Getting Ready to Graduate
Make sure that you have everything you need to graduate.
The End Game: Preparing to Graduate
Please note the dates listed below. No exceptions are made to the deadlines, so plan accordingly.
Below you'll find important dates to consider for your desired graduation date and a step by step guide for your last semester, so you're prepared for graduation.
Find all Important Dates and Deadlines
First: Know the Steps and Deadlines for Your Graduation
Depending on your desired graduation date, you'll have different deadlines for certain steps of the graduation process. Review the steps for your desired graduation date below.
Required Steps for Your Desired Graduation Dates | December 2024Graduation Deadlines | May 2025Graduation Deadlines | August 2025Graduation Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Submit GS8 Application for Graduate Degree | October 14, 2024 | March 7, 2025 | March 7, 2025(If participating in May ceremony) June 19, 2025 (If NOTparticipating in May ceremony) |
| Submit your thesis/dissertation to ProQuest/UMI and pay the fees. Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (PhD only) to the Graduate School. | December 6, 2024 | May 2, 2025 | August 4, 2025 |
| Graduation Date | December 14, 2024 | May 10, 2025 | August 10, 2025 |
| Commencement Ceremony | N/A | May 10, 2025 | N/A |
| Doctoral Hooding Ceremony | N/A | TBD | N/A |
Now that you know the steps and deadlines for your specific graduation date, let's take a deep dive into all the steps to get you closer to the big day!
The Path to Graduation in 13 Simple Steps
Follow the steps listed below for your specific type of graduate degree.
| Step | Details | Doctoral Dissertation | Master's with Thesis | Master's Non-Thesis |
1. Apply for Your Graduate Degree | Complete a GS 8-Application for Graduate Degree Form. The deadline to do this is near the beginning of each fall, spring or summer semester and is announced on the university’s Academic Calendar and on the myOleMiss front page. This form requires the signature of the department chair. You will then be authorized to complete step 2. | √ | √ | √ |
2. Apply for Your Diploma | A diploma application notification will be sent to you via your olemiss.edu email. This email comes from the registrar@olemiss.edu and once you start filling out the application, you can't stop and return. If you have a problem, contact the supervisor of records at the Graduate School. | √ | √ | √ |
3. Set up your Final Oral/Written Exam | Set up your final oral/written exam by completing a GS7-Authorization of Final Oral/Written Examination Form. This form must be received by the Graduate School no later than 14 calendar days before the intended date of the exam. You must complete your final exam by the last day of the semester, and a final exam cannot be given during the university’s examination period or when the university is closed. | √ | √ | * |
4. Obtain Information on Formatting and Uploading an ETD | Obtain information about formatting and uploading an ETD and the ETD Rights, Permission and Contact Form. It is the student’s responsibility to:
| √ | √ | |
5. If You're a Ph.D. Student, Complete a Survey of Earn Doctorate | Doctoral students must complete a Survey of Earned Doctorates (PhD only). This should be done 3-4 weeks before the last day of classes. | √ | ||
6. Complete Thesis/Dissertation and Final Examination | Complete Thesis/Dissertation and Final Examination. | √ | √ | |
7. File a Report of Final Oral/Written Examination with the Graduate School | After you successfully complete your final oral/written examination, your adviser or department chair must submit a Report of Final Oral/Written Examination to the Graduate School. | √ | √ | * |
8. File Final Paperwork with the Graduate School | Before the last day of classes, bring to the Graduate School:
For doctoral students only, the completed Survey of Earned Doctorates or provide evidence of completing this form online. | √√√ | √√√ | |
9. Electronically Submit Your Thesis/Dissertation | Following the ETD directions, electronically submit your completed thesis/dissertation into the ProQuest/UMI repository system. Before this submission is finalized (published), the supervisor of graduate records will review the document for completeness and formatting. If revisions are needed, you will be contacted. | √ | √ | |
10. Choose Your Publishing, Copyright, and Binding Options | While uploading your thesis/ dissertation, you will be asked to select between the Traditional and Open Access Publishing options. What you enter should correspond to the decision on the ETD Rights and Permission Form.
The university no longer requires bound copies to be submitted to the Graduate School and University Libraries. | √ | √ | |
11. Pay Fees for ProQuest/UMI | While uploading your thesis/dissertation, you must pay (online via credit card) the fees for the ProQuest/UMI publishing type you have selected (e.g., no charge for Traditional publishing; $95 for Open Access publishing). Note that there are extra fees for copyright registration ($75) and producing bound copies (prices vary). | √ | √ | |
12. Pay Graduation Fee to UM | After you apply to graduate (step 1), you will be assessed a graduation fee of $75. You must pay this fee, as well as all other outstanding university bills, in order to receive your diploma. | √ | √ | √ |
13. Celebrate! | If you have completed the above steps and if you have successfully passed all required courses (e.g., can pass a degree audit for your program) during your final semester, then you will be certified by the Graduate School and Registrar’s Office for graduation. You may officially graduate at the end of a December, May or August semester. A commencement ceremony, including a doctoral hooding ceremony for doctoral graduates, is held only in May. The process of mailing diplomas will begin approximately 8 weeks after each graduation date. If you wish to participate in a commencement and/or hooding ceremony, you will need to rent regalia. |
*Most nonthesis master’s programs require a final oral/written examination. A few master’s programs do not require this examination. Check with the catalog and your graduate program coordinator.