University of North Texas 
Graduation Deadlines and Procedures
Deadlines
Students are responsible for knowing and meeting these graduation deadlines.*
For theses and dissertations, College of Music deadlines are two weeks in advance of the University deadlines.
| Fall 2026 | Spring 2026 | Action | Notes |
| September 25 |
February 20 |
Graduate Application Deadline (all graduate students) | For information on how to apply for graduation please visit this page. Students must confirm that an approved degree plan is on file. You were emailed your approved degree plan when it was filed. You do not need to submit a copy when you apply to graduate. The Graduate Studies Office is not responsible for supplying a copy of your degree plan or committee form. |
| October 16 | March 13 | Oral Defense Forms and Critical Essays / Theses / Dissertations due to the College of Music Graduate Studies Office (MA, PhD, DMA only) | The major professor and other committee members must sign and submit the oral defense form to the Graduate Studies Office. The student must submit an electronic copy of the final document to Canvas as explained in the College of Music Thesis and Dissertation Procedures. Documents will only be accepted electronically. |
| October 30 | March 27 | Critical Essays / Theses / Dissertations due to the Graduate Reader through Vireo (MA, PhD, DMA) | You will be contacted via email by the College of Music Graduate Studies office when your document has been approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. After you have made any necessary edits, submit the final version of your document to the Graduate Reader. Documents will only be accepted electronically. For information about electronic document submission requirements, click here. |
| October 30 | March 27 | Oral Comprehensive Exam Forms due to Graduate Studies Office (MM, MMEd) | The Major Professor must submit the signed oral comprehensive exam form to the Graduate Studies Office. Students cannot submit this form. |
*The UNT Graduate Catalog Professional Expectation Policy specifies that it is the student’s responsibility to know and meet all published deadlines.
Success in a graduate program requires students to not only meet minimum academic standards but also to be active contributors to the artistic and scholarly community of the College of Music. Hence, students must exhibit professional behavior, which includes (but is not limited to):
- attending classes and meetings (including seminars, masterclasses, and departmental;
- meeting area, division, college, and university deadlines; and
- maintaining respectful interactions with all members of the UNT community. Students are also expected to adhere to professional standards as outlined in division/area handbooks.
Commencement
Please note that graduation and commencement are two separate things. Graduation is the completion of all requirements for a degree, while commencement is the ceremony where degrees are conferred and celebrated. Therefore, graduation and commencement may not necessarily occur in the same semester. Remember this distinction when discussing your graduation plans with your advisor to avoid possible confusion.
Information regarding commencement regalia can be found at the UNT Bookstore.
Commencement Schedule
Please see the following webpage for a complete list of commencement ceromonies:
https://www.unt.edu/commencement/schedule.html
Final Milestones
The final milestones handout can be used as a quick reference for CoM and University thesis and dissertation submission deadlines. Check back at the start of each semester for an updated handout for that term.