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Graduation Requirements and Deadlines

Fall 2026 Completion Deadlines

September 14: Application for degree due

November 7: Oral defense scheduled

November 20: Oral defense completed

December 4: All requirements due

Commencement Ceremony:
Sunday, December 13

Graduation vs. Commencement - the explanation.

Future Semester Deadlines

 

Graduate School graduation requirements: 

  • Formal admission to the appropriate degree program
  • Satisfactory completion of conditions of admission
  • An approved Plan of Study on file in the Graduate School
  • Satisfactory completion of prerequisite, tool or language courses
  • Completion of the PSIT requirement
  • An Application for Degree and Exit Survey Form and fee on file with the Graduate School
  • Appropriate enrollment in the semester of graduation
  • Removal of all prior semester incomplete grades, including thesis hours
  • Completion of all program requirements (course work, projects, comprehensive exams, thesis, dissertation, validations, etc.)
  • Submission of the ETD and ETD fee following approval by Graduate School
  • Cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.0 for all WSU courses on the Plan of Study and for all WSU graduate work

Visit the Graduate Catalog website for a detailed explanation of graduation requirements.

Unsure what we mean by Graduation and Commencement? Follow the link below for details!

Degree Completion Deadlines

Items in this table should be submitted or held no later than the date given for the term.

Degree completion task Fall 2026 Spring 2027 Summer 2027
Application for degree / Exit survey

September 14

February 15

February 15*
June 14
Request to schedule Oral Defense November 7 April 16 July 2
Oral Defense November 20 April 30 July 16
Graduation requirements
Notification of completion received by Graduate School		 December 4 May 17 July 23
University Commencement ** December 13 May 14 NONE

* Master's students planning to complete their degree in the summer, who file by the spring deadline, will have their name printed in the spring commencement program and the optional inclusion of their thesis title, if desired.
** Check online at wichita.edu/commencement for specific details about your commencement ceremony.

Note: Doctoral students must be hooded and their degrees awarded in the ceremony following degree completion. So, summer doctoral candidates participate in the following fall ceremony, rather than the preceding spring ceremony. Exceptions can be made if doctoral students have successfully defended their dissertation and the defense paperwork is on file in the Graduate School before the spring ceremony. Contact the degree Audit Specialist at 316-978-3095 or email wsugradschool@wichita.edu for details.

Request to Schedule Oral Defense

When you're ready to schedule your oral defense, you must fill out the Request to Schedule Oral Defense form to have your defense approved by the Graduate School. Submit the form at least two weeks before your planned defense date. At the same time, you should distribute copies of your thesis or dissertation to all members of your committee, to allow them ample time to review your document. The Request to Schedule Oral Defense form is available on our website and in the Graduate School office.

Electronic Theses and Dissertation (ETD)

The Graduate School requires all theses and dissertations to be submitted in an approved digital format.

Commencement Information

Degrees are conferred at the close of the summer (July), fall (December) and spring (May) semesters, although commencement ceremonies are held only in December and May.

Transcripts and Diploma Delivery

Place your order at the transcript window in Jardine Hall, call 316-978-3055 or visit its website.

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