- About
-
Academics
- Academics Overview
- Course Numberings
- Deadlines for Completing Your Program
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Theses and Dissertations
- Theses and Dissertations Overview
- Formatting Requirements
- Templates, Links and Tools
- Plain Language Abstracts
- Plagiarism
- Defending Your Thesis or Dissertation
- Converting Your Manuscript
- Requesting an Embargo
- Submitting
- Revising
- Finishing the ETD Process
- Bound Copies
- Survey of Earned Doctorates
- Thesis and Dissertation FAQs
- Policies and Procedures
- Forms and Requests
- Plan of Study
- Graduation Ceremonies
- Graduate School Interdisciplinary Program
- Admissions
- Cost and Aid
- Professional Development
- Student Services and Groups
Graduation Deadlines
These deadlines are University and Graduate School deadlines; your department may have additional deadlines you must meet to satisfy requirements for your individual program. Check with your department to make sure you know what these departmental deadlines are.
Deadlines by Expected Date for Receiving a Degree
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May |
Aug |
Dec |
May |
Aug |
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Complete comprehensive exams: For exams with several parts (e.g., a written plus an oral, or a multi-part written format), your date of completion is the date of the last exam. |
Nov 8, |
Feb 7, |
June 13, 2025 |
Nov 7, |
Feb 6, |
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Submit final GS2 Form (Plan of Study/Graduate Degree Curriculum) to Enrolled Services |
Jan 2, |
May 6, |
Aug 20, |
Jan 7, |
May 11, |
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Apply to graduate: Sign in to iROAR, go to “Student Record,” and select “Apply to Graduate”. Fill out the Diploma Application only if you are applying for the next graduation date. Contact Enrolled Services if you have questions. |
Jan 29, |
June 3, |
Sept 9, |
Jan 28, |
June 2, |
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Order graduation regalia |
Doctoral: |
Doctoral: |
Doctoral: |
Doctoral: |
Doctoral: |
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Schedule defense: Submit the date/time/location of your defense via the Submit Defense Form. This adds your defense to the defense calendar and serves as the required written notice to Enrolled Services. Your defense must be scheduled early enough to allow time for committee-required revisions to your thesis or dissertation before the GS7 deadline (below). Typically you should allow at least two weeks between your defense and the GS7 deadline. |
No later than 10 days before your defense
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Final Exam, thesis or dissertation approval: File GS7M (for master’s students) or GS7D (for doctoral students) with Enrolled Services. MArch students: See your program coordinator for your deadlines for this and subsequent steps |
Apr 11, |
July 11, |
Nov 21, |
April 10, 2026 |
July 10, |
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Submit completed thesis or dissertation electronically for format approval from the Manuscript Review Office. The only revisions you may make after this date are formatting revisions requested by the Manuscript Review Office. |
Apr 18, |
July 18, |
Nov 28, |
April 17, 2026 |
July 17, |
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Required Revisions: Obtain approval from the Manuscript Review Office on any revisions they requested. If you need to change your ETD after this date, consult your advisor and Enrolled Services about delaying your graduation until the following semester. |
Apr 25, |
July 25, |
Dec 5, |
April 24, 2026 |
July 24, |
Filing the GS2
The GS2 should be filed:
- Master’s degrees: During the second semester of your course of study.
- Doctoral degrees: During your second year of study.
The GS2 is a map of your course of study and ensures you receive appropriate and timely academic advising. It may be filed as late as the deadline listed here, but should be filed much earlier to be most effective. If your plan of study changes between when you file an original GS2 and the deadline date listed above, you must file an amended GS2. If you have GS2 routing issues, contact your program coordinator first. For technical problems, contact gradweb@clemson.edu.
Late GS2 Submission Fee
A $75 late fee will be assessed when the GS2 form or the application for graduation via iROAR is submitted after the deadline above and will increase at the rate of $5 per business day thereafter. Late fee payments must be made directly to the Office of Enrolled Student Services.
Checklist of Graduate School Procedures
- Select a major advisor and advisory committee (in consultation with the appropriate department head).
- Submit Plan of Study/Graduate Degree Curriculum (Online GS2).
- Satisfy any prescribed language requirement and comprehensive examination prerequisite for admission to candidacy for your degree.
- Doctoral Students only: Apply for admission to candidacy for a doctoral degree (Form GS5D) and turn in Form GS-ResearchApproval to Enrolled Services.
- Order diploma (through iROAR) after completing at least half the prescribed course work.
- Order cap, gown and hood from University Bookstore.
- Submit completed thesis (if required) or dissertation to research advisor and arrange for final examination by the advisory committee.
- Complete final examination or defense (Form GS7M for master’s students or Form GS7D for doctoral students).
- Review thesis/dissertation submission guidelines and procedures and make sure to submit your properly formatted manuscript prior to the deadline.
The final responsibility for ensuring compliance with these procedures rests with the graduate student. Special problems should be referred to the graduate dean.
Contact Enrolled Services
Manuscript Review Office
See guidelines for preparing your thesis or dissertation manuscript and download free ETD Templates, Tools & Resources.
Contact manuscriptreview-l@clemson.edu with formatting questions.
