Announcement of Defense” form at least	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than April 8, 2024	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than April 8, 2024			Electronic via GS website preferred; e-mail, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School. No faxes or photocopies accepted.
(Optional) Register for an ORCID Identifier	Before completion of "Electronic Publication form"	Before completion of "Electronic Publication form"			Visit http://orcid.org/ to learn more and register.
	No later than April 22, 2024 Note: A student must request prior permission from the Graduate School to defend after this date.	No later than April 22, 2024 Note: A student must request prior permission from the Graduate School to defend after this date.
Submit your dissertation or thesis through ProQuest within	Two weeks after your successful defense AND no later than May 6, 2024	Two weeks after your successful defense AND no later than May 6, 2024			Electronic
Submit your Approval Sheet within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense			E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School
Submit the “Electronic Publication Form” within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense			E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School
Complete the “Survey of Earned Doctorates” For information about the survey, see the following on the forms page: Survey of Earned Doctorates 2018 Brochure	Two weeks after your successful defense				Send Certificate of Completion via e-mail, fax, mail, or delivery to the Graduate School
Graduation Ceremonies	May 16, 2024	May 15, 2024
Spring Semester ends	May 15, 2024	May 15, 2024	May 15, 2024	May 15, 2024
Dissertations and theses forwarded for publishing by	Mid-June 2024	Mid-June 2024
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.

Summer 2024

Requirements	PhD Deadlines	MS Thesis Deadlines	MS Non-Thesis Deadlines	Certificate Deadlines	Accepted Format(s) (submit each form only once)
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Doctoral Examination Committee Nomination of Members for Final Doctoral Examination Committee” form	At least six months before defense date				E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to Erin Golembewski
Register for at least one credit of coursework or research through SURFS by		May 30, 2024	May 30, 2024	May 30, 2024	Electronic (SURFS)
Submit “Fulfillment of Course Requirements for Master's Degree" or "Fulfillment of Course Requirements for Certificate ” form by		June 17, 2024	June 17, 2024	June 17, 2024	E-mail, fax, mail or deliver to the Graduate School
Submit “Certification of Master's Degree Without Thesis” or "Certificate - Certification of Requirements Form" form by			June 17, 2024	June 17, 2024	E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School
Apply for your diploma through SURFS Graduation Application	June 12, 2024	June 12, 2024	June 12, 2024	June 12, 2024	Electronic (SURFS)
Submit “Nomination of Members for Final Master's Examination Committee” form at least		Two months before defense date AND no later than May 8, 2024			E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to Erin Golembewski
Provide your dissertation or thesis to your entire Committee at least	One month before defense date	One month before defense date
Submit "Certification of Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation/Master's Thesis" form at least	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than June 23, 2024	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than June 23, 2024			E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School
Submit “Announcement of Defense” form at least	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than June 24, 2024	Two weeks before defense date AND no later than June 24, 2024			Electronic via GS website preferred; e-mail, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School. No faxes or photocopies accepted.
(Optional) Register for an ORCID Identifier	Before completion of "Electronic Publication form"	Before completion of "Electronic Publication form"			Visit http://orcid.org/ to learn more and register.
	No later than July 8, 2024 Note: A student must request prior permission from the Graduate School to defend after this date.	No later than July 8, 2024 Note: A student must request prior permission from the Graduate School to defend after this date.
Submit your dissertation or thesis through ProQuest within	Two weeks after your successful defense AND no later than May 6, 2024	Two weeks after your successful defense AND no later than May 6, 2024			Electronic
Submit your Approval Sheet within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense			E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School
Submit the “Electronic Publication Form” within	Two weeks after your successful defense	Two weeks after your successful defense			E-mail, fax, mail, or deliver to the Graduate School
Complete the “Survey of Earned Doctorates” For information about the survey, see the following on the forms page: Survey of Earned Doctorates 2018 Brochure	Two weeks after your successful defense				Send Certificate of Completion via e-mail, fax, mail, or delivery to the Graduate School
Graduation Ceremonies	May 16, 2024	May 15, 2024
Summer Semester ends	July 26, 2024	July 26, 2024	July 26, 2024	July 24, 2024
Dissertations and theses forwarded for publishing by	Week of August 19, 2024	Week of August 19, 2024
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:

Fall 2023

Spring 2024

Summer 2024

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