Graduation Deadlines

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.

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

May 2, 2024: Spring Term Ends.

May 3, 2024: Last day for departments to submit Comprehensive Exam Report forms

May 4, 6-10, 2024: Final Examinations

May 10, 2024: Spring Graduate Commencement

August 2024 Graduation

June 5, 2024: Application for degree/graduation due.

June 7, 2024: Last day to change your graduation term

June 7, 2024: Last day for thesis students to submit request for oral defense of thesis (PDF)

June 7, 2024: Last day for doctoral students to submit request for oral defense of dissertation (PDF)

June 17, 2024: Summer Term Begins

June 19, 2024: Juneteenth (university closed)

June 28, 2024: Last possible day for oral defenses for this term’s graduates

July 4, 2024: Independence Day (university closed)

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

July 5, 2024: Last day to submit post-defense version of your thesis/dissertation.

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

August 2, 2024: Last day for departments to submit Comprehensive Exam Report forms

August 11, 2024: Summer Term Ends

December 2024 Graduation

August 26, 2024: Classes begin

September 15, 2024: Last day to submit Application for Graduation for fall 2024 in MyNIU

October 11, 2024: Last day for fall 2024 graduates to submit a Request for Oral Defense of Thesis or Dissertation

November 1, 2024: Last possible day for fall 2024 graduates to hold an Oral Defense

November 8, 2024: Last day for fall 2024 graduates to submit Results of Oral Defense form

November 8, 2024: Last day for fall 2024 graduates to submit post-defense version of Thesis or Dissertation

November 15, 2024: Last day for departments to submit Certificate of Graduate Study forms

December 6, 2024: Last day for departments to submit Comprehensive Exam Report forms

December 7, 2024: Classes end

December 9-14, 2024: Final Examinations

December 14, 2024: Fall Graduate Commencement Ceremony

Contact Us

The Graduate School
Williston Hall 100

815-753-0395
gradsch@niu.edu

Northern Illinois University
1425 West Lincoln Hwy
DeKalb, IL 60115

Directions and Maps

Hours: M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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