Checklist for Doctoral Degrees

Degree Eligibility Form Deadlines:

The Online Degree Eligibility Form must be completed and submitted to the academic department two weeks prior to the Graduate School deadline to allow for departmental review. The graduate program director must approve the Eligibility Form by the deadlines listed below.

  • April 1, 2025 (March 18, 2025 to department) for a May 16, 2025 degree.  All other materials due to the Graduate School by May 15.
  • August 29, 2025 (August 15, 2025 to department) for a September 1, 2025 degree.
  • January 30, 2026 (January 16, 2026 to department) for a February 1, 2026 degree.

All doctoral candidates are required to submit the following materials by the degree date of record:

  • Final Oral Examination completed - The exam must be scheduled and passed prior to the degree date of record.  Please note: the Graduate School must have the announcement of your final oral exam one month before the defense date.  See the Checklist for Doctoral Oral Examinations for details
  • Dissertation electronically filed with ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst - for further details about this process, please see the Degree Requirements section of the Handbook on our website
  • Signature page – one signature page with original signatures must be submitted to the Graduate Student Service Center. An unsigned signature page should also be included after the copyright page in the electronic copy of your dissertation
  • Survey of Earned Doctorates – this online survey must be completed and submitted by the deadline
  • Copyright registration (optional) - register your copyright with the Library of Congress Copyright Office

Additional requirements to be met before being cleared for graduation:

  • You must be an active student
  • All requirements on the Checklist for Doctoral Oral Examinations must have been met before the Final Oral Exam is scheduled.
  • Results of your Final Oral Exam must be conveyed to the Graduate Student Service Center in a memo signed by your Graduate Program Director.  The memo must include the date of the exam and the results.
  • Bursar fees paid: any outstanding Bursar fees must be paid directly to the Bursar
  • Update Diploma Name, Diploma Address, and Non-UMass Email Address in SPIRE (Academics Tile > Graduation > Diploma preferences).  Diplomas are sent to the student's Diploma Address.

Questions?

Graduate Student Service Center
520 Goodell Hall
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003
Phone: (413) 545-0722
Email: degreq [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (subject: Graduation%20requirement%20question) (degreq[at]grad[dot]umass[dot]edu)