Doctoral Deadlines and FAQs

Doctoral Training Calendar 2024-2025

FALL 2024
OCTOBER
4^th	Fall 2024 graduation application deadline	All programs
NOVEMBER
7^th	Last day to submit final dissertation defense documents to the Doctoral Training Office	PhD only
12^th	Spring 2025 registration opens	All programs
14^th	Last day to submit final Doctoral Project or Project Proposal (for qualifying exam) documents to the DrPH Director for review and approval	DrPH only
21^st	Last day for a final Dissertation defense	PhD only
25^th	ETD Dissertation deadline	PhD only
26^th	Last day to submit final Doctoral Project defense documents to Doctoral Training Office	DrPH only
DECEMBER
4^th	Last day to submit Admission to Candidacy paperwork to Doctoral Training Office	PhD only
11^th	Last day for a Dissertation Proposal defense	PhD only
12^th	Last day for a Doctoral Project defense or Qualifying exam	DrPH only
13^th	Fall Commencement	All programs
SPRING 2025
FEBRUARY
21^st	Spring 2025 graduation application deadline	All programs
MARCH
11^th	Last day to submit final Dissertation defense form, (announcement must be sent to the Doctoral Training Office)	PhD only
25^th	Last day for a final Dissertation defense	PhD only
28^th	ETD Dissertation deadline	PhD only
31^st	Summer/Fall 2025 registration opens	All programs
APRIL
8^th	Last day to submit final Doctoral Project or Project Proposal (for qualifying exam) documents to the DrPH Director for review and approval	DrPH only
15^th	Last day to submit final Doctoral Project defense form in Archivum and announcement to Doctoral Training Office	DrPH only
MAY
5^th	Last day to submit Admission to Candidacy paperwork	PhD only
6^th	Last day for a Doctoral Project defense or Qualifying exam	DrPH only
7^th	Last day for a Dissertation Proposal defense	PhD only
9^th	Spring 2025 Commencement	All programs
SUMMER 2025
JUNE
16^th	Summer 2025 graduation application deadline	All programs
11^th	Last day to submit final Dissertation defense form, (announcement must be sent to the Doctoral Training Office)	PhD only
24^th	Last day for a final Dissertation defense	PhD only
25^th	Last day to submit final Doctoral Project or Project Proposal (for qualifying exam) documents to the DrPH Director for review and approval	DrPH only
27^th	ETD Dissertation deadline	PhD only
JULY
9^th	Last day to submit final Doctoral Project defense form in Archivum and announcement to Doctoral Training Office	DrPH only
21^st	Last day to submit Admission to Candidacy paperwork	PhD only
23^rd	Last day for a Doctoral Project defense or Qualifying exam	DrPH only
24^th	Last day for a Dissertation Proposal defense	PhD only
AUGUST
9th	Summer 2025 Commencement	All programs

All defense forms and announcements must submitted no later than 2 weeks before the proposed defense date.

DrPH Students who have not completed the Qualifying Exam must submit their Doctoral Project Proposal to the DrPH Director by the posted deadlines to be eligible for approval to register for PHC 7919 in the following semester.

Additional Academic and University Deadlines

Additional Academic and University Deadlines

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change my committee member?
- Students should discuss any change to their program with their faculty mentor before requesting a change. Change of Faculty Mentor requests may be made through the Archivum system and is an online process.
Can I miss a semester of taking classes?
- Yes. But be careful of time to degree. Doctoral degrees must be completed within seven (7) years from the student's original date of admission for doctoral study. All courses applied to the doctoral degree must be completed within ten (10) years, including courses taken:
  - prior to admission to the USF doctoral major
  - taken as non-degree seeking
  - transferred in from other institutions
I stopped attending my program, but I would like to start again. What do I need to do?
- Students who do not meet the enrollment requirements will become inactive. Once inactive a student will have to be readmitted or reinstated. Students should contact the Office of Doctoral Training to determine the course of action. See the USF readmission policy: Reinstatement and Re-application for Admission Policies.

Time Limit Extensions
In the event that a student nears the end of the time limitation as specified above, but the student needs more time to complete the degree, the student may submit a request for an extension using the Time Limit Extension Request Form, available on the Office of Graduate Studies Forms website.

Requests must include:

the reasons for the delay in completion,
the anticipated time needed for completion (two years maximum)
endorsements from the faculty advisor, graduate program, and College Dean or designee,
a detailed plan of study and timeline for the remaining requirements for the degree

Only one time limit extension request is permitted. Students who are temporarily unable to continue the program should submit a Leave of Absence Request, which extends the time limit for the duration of the approved Leave (see the section on Leave of Absence in the Enrollment Requirements section.)

Note - Time Limit Extensions are valid for a maximum period of two (2) years from the date of request. For more information and guidance, contact the Doctoral Training Office