Loyola University Chicago

The Graduate School

Ph.D. (Dissertation)

Steps for Graduation

Discuss any plans concerning your expected graduating semester with your academic advisor. Please also review these Instructions for Thesis and Dissertation.

The Graduate School reviews applications for graduation three times a year; Fall, Spring, and Summer semester. Below are the application deadlines that correspond to each conferral term.


August Graduates: Please note that in order to be eligible to attend the Spring 2022 Commencement Ceremony, you must defend your dissertation prior to April 24, 2022 at noon. If that is not possible, you are welcome to participate in the Spring 2021 ceremony.

Conferral Term: Fall (December) Spring (May) Summer (August)
Deadline to Apply: August 1 December 1 February 1

Application. Students can apply for graduation through LOCUS.

 

Application status. Here's how you can verify the submission and status of your application.

 

Diploma name. Don't forget to submit an entry for your "Diploma Name". Click here to read more on the University's guidelines for significant changes made to a name.

 

Permanent address. Diplomas are delivered to the most recent entry a student has entered for their "Permanent Address". Be sure to update your permanent mailing address on LOCUS.

 

Commencement program. In recognition of their academic achievements, students attending Commencement will be profiled in Loyola University's Commencement Book. If you are attending the ceremony in May, we urge you to submit the following information on LOCUS: title of your thesis/dissertation, name of your thesis/dissertation director, and institution information for any prior degrees earned.

 

*If you have already applied for graduation and need to change your expected grad term, please email gradschool@luc.edu. This request does not need to made before the above deadlines.*

Please see the Dissertation Formatting webpage for instructions on dissertation formatting and submission.

Conferral Term: Fall (December) Spring (May) Summer (August)
Format Check Deadline: October 1 March 1 June 1

There is no hard deadline in which you need to defend your dissertation, but you must defend prior to turning in your final copies. We suggest that the latest you should defend is 2-3 weeks prior to the final copies deadline. This way, you will have plenty of time to make any edits that your committee suggests.

 

After you have defended your dissertation, your Graduate Program Director must upload your Approval Ballot for Text and Oral Defense, signed by all of your committee members, to the Graduate Student Progress System (https://gsps.luc.edu).

The final copies will be due by the following deadlines, except in cases where the deadline falls on a weekend, in which case they must be received by 5PM on the Friday before the deadline.

Please make sure to review the Final Copy Submission Process.

Conferral Term: Fall (December) Spring (May) Summer (August)
Electronic Final Copies Deadline: November 1 April 1 July 1

It is strongly recommended that you beat these deadlines in order to avoid delays due to unexpected formatting, revision, approval, or other issues.

FALL/December Graduation Deadlines
August 1 Last day to apply for December degree conferral (in LOCUS)
October 1 Dissertation format check due
early to mid-October Defend dissertation- final copies include defense ballot and chair sign-off
November 1 Dissertation final approved electronic copies due
SPRING/May Graduation Deadlines
December 1 Last day to apply for May degree conferral (in LOCUS)
March 1 Dissertation format check due
early to mid-March Defend dissertation- final copies include defense ballot and chair sign-off
April 1 Dissertation final approved electronic copies due
SUMMER/August Graduation Deadlines
February 1 Last day to apply for August degree conferral (in LOCUS)
Late April *precise date varies*

Defense deadline if walking in May commencement ceremony

June 1 Dissertation format check due
early to mid-June Defend dissertation- final copies include defense ballot and chair sign-off
July 1 Dissertation final approved electronic copies due