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Graduation Requirements

Below are program completion and graduation deadlines for graduate students enrolled in quarter programs. Please note that individual colleges and schools and/or programs may have EARLIER deadlines than those listed below. Please consult with your academic program/department.

Semester program students should consult their individual program, college or school for graduation requirements and deadlines.

Graduation Dates & Deadlines 2023-2024

Fall Term 2023

  • Complete and submit an Application for Degree via DrexelOne by Monday, October 23, 2023.
  • Fall term degree conferral date is Saturday, December 16, 2023.
  • Submit your Graduate Program Completion Form with all signatures and a copy of your ProQuest submission confirmation, if applicable, to the Graduate College by 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, January 3, 2024.* Most will complete this step as part of the E-Forms process outlined below.

*Please note that individual colleges and schools and/or programs may have EARLIER deadlines than those listed above. Please consult with your academic program/department.

Winter Term 2024

  • Complete and submit an Application for Degree via DrexelOne by Monday, February 5, 2024.
  • Winter term degree conferral date is Saturday, March 23, 2024.
  • Submit your Graduate Program Completion Form with all signatures and a copy of your ProQuest submission confirmation, if applicable, to the Graduate College by 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 3, 2024.* Most will complete this step as part of the E-Forms process outlined below.

*Please note that individual colleges and schools and/or programs may have EARLIER deadlines than those listed above. Please consult with your academic program/department.

Spring Term 2024

  • Complete and submit an Application for Degree via DrexelOne by Friday, May 3, 2024.**
  • Spring term degree conferral date is Saturday, June 15, 2024.
  • Submit your Graduate Program Completion Form with all signatures and a copy of your ProQuest submission confirmation, if applicable, to the Graduate College by 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, June 26, 2024.* Most will complete this step as part of the E-Forms process outlined below.

*Please note that individual colleges and schools and/or programs may have EARLIER deadlines than those listed above. Please consult with your academic program/department.

**You MUST submit an Application for Degree via DrexelOne by Friday, May 3, 2024 in order to be listed in the official 2024 Commencement program. No exceptions. For summer graduates who wish to participate in the June 2024 Commencement ceremonies and be listed in the official program as a walkthrough, please refer to the Walkthrough information.

Summer Term 2024

  • Complete and submit an Application for Degree via DrexelOne by Monday, July 22, 2024.**
  • Summer term degree conferral date is Saturday, September 7, 2024.
  • Submit your Graduate Program Completion Form with all signatures and a copy of your ProQuest submission confirmation, if applicable, to the Graduate College by 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, September 18, 2024.* PhD and most professional doctoral degree students should follow the E-Forms process outlined below.

*Please note that individual colleges and schools and/or programs may have EARLIER deadlines than those listed above. Please consult with your academic program/department.

**If you wish to participate in the June 2024 Commencement ceremonies and be listed in the official program, you MUST submit an Application for Degree for summer term by Friday, May 3, 2024. You must also meet the eligibility criteria and follow all instructions outlined in the Walkthrough information.

See below for required forms and processes mentioned above.

Graduation Requirements Checklist

The following graduation checklist is for graduate students enrolled in quarter programs. Graduate students should also contact their department or program for additional graduation deadlines and requirements. Semester program students should consult their individual program, department, college or school for graduation requirements and deadlines.

Step 1: Satisfy the Degree Requirements

In order to be considered a degree candidate, you must satisfy all academic degree and other requirements established by your program/department. Please consult your supervising professor(s) and assigned faculty and/or professional staff graduate academic advisor(s) about your degree requirements and progress to degree. Please also refer to the Graduate Degree Requirements on the Graduate College website.

Step 2: Submit an Application for Degree

Submit an Application for Degree in your DrexelOne portal by the posted deadline. You MUST submit an Application for Degree by the posted deadline in order to be cleared for graduation, request official transcripts or degree verification, and receive your diploma by mail regardless of whether you plan to participate in Commencement or not.

Step 3: Resolve any Institutional Holds

Check your DrexelOne account for any institutional holds on your record. If so, please contact the appropriate office or your academic advisor to resolve any institutional holds.

Step 4: Resolve any Financial Holds

Check your DrexelOne account for any financial holds on your record. You will not receive your diploma or be able to request an official transcript with proof of degree until all holds are resolved. Please contact Drexel Central or the appropriate office to resolve any financial holds.

