Graduation Deadlines

August 2023 Graduation

There is no August commencement. August graduates are invited to the December commencement.

June 5, 2023: Application for summer 2023 degree due.

June 9, 2023: Last day to defer your graduation date for the current semester

June 9, 2023: Last day for thesis students to submit request for oral defense of thesis (PDF)

June 9, 2023: Last day for doctoral students to submit request for oral defense of dissertation (PDF)

June 19, 2023: Juneteenth (university closed)

June 20, 2023: Summer term begins

June 30, 2023: Last day to submit results of oral defense form (PDF)

July 4, 2023:

  • Last day to change a course from credit to audit or from audit to credit for 1st half sessions
  • Independence Day (university closed)

July 7, 2023: Last day to submit a post-defense version of your thesis/dissertation. Submit through ProQuest ETD Administrator.

July 15, 2023: Certificate of Graduate Studies completed form due

July 18, 2023: Last day to change a course from credit to audit or from audit to credit for full sessions

July 31, 2023: Last day to change a course from credit to audit or from audit to credit for 2nd half sessions

Aug. 4, 2023: Last day to submit comprehensive exam results (master’s students) examination report form.

Aug. 13, 2023: Summer term ends

December 2023 Graduation

Aug. 28, 2023: Fall term begins

Sept. 4, 2023: Labor Day (university closed)

September 10, 2023: Last day to add/drop a course

Sept. 15, 2023: Application for degree/graduation due

Oct. 10, 2023:

October 22, 2023: Last day to change grading option (audit/credit)

Oct. 31, 2023: Last possible day for oral defenses for this term’s graduates

November 3, 2023: Last day to withdraw from current course/term

Nov. 10, 2023:

Nov. 15, 2023: Certificate of Graduate Studies completed form due.

Nov. 22, 2023: Thanksgiving break begins (no classes on Wednesday)

Nov. 27, 2023: Thanksgiving break ends, classes resume

December 3, 2023: Last day to add a course, change credit hours, or swap a course

Dec. 9, 2023: Fall term ends

Dec. 11-16, 2023: Final examinations

Dec. 16, 2023: Fall graduate commencement

May 2024 Graduation

January 15, 2024:  Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday (university closed)

January 16, 2024:  Spring Term Begins

February 14, 2024:  Application for degree/graduation due

March 8, 2024:  Last day to change your graduation term

March 8, 2024:  Last day for thesis students to submit the request for oral defense of thesis (PDF)

March 8, 2024:  Last day for doctoral students to submit the request for oral defense of dissertation (PDF)

March 10-17, 2024:  Spring Recess

March 18, 2024:  Spring Recess Ends, Classes Resume

March 29, 2024:  Last possible day for oral defenses for this term’s graduates

April 5, 2024:  Last day to submit results of oral defense form (PDF)

April 5, 2024:  Last day to submit a post-defense version of your thesis/dissertation. Submit work through ProQuest ETD Administrator.

April 15, 2024:   Certificate of Graduate Studies completed form due.

May 2, 2024:  Spring Term Ends.

May 4, 6-10, 2024:  Final Examinations

May 10, 2024:  Spring Graduate Commencement

Contact Us

The Graduate School
Williston Hall 100

Phone: 815-753-0395
Fax: 815-753-6366
Email: gradsch@niu.edu

Office Hours

Monday-Friday
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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