University Dissertation & Thesis Services

The Final Submission deadline for graduation in the regular Summer 2025 Semester is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 1.  

The Final Submission deadline for graduation under Special Registration for the Fall 2025 Semester is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 22. 

In order to be eligible to graduate during a given semester, all Master's students writing theses and all Doctoral students writing dissertations must turn in the final copies of their theses/dissertations and all necessary materials to UDTS on or by that date/time.

By "final copy," we are referring to the version of your thesis/dissertation that fulfills all of the following criteria:

  1. UDTS has reviewed and approved your document's formatting through the Format Review;
  2. You have successfully defended (if a Defense is a requirement for your degree/discipline);
  3. And your committee has approved your content.

 

Format Review Policy:

  • All theses and dissertations must go through the mandatory Format Review. We strongly recommend that students submit their documents for the Format Review as soon as possible to avoid delays.

  • UDTS does not review content; we only review documents to confirm that they adhere to University Formatting Guidelines. Therefore, students may continue to make changes to their documents' content after passing the Format Review.

  • For the Summer 2025 Semester, we will accept first-time (initial) submissions of theses and dissertations for Format Review until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 30. Any document sent for an initial Format Review after 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 30 will not be reviewed until Tuesday, August 5 at the earliest.

  • For the Summer 2025 Semester, we will perform subsequent reviews (i.e., second-round reviews and beyond) of documents until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30.

  • Any students who have not passed the Format Review by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30 will not be eligible to graduate in the Summer 2025 Semester.

  • We will recommence Format Reviews beginning on Tuesday, August 5.

 

The answers to many of your questions may be found in our FAQs.

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Format Review Deadlines

  • Summer 2025
    • We will accept first-time (initial) submissions of theses and dissertations for Format Review until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 30. Any document sent for an initial Format Review after 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 30 will not be reviewed until Tuesday, August 5 at the earliest.
    • We will perform subsequent reviews (i.e., second round and beyond) of documents until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30. We will not review any documents received after 5:01 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30 until Tuesday, August 5 at the earliest.
    • Any student who has not passed the Format Review by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30 will not be eligible to graduate in the Summer 2025 Semester.
  • Fall 2025
    • We will accept first-time (initial) submissions of theses and dissertations for Format Review until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 3. Any document sent for an initial Format Review after 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 3 will not be reviewed until Tuesday, December 9 at the earliest.
    • We will perform subsequent reviews (i.e., second round and beyond) of documents until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3. We will not review any documents received after 5:01 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3 until Tuesday, December 9 at the earliest.
    • Any student who has not passed the Format Review by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3 will not be eligible to graduate in the Fall 2025 Semester.
  • Spring 2026
    • We will accept first-time (initial) submissions of theses and dissertations for Format Review until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 30. Any document sent for an initial Format Review after 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 30 will not be reviewed until Tuesday, May 5 at the earliest.
    • We will perform subsequent reviews (i.e., second round and beyond) of documents until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29. We will not review any documents received after 5:01 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29 until Tuesday, May 5 at the earliest.
    • Any student who has not passed the Format Review by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29 will not be eligible to graduate in the Spring 2026 Semester.

Final Submission Deadlines:

Summer 2025: Friday, August 1 at 5:00 p.m.

Special Registration under Fall 2025: Friday, August 22 at 5:00 p.m.

Fall 2025: Friday, December 5 at 5:00 p.m.

Spring 2026: Friday, May 1 at 5:00 p.m.

Workshops

To view our available sessions and sign up for them, please visit University Libraries Workshops and Events. We offer virtual workshops on both the Process you must complete in order to graduate on time, and on our Word template.

Contact

Email: udts@gmu.edu

Phone: 703-993-2222