Step 5: RSVP for Commencement

Commencement occurs once per year in June. All graduates from the current academic year (summer through spring, and walkthroughs from the subsequent summer term who are eligible) will receive information about how to RSVP for Commencement in their DrexeOne portal. Students MUST submit an Application for Degree by the posted deadlines in order to receive information about Commencement and be listed in the official program. No exceptions.

Students are welcome and encouraged to attend both their individual college or school ceremony and the University-wide Commencement ceremony. Students planning to complete their degree requirements in the subsequent summer term and who wish to participate in spring Commencement must meet the eligibility criteria and follow all instructions outlined in the Walkthrough information.

Each spring, the Graduate College hosts a Doctoral Student Celebration to celebrate and honor our graduating doctoral candidates. Eligible students will receive an email invitation.

For a list of individual college and school ceremonies and for more information about University-wide Commencement, including dates, times, locations, parking, tickets, regalia, where to report, etc. please visit the Commencement website or email commencement@drexel.edu.

Diploma Information & Academic Records

See Diploma Information.

See also Transcripts and Certifications and Certified Electronic Credential Overview.

Additional Graduation Requirements for Doctoral Degree Candidates

(PHD, DBA, DCFT, DHSc, DNP, DPT, DrPH, EdD)

In addition to the checklist items outlined above, doctoral degree candidates are required to complete the following steps to program completion and graduation. Candidates should consult with their academic advisor, department chair(s) and/or supervising professor(s) about their degree requirements.

Registration Requirements

All doctoral students must be registered for at least one credit hour, either research or dissertation, in the term in which they plans to defend their thesis/dissertation and be cleared for graduation.

Required Electronic (E) or Doctoral (D) Forms

Effective Fall 2023, all PhD and professional doctoral degree programs (except DCFT, DNP, and DPT) must follow the E-Forms process to track their program progression and milestones. Please review the guide and video below to get started.

The below process refers to the D-Forms process required ONLY for DNP and DPT:

  1. Submit a D-4 Form: Doctoral Final Oral Defense Committee Appointment and Schedule
    You must file a D-4 Form [PDF] outlining the details of your final oral defense. This form must be completed and submitted to the Graduate College at least four weeks in advance of your defense date. The defense will be publicized on the Graduate College website upon receipt of the D-4 Form. Students should schedule their defense to allow for enough time to make any revisions following the oral defense and to resubmit for approval prior to the posted Graduate Program Completion Form deadlines.

  2. Submit a D-5 Form: Doctoral Report of Final Oral Defense
    You must file a D-5 Form [PDF] in order to be cleared for graduation. Signatures are to be obtained at the conclusion of your successful oral defense. Your supervising professor(s) or committee chair(s) must specify whether or not the results of the final oral defense were satisfactory. Once all signatures are obtained, the form must be submitted to the Graduate College by a member of your committee within 48 hours of your defense.

  3. Submit the Graduate Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form and Signature Page as Page 1 of your Thesis/Dissertation via ProQuest*
    The Graduate Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form and Signature Page [PDF] must be signed by all committee members upon review of your thesis/dissertation. After any/all changes have been made and approved by your supervising professor, you must submit your completed dissertation/thesis (including the Approval Form and Signature Page formatted as the first page of the single PDF document) electronically via ProQuest according to the guidelines on the Thesis and Dissertation page and on the Drexel University Libraries' website. Please review the Thesis Manual [PDF] for more information about formatting which is ultimately approved by your advisor. You should also consult your academic department for any additional requirements.

  4. Submit the Graduate Program Completion Form*
    This is the final step. In order to be cleared for graduation, the Graduate Program Completion Form [PDF] must be submitted to the Graduate College at graduatecollege@drexel.edu by deadline posted above.

*Please note that students completing a Master's thesis may also be required to submit the Graduate Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form and Signature Page [PDF] and Graduate Program Completion Form [PDF] to the Graduate College. Please consult with your academic program for requirements.

    Required Doctoral Surveys

    Doctoral candidates must also complete and submit the following exit surveys:

    • Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)
    • Drexel Doctoral Exit Survey - The survey link will be sent when you apply for graduation. You will receive the link around Week 4 in spring quarter and Week 6 in fall, winter, and summer quarters.