Graduation Deadlines and Checklist

Step 1: Apply for Graduation

Discuss the prospects for graduating with your graduate advisor. If you both agree that you are in a position to graduate during the next graduation cycle (May, August, December), please have your department notify the Assistant Director for the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Kerri Bennett. Following your department's notification, our office will give you access to apply for graduation on my.smu.  From the Student Homepage --> Academic Records tile --> Apply for Graduation link. 

If you or your advisor conclude at any point that your graduation needs to be postponed, please immediately notify Kerri Bennett. You will apply for graduation separately for the next attempt.

Please note: Lyle School of Engineering students should submit theses/dissertations, obtain LaTeX templates, forms, etc. to the Lyle Thesis Dissertation page.  

Deadlines to Apply for Graduation:

Graduation	Deadline
December 2024	Wednesday, September 11
May 2025	Wednesday, February 5
August 2025	Wednesday, June 11
December 2025	Wednesday, September 10

Step 2: Submit Dissertation/Thesis for Mandatory Format Review (Front Matter Only)

You must submit a first draft of your dissertation or thesis for a mandatory format check.  Please submit a copy in PDF format through the form available here (select "First Format Check" under Submission Type).  You will receive comments on your dissertation or thesis within approximately one week of submission. 

Deadlines for Dissertation/Thesis Check:

Graduation	Deadline
December 2024	Monday, September30
May 2025	Friday, March 7
August 2025	Friday, June 14
December 2025	Monday, September 30

Step 3: Submit Establishment of Examination Committee Form

Once your dissertation/thesis examination committee is finalized, you must submit the member names to the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.  You can submit this information online here.  If at any time a member of your committee changes, you will need to submit another form online.

Deadline for Establishment of Examination Committee Form Submission:

Graduation	Deadline
December 2024	Friday, October 11
May 2025	Friday, March 14
August 2025	Friday, June 13
December 2025	Friday, October 10

Step 4: Submit Dissertation Defense Scheduler Form (Ph.D. candidates only)

Once your dissertation defense is scheduled, you must submit the Dissertation Defense Scheduler form to the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.  You can submit the online form here.  Should your defense date change, you will need to submit another form online in addition to emailing Jean Nixon.

Deadline for the Dissertation Defense Scheduler Form Submission:

Graduation	Deadline
December 2024	14 days before the defense
May 2025	14 days before the defense
August 2025	14 days before the defense
December 2025	14 days before the defense

Step 5: Submit Dissertation/Thesis for Mandatory Format Check (Reviewing Main Text Only)

After you have made the required correction to the Front Matter, you must submit the corrections for another review in addition to the Main Text for another format check.  Please submit a copy in PDF format through the form available here (select "Corrected Thesis/Dissertation (Revisions)" under Submission Type).  You will receive comments on your dissertation or thesis within approximately one week of submission.  

Deadline for Mandatory Dissertation/Thesis Format Check:

Graduation	Deadline
December 2024	Monday, October 28
May 2025	Friday, March 28
August 2025	Friday, June 27
December 2025	Monday, October 27

Step 6: Submit Dissertation/Thesis for Mandatory Format Check (Reviewing Back Matter)

After you have made the required corrections to the front matter and main text, your dissertation or thesis must be submitted for a final format check by the Moody School.  You may submit the corrected version through the form available here (select "Corrected Thesis/Dissertation (Revisions)" under Submission Type).  

Graduation	Deadline
December 2024	Monday, November 18
May 2025	Friday, April 18
August 2025	Friday, July 13
December 2025	Monday, November 17

Step 7: Complete Oral/Written Comprehensive Exams

As required by your department, you must successfully complete your oral or written examinations with sufficient time to process your graduation.  Locate the form applicable to your program on the Forms and Policies page here.

Last Day to Take Oral/Written Comprehensive Exams:  

Graduation	Deadline
December 2024	Thursday, December 5
May 2025	Friday, May 2
August 2025	Friday, July 18
December 2025	Thursday, December 4

Step 8: Submit Examination Report

After you have completed your defense, the signed examination report must be submitted to the Moody School.  The DocuSign form should be initiated by the student 24-48hrs prior to their scheduled defense; therefore, the defense should be scheduled before the Exam Report deadline listed below.  Originals copies are no longer required.  Please locate the proper Examination Report on the Forms and Policies page here.

Deadlines for Examination Report Submission: