To get started, check your graduation term of interest below for important dates to begin your application to graduate.
- December 2023 Graduation
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Now through September 30, 2023: December 2023 graduation applications due online without a late fee
October 1, 2023 - December 1, 2023: Applications due with a $25 late fee (no later than 5:00pm Friday, December 1, 2023)
December 16, 2023: Official degree date for December 2023 graduates
December 21, 2023: Final certification deadline. All ETDs and paperwork due
January 11, 2024: Transcripts with degrees posted for December 2023 available through the Transcript Office (G-3 Thackeray Hall)
January 30, 2024: Begin mailing diplomas for the December 2023 graduates
- April 2024 Graduation
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Now through April 1, 2024: Graduation applications due online
April 27, 2024: Official degree date for April 2024 graduates
May 6, 2024: Final certification deadline. All ETDs and paperwork due
May 31, 2024: Transcripts with degrees posted for April 2024 available through the Transcript Office (G-3 Thackeray Hall)
June 13, 2024: Begin mailing diplomas for the April 2024 graduates
- August 2024 Graduation
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Feb 1, 2024 through May 31, 2024: August 2024 graduation applications due online without a late fee
June 1, 2024 - August 1, 2024: Applications due with a $25 late fee (no later than 5:00pm Thursday, August 1, 2024)
August 10, 2024: Official degree date for August 2024 graduates
August 14, 2024: Final certification deadline. All ETDs and paperwork due
September 5, 2024: Transcripts with degrees posted for August 2024 available through the Transcript Office (G-3 Thackeray Hall)
September 23, 2024: Begin mailing diplomas for the August 2024 graduates
All documents required for graduation can be downloaded from this site using the links below. Please read all of these materials carefully. If you have any questions about graduation or ETDs, please contact Lauren Zielinski at lez26@pitt.edu or 412-383-7866.
- What To Do Before Your Defense
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Graduation Application must be submitted through PeopleSoft:
ONLINE GRADUATION APPLICATION USER GUIDE
Dissertation Defense Announcement: In order to meet University publishing regulations, this form must be submitted 4 weeks prior to your defense date.- Complete and submit the Dissertation Defense Information Form
- Your defense should be held at least 2 weeks prior to the final certification deadline
- Your dissertation title must be finalized at this point
Dissertation Defense Information Form
Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) Information: All of the information you need regarding ETD formatting and submitting can be found on the ETD Website.- You are required to attend a training session regarding the formatting of your ETD.
- You can register for an ETD Workshop at The ETD Training Website
- The information provided at this training is imperative to the successful submission of your ETD. An incorrectly formatted ETD could prevent you from graduating.
- Students most often experience difficulty with bookmarking the ETD. It is important to bookmark every page of your ETD beginning with the title page. Refer to the instructions section of the ETD website above.
- If you are experiencing difficulty, ETD Support offers Walk-In help (Microforms/Maps Area on the Ground Floor of Hillman Library)
Preferred Name on Diploma: Students may request to have a preferred name printed on their diploma ("Diploma Name"). In order to request a preferred name on your diploma, you must complete and submit the Diploma Name Request Form to the Office of the University Registrar in G-3 Thackeray Hall. - What To Do the Day of Your Defense
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There are three forms which require original signatures of all members on your dissertation committee; your Program Coordinator will work with you to get these forms completed and signed in DocuSign:
- Dissertation Defense Report,
- Dissertation Approval Report, and
- ETD Approval Form.
- These forms are also due by the final certification deadline.
- No exceptions will be made. - What To Do After Your Defense
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Soon after you defend, you must make an appointment here to meet with Deepti Ramadoss, PhD.
IMPORTANT! You must accomplish/submit all of the following to Lauren Zielinski by the Final Certification Deadline.
- Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD)
You must upload the final pdf version of your ETD to D-Scholarship for formatting review.
- Milestone Forms
The two milestone forms with original signatures: (1) Dissertation Defense Report and (2) Dissertation Approval Report.
- Completed and Signed ETD Approval Form
Download and complete the ETD Approval Form.
- Check that all information on the first page is completed.
- Obtain the signatures of your dissertation committee on the first page.
- Select an availability option on the second page.
- Sign Parts A and B on the second page.
- Obtain your dissertation advisor's signature on Part B on the second page.
- As a warning, beware of predatory publishing firms, such as OmniScriptum who may attempt to obtain rights to your work. If you want a print copy of your dissertation, you have the option to request this when you are completing the ProQuest ETD Administrator step of your ETD submission process: ETD- What to Do After You Defend
- Receipt for Processing Fee
The processing fee for a PhD degree is $50. You can pay this at the Student Payment Center in G7 Thackeray Hall. The Student Payment Center only accepts cash, check or money order. If you prefer to pay by credit card (Visa not accepted), you can call the Student Payment Center (412-624-7520), ask them to charge you the $50 processing fee and pay via PittPAY.
- Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)
There is no longer a hard copy form. To access the electronic SED, go to The SED Website
-For School/College, the only option of "Graduate School" is correct.
-After completing the registration page, you will receive an email with the URL to the actual SED, a unique PIN and password.
-You will be able to save and complete later by using the PIN and password given to you in the email.
-Once you have submitted the SED, immediately following the email confirmation page, you will be taken to a certificate of SED completion. You must print and submit this certificate with your other materials by the final certification deadline (listed above (b)).- AAUDE Doctoral Exit Survey
Effective for doctoral students who are graduating in the Fall 2021 and beyond, graduates are required to complete the Association of American Universities Data Exchange (AAUDE) Doctoral Exit Survey . The survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete and will collect satisfaction information about your graduate education experience at Pitt and your post‐Pitt plans.
- ProQuest UMI Dissertation Publishing Agreement
- The library will ensure that your dissertation is copyrighted to you by default.
-If material copyrighted by others is included in your dissertation, attach three copies of the copyright permission letter(s) from the copyright owner(s). Such letter(s) should state that UMI may supply copies on demand.
-If your dissertation contains executable software owned by another party, attach three copies of a letter from the owner of the software license granting permission to use it. Such letter(s) should state that UMI may supply copies on demand.
- Any additional services that students wish to purchase from ProQuest will be done directly with ProQuest. If you elect to purchase bound copies of your dissertation, you should not expect to receive it sooner than 3-6 months after the final certification date (listed above).- A Copy of Your Updated CV
Please do not forget to upload a copy of your updated CV as a pdf (preferred) or word document in the Alumni Form below
- Alumni Form
Please complete the Alumni Form: